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 much

and he can cook. I’m

“Too bad though.”

raised an eyebrow. The phrase “too bad”

to the picture. Applause broke out when he completed his dish. Seth looked

watched the

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

thinking of mommy,

thing, I will take you to

daughter is beautiful

had little girls in their arms.

barely peeking

the plate of food that Cicely had whipped up across the table to

pointing

second, then scooped up a bite

with eager

the favor, loading a forkful

in front of him. He started eating. He had

caught Seth’s action

whole omelette. Seth, for

the adjacent open-air café. Cicely approached her, “Is this your idea of fun? The food and coffee out

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

pursed her lips, “The

sound like you’ve got some experience

for a moment, “I think I’ve been to

at Seth,

head, “No,

imperceptibly. Lana observed this change with a subtle arch of her

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

wanted to hit the go-karts, and naturally, Cicely and Lana weren’t about to suit up –

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

over, holding Seth’s jacket in his hands and stuffing it into Cicely. “Mom, hold onto Dad’s jacket

no chance to refuse – not that she minded handling such trivial

track, Seth took Hugo to a nearby lounge area. “Go play by yourself, buddy. I’ll sit

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,

looked at him, pausing for a beat, his voice always tinged with a raspy

were set. No one gets to

foggy, was now pounding as if to the beat of a

a reason for that. But since Mom already said that, if I were distant with you, she wouldn’t be happy. Sometimes, I’m not sure what to do, but I think Mom

hand, pressed to his

you, but thinks she should dislike you. I don’t believe Mom’s the type to let someone she dislikes be around just because they love me. Even though you’re my dad, that’s just a title. Not all dads stay by their kids’ sides –

a moment, Seth spoke softly, “Right,

as if weighed

little head before patting it gently, causing Hugo to dip forward. “What exactly

Seth, “Believe it or not,

fell silent. Was this really his

Seth still took

dusk, Hugo, who had played to his heart’s content, finally knew the

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

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

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

day at the park was quite the feat for someone who couldn’t last through

back with a smile. “Mom, I forgot to invite Anya to

Cicely: “Sure.”

the side, clearly enjoying

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

cheek, then looked at Seth, “Dad, your neck

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

“You too, you’re all sweaty.