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.

fixed on Cicely since entering, and upon seeing Cicely’s reaction, Chloe’s eyes flickered slightly. Standing beside Cicely, Chloe looked into her eyes with an intensity that seemed to hold her captive. “You followed Charlie here today, so you must have some idea of what’s

flash of

trying to twist your arm into forgiving anyone, but you came here to lend a hand, right? You gotta at least hear the guy out before

to put on a show in front of Chloe. It was pointless. She knew Chloe was sharp as a tack, a woman who’d weathered many storms. Chloe had clawed her

and then slowly nodded. “Alright.” Cicely gave a wry smile. “Let’s hear how rough he’s had it

words had struck

was doing well. So her words

anxious for him to

silence

sit beside him on the couch. “If you don’t wanna hear it, just go upstairs and bring him down.

grasped his hand,

was supposed to bring

Cicely unmoved, Charlie breathed a sigh of relief and

he tried everything to spring her from jail, but then all news of her was

up. The online backlash was relentless. I know

rebuild, but the banks called in their loans. C&P Entertainment was hit hard 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 repay the bank loans, there were sharks circling to buy out Diaz International, including the land Diaz Tower

himself before continuing. “Later on, Mr. Diaz sold

involuntarily, and her poised figure on the couch

location. But it 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 several times from overdrinking, just to negotiate with the banks and

family had a shake-up. Some shareholders banded together, trying to oust the Ellis family from power. Between the overt pressure and underhanded tactics, Mr. Diaz was also wrestling with

utter chaos. What I’m telling you is just the tip of the iceberg; there were layers

with Ms. Cicely going to jail was

was always composed, never mentioning you, even indifferent when others did. I thought getting past that chaos without a scratch wasn’t a bad thing, but two months later, when things

had the time to think about you. Then it hit me, Mr. Diaz fought to keep Diaz International because you wanted it; he intended to present it to

feeling your prison sentence was your way of getting back at him,

hadn’t fallen critically ill,

slumped into the couch with the same posture as before, but now utterly drained. Her gaze was hollow as she stared at the spotless coffee table. In

“You didn’t knock the

agitated, chimed in. “Knock it down? I told you what happened last time. No sooner had I finished speaking than that

in here was handpicked by Ms. Cicely, including that door. It was

silent, five people lost in their thoughts, until Kane let out a snort,

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 that had been placed on her aunt. Ms. Lana has

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

so slightly, her emotions battling within her. What would happen if things continued

ago, it was Erik who suddenly became seriously ill, and Seth survived for three years

this time? There wouldn’t be another illness, nor any desire for someone else’s blood. So,

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

her expression unreadable. Chloe couldn’t say anything; after all, it wasn’t her place to meddle too much in other

waiting for her

most impatient, and seeing her unmoved, his brow knitted tightly.

what?” Cicely finally responded, lifting her eyes, her face a mask of calm. “He’ll come out for me, right? And then what? To prevent this from happening again,

Kane blinked.

nodded, “That would be

fell over the

mouth fell open, and he gave Damon a thumbs-up. Impressive.

chuckled, “You think that would

passed because of his heart condition, and his mother died out of her obsessive love and hatred towards

gave Cicely pause, then she scoffed mockingly, “Mr. Harper sure

is to choose what makes you happiest.

her face slowly fading. “All of this started because of his mother. My dad never loved her, and the so-called

“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 could keep this standoff with him, and maybe in a few years, your son will get a taste

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

internally exclaimed in shock. Everyone knew better than to judge others’ affairs, let alone offer such

for a comeback, but found none. “If you were him and

she’s mine, and by my side as I wish. What’s right? Getting what I want is right. Letting

laugh. Had Damon developed a smooth-talking routine from all

able to make Kane crack a smile. Damon shot him a look that immediately

was stunned by his rhetoric and

met her gaze with a smile, softly saying, “We aren’t you guys. 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. I think no one in this world can claim a purer love for him than

sitting next to Chloe, smiled and took her hand into his

Cicely, “How did you ever come to choose him so resolutely? When you decided to go to prison, did you have any doubts, or were you certain that no one in the world could love him more

agitation. It took Cicely a moment to compose herself before

are such a powerful duo. I can’t argue with you

those words, Cicely spun around

*

Cicely gazed at the closed barrier before her, not moving an

oneself away in a bedroom for over a month – quite

could stand it no longer. He strode forward and rapped sharply on the door several times

Cicely sighed.

no response. Behind

bed, one leg bent, his arm resting on his knee and his head

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

then a voice, tranquil as water, seeped through the thick

the floor, who had been

his head, staring blankly into the empty room, his dark eyes

She

“Seth, open up.”

eyes bloodshot. He hesitated for just a moment before pushing himself up with the help of the bed. Having sat for too long, and perhaps due to the alcohol, he

Her kick met air, and she stumbled forward.

weary, disheveled face of the man who was staring at her in surprise, his