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.

kid looks so much like

handsome, and he

“Too bad though.”

phrase “too bad” indeed carried

he completed

stool, clapped happily but watched the

the omelette, and his little fingers stirring the air. Seeing the food passing in

mommy, and he’s not

will take you to play with

daughter is

girls in their arms. Hugo

at Hugo, barely

of food that Cicely had whipped up across the table to

sleeve, pointing to the

second, then scooped up a bite with her fork and tasted

her with eager eyes,

She returned the favor, loading

front of him. He started eating. He had skipped breakfast

eye, Cicely caught Seth’s action and focused even more on feeding Hugo his omelette

and Cicely ate the whole omelette. Seth, for his part, polished off his portion

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 places, can

at the amusement park all about eating, drinking,

pursed her lips, “The emphasis

sound like you’ve got some experience

moment, “I think I’ve

glanced at Seth,

shook her head, “No,

darkened imperceptibly. Lana observed this change with a subtle arch

felt tired after a short

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

tagged along. But there was Seth, in his suit and dress shoes,

in his hands and stuffing it into Cicely. “Mom, hold onto Dad’s jacket for him. It’s getting in

to refuse – not

buddy. I’ll sit here and keep

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

at him, pausing for a beat, his

like any other kid – I have a mom and a dad who both love me. From the moment 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. I belong to both of you. Mom says you both love me a lot, so I should

as if to the beat of a

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 happy.

to his forehead,

she dislikes be around just because

After a moment, Seth spoke softly, “Right, she’s not like

sighed as if

head before patting it gently, causing Hugo to dip forward.

up at Seth, “Believe it or not, I’m telling

fell silent. Was this

Seth still

had played to his heart’s content, finally knew the meaning of

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, sapped by

ahead, “Good thing he came. If I’d known an amusement park trip was

“I’m definitely not

the feat for

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

Cicely: “Sure.”

side, clearly enjoying the

rested his head on Seth’s shoulder, watching Cicely for a bit

his head again, touching his own cheek, then looked at Seth, “Dad,

muffled against him, and Seth had to chew over the words

“You too, you’re all sweaty.