The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

“Ms. Cicely, could you please go check on Mr. Diaz?” Charlie asked, with a hint of desperation in his voice.

Cicely narrowed her eyes, her frown carrying a chill. “I thought after all his efforts, he was over it, ready to let me go.”

Charlie swallowed hard, the comely man’s eyes reddening before her. “Yes, Mr. Diaz thought so too. Ms. Cicely, he’s been back from abroad for over twenty days now. He hasn’t shown up around you, has he?”

A tight sensation gripped Cicely’s chest, her fingers curling slightly. After a long silence, she turned her head aside. “So? What’s wrong with him?”

Clutching his fists, Charlie slowly said, “If you go, maybe then we will find out what’s really going on with him.”

Cicely spun around, her gaze piercing as she stared at Charlie. Seconds later, she let out a scoff. “You think it’s fun to play me?”d2

Charlie took a deep breath, his eyes closed. “Do you really think I’d leave my work, and risk my paycheck, just to play a trick on you? Ms. Cicely, you’re the apple of Mr. Diaz’s eye. Would I dare to play you?”

*

Charlie drove Cicely back to her mansion, her expression colder than the frost on a winter’s window.

“He gets you to play the sympathy card just to bring me back home?” she questioned, her tone icy.

Without a word, Charlie drove past the grand gates of Cicely’s Mansion and into the adjacent, more imposing estate. He opened the car door for her, and at the entrance of the villa, a man stood waiting. As she approached, he strode forward and gave her a thumbs-up.

“Well done! I’ve never been so enlightened,” he said with a mix of sarcasm and awe.

Cicely frowned at the burly man before her and took a step back. “What’s this about?”

Kane sneered, turning to admire the splendid villa. “The house is grand, the decor lavish, but it’s all wasted on that asshole living alone.”

Cicely’s brows knitted even tighter. Kane’s crude language was grating to her ears. “Kane,” she warned.

“What? Is it just my language you can’t stand, or do you not like hearing Seth called an asshole?”

Cicely’s expression turned icy.

Kane took a deep breath. “I’m amazed. To think he’d drive himself to the brink of death over a woman.”

Cicely’s fingertips trembled slightly.

“Go inside. Could you at least check if that idiot is still alive?”

Usually, Seth was as cunning as a fox, not swayed by hard or soft tactics, except for Danielle.

In the end, it was all a facade.

What they said about Danielle being the one he held dear to his heart and soul was all a lie. He was just deliberately deceiving a woman’s feelings to make her a willing blood bank.

His methods were damn despicable.

Even if Danielle was a heinous woman, she didn’t deserve this. He should’ve kept things separate.

How did he convince himself to become such a despicable person?

And now, after all his wrongdoing, he suddenly wanted to be a good man. How idiotic.

“Ms. Cicely,” Charlie interjected, pulling her from her thoughts.

She glanced at the villa and pursed her lips. “You two are his trusted assistant and best friend. I doubt my presence will make things go your way.”

Kane suddenly turned, his frown deepening as he looked at her, then he kicked the car beside him in frustration. “For heaven’s sake, just try, okay?! What do you want me to do, get down on my knees and beg?”

Kane was known for his carefree, wealthy playboy antics. No one had seen him this crazed or grim.

Her trembling fingers clenched tightly, the pain sharp in her palm. Without another word, she stepped into the villa, Charlie and Kane following.

The familiar design, furniture, and decorations were all her doing.

The living room was empty.

“He’s upstairs in the master bedroom,” Kane said from behind her. “He’s been locked in there for seven or eight days now. At first, he was dealing with business matters, but these past few days, he’s shut down completely. Not eating or drinking, acting like a lunatic.”

Cicely was called over without any clue of what had happened. Now hearing this, all she could do was frown deeply. “Not eating or drinking for seven or eight days?”

Kane’s face was grim as he gave a dark laugh. “He’s been worse, locked away for a month once, surviving on glucose. He’s tough.”

Cicely’s heart clenched, her eyes trembling before she looked up at Kane. Her lips parted as if to speak, but no sound came out.

Charlie glanced at her, then after a few seconds of silence, took a deep breath and suggested, “Ms. Cicely, I’m sorry we called you here on such a short notice, but now that you are here, maybe we could talk first.”

Cicely’s brow twitched involuntarily. “Talk about what. I don’t want to know too much.”

“Perfect, because I’m curious to hear what’s to be said. Let’s all listen.” A deep, steady voice came from the entrance, and everyone turned to see Damon walking in with Chloe.

“Damon! Chloe!” Kane greeted them, though his enthusiasm was lacking.

Charlie nodded respectfully as well.

Cicely’s face paled, her grip on her purse tightening as she instinctively stepped back, her desire to flee obvious.

