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.

looks so

he can

“Too bad though.”

raised an eyebrow. The phrase

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

happily but watched the dish pass him by,

stirring the air. Seeing the food passing in front

mommy, and

take you to

is

moms had little girls in their arms. Hugo looked

down at Hugo, barely peeking out, and offered a

Cicely had whipped up across the table to Seth.

sleeve, pointing

second, then scooped up a

watched her with eager eyes, “How

She returned the favor, loading a forkful

food in front of him. He started eating. He had skipped

caught Seth’s action and focused even more on feeding Hugo

Seth, for his part, polished off his portion

open-air café. Cicely approached her, “Is this your idea of fun? The

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

her lips, “The emphasis should be on

got some

for a moment, “I think I’ve been to an amusement

glanced at Seth,

head,

Lana observed this change with a subtle arch of

one for stamina, felt tired after a short walk, even

go-karts, and naturally, Cicely and Lana weren’t about to suit up

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

hands and stuffing it into

– not

track, Seth took 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 rumble

bench – they barely reached. Clutching a ball he’d fished out of a nearby

him, pausing for a beat, his voice

your roles were set. No one gets to say you’re not my parents, and no one has that right. I belong to both of you. Mom says you

pounding as if to the beat of a

Mom aren’t living together like other kids’ parents, and there must be a reason for that. But since Mom already said that, if I were distant with you, she wouldn’t be

hand, pressed to

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

dropping. After a moment, Seth spoke softly, “Right,

if weighed down by

him, studying the little head before patting it gently,

up at Seth,

Was

still took Hugo to

his heart’s

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, sapped by the

sip of her coffee, eyeing the father and son ahead, “Good thing he came. If I’d known an amusement park trip was this exhausting, I’d never have suggested

in agreement, “I’m definitely

the park was quite the feat for someone who couldn’t last through a simple shopping

perched on Seth’s shoulder, waved excitedly at them, and Cicely waved back with a smile. “Mom, I forgot to invite Anya

Cicely: “Sure.”

snickered at the side, clearly enjoying

grinned, then rested his head on Seth’s shoulder, watching Cicely for a bit before burying his face in Seth’s neck.

his head again, touching his own cheek, then

and Seth had to chew over the words for a second before responding with his own

“You too, you’re all sweaty. Let’s get you home