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.

seemed to hold her captive. “You followed Charlie here today, so you must have some idea of what’s happening, right? Charlie said Seth’s not doing well, and you

quivered, a flash of

anyone, but you came here to lend a hand, right?

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 way to

moment and then slowly nodded. “Alright.” Cicely gave a wry smile. “Let’s hear

words had struck a chord

truth, Cicely didn’t hate Seth. She even hoped he was doing well. So her words came off as bravado

anxious for him to find forgiveness here, as if my not forgiving him makes me heartless. So,

silence for

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

Chloe grasped his hand, not in

bring him down? Nobody told her she had

breathed a sigh of relief

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

day, claiming he was the one who had her locked up. The online backlash was relentless. I know Mr.

Tower needed a 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 stood on, offering dirt-cheap prices. Mr. Diaz said the

to collect himself before continuing. “Later on, Mr. Diaz sold the

eyes flickered involuntarily, and her poised figure

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 scrape together

to oust the

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

thought the incident with Ms. Cicely going to

busy, and life was too hard. Mr. Diaz had no spare moment to dwell on unchangeable facts or a woman who despised him. He 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 started settling down, he began to withdraw, staying away from the office, eventually shutting himself in his room. At first, he was still dealing with company paperwork, but then he stopped caring about that too. I was worried he’d starve, so I shoved glucose and water through his door,

to think about you. Then it hit me, Mr. Diaz fought to keep

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

If Erik hadn’t

hollow as she

Damon frowned. “You didn’t knock

time. No sooner had I finished speaking than that jerk

Ms. Cicely, including that door. It was

their thoughts, until Kane let

who remained impassive, her gaze lowered. 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 that had been placed on her aunt. Ms. Lana has been back for a couple of weeks, and Mr.

him; he wanted her free yet

so slightly, her emotions battling within her. What would happen

who suddenly became seriously ill, and Seth survived

wouldn’t be another illness, nor any desire for someone else’s blood.

Charlie’s approach. It was all up

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

eyes were on Cicely, waiting for her to

most impatient, and seeing her unmoved, his brow knitted tightly. “Cicely, you’re just

face a mask of calm. “He’ll come out for

Kane blinked.

“That would be

fell over

he gave Damon a thumbs-up.

“You think that would

and his 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, leaving you and Seth

then she scoffed mockingly, “Mr.

about shifting blame, but recognizing the multiple facets of every situation. The most important thing is to choose what makes you happiest. Why trap yourself in the most torturous path when there’s

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

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

Cicely’s eyes trembled fiercely.

in shock. Everyone knew better than to judge others’ affairs, let alone offer such leading advice. But Damon’s words were

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

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

couldn’t help but laugh. Had Damon developed a smooth-talking routine from

Kane crack a smile. Damon shot

stunned by his rhetoric and then slowly turned

you are today. Besides, I wouldn’t give him up to any other woman. The one I love and cherish should stay

next to Chloe, smiled and took her hand into his large, warm palm. “What

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

moment to compose herself before she let out a derisive

powerful duo. I

words, Cicely spun around

*

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

in a bedroom for over a month – quite impressive

longer. He strode forward

Cicely sighed.

no response. Behind the door, there was only

his head buried in the crook of his elbow, motionless. Even Kane’s sudden loud and urgent knocking failed

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

voice, tranquil as water, seeped through the

the floor, who had been utterly still, suddenly twitched

he lifted his head, staring blankly into the empty room, his dark eyes momentarily

She couldn’t

“Seth, open up.”

before pushing himself up with the help of the bed. Having sat for

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 forward. In a panic, she reached for the

composure, Cicely straightened up and looked up into the weary, disheveled face of the man who was staring at her in surprise, his