Cicely, Chloe looked into her eyes with an intensity that seemed to hold her captive. “You followed Charlie here

flash of vulnerability

here to lend a hand, right? You gotta at least hear the guy out before you can actually help,

was pointless. She knew Chloe was sharp as a tack, a woman

a moment and then slowly nodded. “Alright.” Cicely

struck a chord

he was doing well. So

tough time, and it breaks your hearts. You’re anxious for him to find forgiveness here, as if my not forgiving him makes me heartless. So, you

silence for a

the couch. “If

grasped his hand, not

Cicely stayed put. She was supposed to bring him down? Nobody told

a sigh of relief and

want to see him, and he tried everything to spring her from jail, but then all news of her was locked down tight. Ms. Cicely was

locked up. The online backlash was relentless. I know Mr. Diaz doesn’t care about gossip,

by public opinion, all contracts with their talent were frozen, production deals were stalled, and money was sunk with no returns. Without the funds for Diaz Tower’s rebuild or to

himself before continuing. “Later on, Mr. Diaz

and her

was nowhere near enough to rebuild Diaz International or pay back the bank. Mr. Diaz worked tirelessly, wining and dining, ending up in the ER

had a shake-up. Some shareholders banded together, trying to oust the Ellis

chaos. What I’m telling you is

incident with Ms. Cicely going to

bad thing, but two months later, when things started settling down, he began to withdraw, staying away from the office, eventually shutting himself in his room. At first, he

Diaz fought to keep Diaz International because you wanted it; he intended to present it to you as a wedding gift. He fought for

what he was thinking, locked away. Was it guilt over your father and Isaac’s deaths, or was he feeling your prison sentence was your way of getting back at him, proving how much you hated him? Or was he still

unreachable. If Erik hadn’t fallen critically ill,

hollow as she stared at the spotless coffee table. In her clasped hands, now clammy

“You didn’t knock the

respond, Kane, somewhat agitated, chimed in. “Knock it down? I told you what happened last time. No sooner had I finished speaking than that jerk opened the door and started wailing

added, “Everything in here was handpicked by Ms. Cicely, including

room fell silent, five people lost in their thoughts, until

He pursed his lips and said, “I won’t go into details, as I suspect Ms. Cicely isn’t in the mood to hear more. But this time, I think the reason behind all this is still Ms. Cicely. Recently, Mr. Diaz had me lift the travel ban

was a tug-of-war within him; he wanted her free yet

emotions battling within her. What would happen if things

ago, it was Erik who suddenly became seriously ill, and Seth survived for three years to get Danielle’s

There wouldn’t be another illness, nor any desire for someone

much thought, Chloe agreed with Charlie’s approach. It was all up

inch, her head still lowered, and her expression unreadable. Chloe couldn’t say anything; after

were on Cicely, waiting for her to

her unmoved, his brow knitted tightly. “Cicely, you’re just going to sit

Cicely finally responded, lifting her eyes, her face a mask of calm. “He’ll come out for

Kane blinked.

“That would be

fell over

and he gave

chuckled, “You think

mother died out of her obsessive love and hatred towards your father. If we must talk about grievances, they stem from issues the older generation failed to resolve,

she scoffed mockingly, “Mr. Harper sure has a way

every situation. The most important thing is to choose what makes you happiest. Why trap

the cold smile on her face slowly fading. “All of this started because of his mother. My

“Yes, exactly. It’s like you choosing to go to prison voluntarily; you could use your suffering to get back at Seth. Don’t be surprised if others lose their sanity over emotions too. You

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

than to judge others’ affairs, let alone offer such leading advice. But Damon’s words were

a comeback, but found none. “If you were him and Chloe was me, would you still

wish. What’s right? Getting what I want is right. Letting her

Had Damon developed a

it was something to be able to make Kane crack

by his rhetoric and then slowly turned to look

Knowing he loves me, I wouldn’t let things get to where you are today. Besides, I wouldn’t give him up to any other woman. The one I love and cherish should stay by my side.

and took her hand into

so resolutely? When you decided to go to prison, did you have any doubts, or were you

agitation. It took Cicely a moment to compose herself before she let out a derisive snort

are such a powerful duo. I can’t

those words, Cicely spun around and

*

her, not moving an inch forward. How could they simplify and beautify their words so easily,

oneself away in a bedroom for over a month –

glances, could stand it no longer. He strode forward and rapped sharply on the door several times before darting away like

Cicely sighed.

elicited no response. Behind the door,

collection of potent spirits were on display. Seth slumped against the bed, one leg bent, his arm resting on his knee and his head buried in

series of knocks echoed again. They were gentle, rhythmic, but soft. Still, Seth made

passed, and then a voice, tranquil as

floor, who had

staring blankly into the empty room, his dark eyes momentarily

She

“Seth, open up.”

the door, his eyes bloodshot. He hesitated for just a moment before pushing himself up with the help of the bed.

second time, frowned and lifted her foot to kick the door. But just as she did, the door swung open. Her kick met air, and she stumbled

looked up into the weary, disheveled face of the man who was staring at her in surprise, his eyes reflecting unmasked