The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Cicely’s eyelashes fluttered twice.

“I opened the door for him yesterday with the intent of leading him to believe that you and Hugo would come with me. He must be scared,” Lana admitted, taking a deep breath.

Cicely’s slender fingers trembled slightly, her gaze fixed on the rearview mirror where Seth’s car followed at a distance. So that stern face he wore last night was because of this. He lingered at the end, hesitant, probably wanting to ask if it was true.

He’s afraid she and Hugo would leave, so he stood guard at the door?

Cicely closed her eyes for a moment in thought.

The three tickets were purchased well in advance, yet Seth, tailing them, was stopped outside for lack of one. He faced a line snaking to the ticket window.d2

“Mommy, Daddy doesn’t have a ticket, what do we do?” Hugo’s voice was tinged with worry.

Cicely once thought she’d do everything she could to bond with Hugo, and to blend their lives seamlessly together. Cicely had spent time drawing and playing piano with him, catering to his whims, lavishing him with love, but it always felt like something was missing. Then Seth made it look easy. Hugo was a boy after all. Seth crashed at their place for dinner a few nights in a row, and Cicely couldn’t fathom how a man of few words managed to connect so warmly and steadily with a two-year-old.

Cicely felt a twinge of jealousy as she glanced at Seth and said indifferently, “He’ll figure it out.”

“Let’s wait for him here then.”

Cicely pressed her lips together, saying nothing.

Seth glanced their way. Hugo waved at him, and Cicely, holding Hugo, turned to leave.

Seth caught a couple who had just bought tickets. He glanced at the woman’s tickets, and with a domineering presence that radiated from him, said, “Ten times the price, sell me your tickets.”

The woman, startled by Seth’s deep, icy tone and handsome face, nodded dumbly, “Okay.”

Her boyfriend, coming to his senses, wrapped an arm around her, “I…”

“I’ll buy yours too,” Seth cut him off.

The boyfriend paused, and the woman quickly handed over the tickets to Seth. “Here you go.”

Seth took the tickets, transferring the money to them with his phone.

“Daddy’s awesome. Here he comes!” Hugo clapped his hands joyfully, his eyes sparkling as Seth approached.

Cicely didn’t run away but watched as Seth came closer with a look of urgency.

Hugo reached out to be lifted into his father’s arms. Seth scooped him up, and Cicely’s expression soured, but she let go. “Daddy, can we go there first?” Hugo pointed to a colorful building nearby, behind its glass walls, employees in cartoon costumes mingled with brightly dressed children, mostly girls.

“Sure,” Seth nodded.

It was a themed diner where parents cooked with their kids. Hugo chose omelette from the pictures, and they were handed three aprons of different sizes.

Based on the way these people were dressed, the staff was really a little curious as to whether or not they’d be successful at cooking the food. Yet, this family easily caught everyone’s eye.

“Omelette looks easy, but it’s tricky. Good luck, guys.”

Actually, Cicely couldn’t even separate an egg yolk. Watching her struggle, Hugo grew anxious. And Cicely’s patience also waned.

Seth, having prepared the other ingredients, saw Cicely about to give up and poured some mineral water into a pot, then gently nudged her hand. Cicely looked up. He squeezed the bottle, aimed at the yolk, and released it. The yolk slipped into the bottle.

“Wow!” Hugo’s eyes were wide with amazement. The stars seemed to hide in his gaze.

Cicely was surprised, too, but only for a moment.

Then Seth cracked more eggs, deftly separated the whites, and began to cook.

Cicely tried again, but her second attempt at flipping the omelette failed. Frustrated, she mixed in rice, making fried rice instead.

Hugo was silent as the nearby chuckle began. Cicely’s brow furrowed as she caught the gaze of a circle of young mothers, their smiles seeming to mock her.

so

and he

“Too bad though.”

The phrase

was nearly finished, looking almost identical to the picture. Applause broke out when he completed his dish. Seth looked at

stool, clapped happily but watched the dish pass him by, straight

the air. Seeing the food passing in front of him, Hugo just felt

thinking of mommy, and he’s not

I will take you to play with the girls,

daughter is

arms. Hugo looked lost.

at Hugo, barely peeking

food that Cicely had whipped up across the table to Seth.

tugged on Cicely’s sleeve, pointing

then scooped up a bite with her fork and

with eager eyes,

returned the favor, loading a forkful for

food in front of him.

the corner of her eye, Cicely caught Seth’s action and

whole omelette. Seth, for his part, polished

stepped out, Lana was sipping coffee at the adjacent open-air café. Cicely approached her, “Is this your idea of fun? The food and coffee out here can’t be better than other

an eyebrow, “Isn’t a day at the amusement park all about eating, drinking,

pursed her lips, “The emphasis should

sound like you’ve got some

I’ve been to an amusement park with someone

at Seth,

head, “No,

this change with a subtle arch of her brow, but said

for stamina, felt tired after a short walk,

Cicely and Lana weren’t about to suit up – that was Seth’s

classic boys’ favorite, were Seth’s responsibility by default. After all, he was the one who tagged along. But there was Seth, in his

to come running over, holding Seth’s jacket in his hands and stuffing it into Cicely. “Mom, hold onto Dad’s jacket for him. It’s getting in

to refuse – not that she minded handling

Hugo to a nearby lounge area. “Go play by yourself, buddy. I’ll sit here and keep an eye on you,” Seth said, his voice a gentle

beside him, and dangled his little legs over the edge of the bench – they barely reached. Clutching a ball he’d fished out of a nearby pond, Hugo played for a bit before turning to Seth. “Dad, Mom’s really

at him, pausing for a beat, his voice always tinged with a raspy warmth, “I

I came into this world, your roles were set. No one gets to say you’re not my parents, and no one has that right.

foggy, was now pounding as if to the beat of

for that. But since Mom already said that, if

to his forehead, stilled,

don’t believe Mom’s the type to let someone she dislikes be around just because they love me. Even though

his hand slowly dropping. After a moment, Seth

if weighed

studying the little head before patting it gently, causing Hugo

frowning up at Seth,

silent. Was this really his

conversation over, Seth still took Hugo to

his heart’s content,

the amusement park, Cicely and Lana followed, each clutching a coffee. The two women had done nothing but wander and rest all day, never missing a chance for a sit-down or a snack. Now they seemed drained of energy,

the father and son ahead, “Good thing he came. If I’d known an amusement park trip was this exhausting, I’d never

agreement, “I’m definitely not doing this a second

for someone who couldn’t

smile. “Mom, I forgot to invite Anya to come this time. Next time, let’s bring

Cicely: “Sure.”

at the side,

on Seth’s shoulder, watching Cicely for a bit before burying his face in

again, touching his own cheek, then looked at

to chew over the words for a second

too, you’re all