The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

“You don’t owe me any apologies. Even if you were dead, it wouldn’t be any of my business.”

Cicely’s chauffeur couldn’t stand idly by, “Miss…” The words seemed especially cruel considering Seth had just narrowly escaped the Grim Reaper’s clutches. His nerves were still rattled, and this talk of death felt like tempting fate.

Seth pressed his lips together, silent for a moment before wiping his face with a blood-soaked hand. He paused when he saw the crimson smears, then clenched his hand and let it hang by his side. Turning to the driver, he said nothing.

*

“Just take them home,” he finally muttered. “I’ll stay for the traffic cops.”

“What you should be doing is getting to the hospital, not waiting around for the police.” Lana’s voice cut in, her brows furrowed, and her aura stormy.d2

“You are running a high fever and got into a car accident. If you delay any longer, you’ll either fry your brain, or get a concussion. Or get a lovely combo of both and become an idiot. That way, you won’t be able to do anything stupid, and you’ll save on support money.”

Seth stiffened.

The driver chimed in, “Yeah, Mr. Diaz, you really should get to the hospital. Your health comes first.”

*

With the car wrecked and the urgent need for a hospital, hopping into Cicely’s car was the quickest option.

Cicely didn’t speak as she got in and cradled Hugo in her arms.

Hugo’s little face was pale as he clung to her clothes. “Mommy, I saw Daddy. There was so much blood.”

Cicely felt Hugo trembling and held him tighter. “Yeah, but it’s okay, Daddy’s smart. He knows how to minimize danger in an emergency,” she reassured Hugo.

The driver, who had already gotten into the car, sighed after hearing her words. “Miss, if we’re talking about minimizing danger when a crash is inevitable, Mr. Diaz’s best move would’ve been to not swerve and hit the brakes,” the driver commented.

Cicely frowned, “So he’s crazy?”

The driver shook his head, “If he had gone straight, he would’ve hit the car ahead, and that car would’ve hit ours.”

A realization hit Cicely hard.

The driver looked at Lana, who was busy ushering Seth to the passenger seat with a cold demeanor.

“We’re all fine, even if our car got rear-ended, it wouldn’t necessarily mean we’d get hurt. But you would’ve definitely been frightened.”

As Seth was practically stuffed into the passenger seat, Cicely held Hugo, who was trying to wriggle free, and glanced in the rearview mirror, locking eyes with Seth in reflection. “Mommy, I want to see Daddy.”

Cicely averted her gaze. “Daddy’s fine. Be good, Hugo. We’re taking Daddy to the hospital now.”

She didn’t want Hugo to see Seth covered in blood.

*

After a series of checks, the doctor’s expression was grim. “What were you thinking? Driving with a fever of over 102? Even if you’d made it home safely, you probably would’ve fried your brain.” The doctor had no patience for irrational patients who gambled with their lives.

Cicely, chided and stone-faced, asked, “How is he now?”

“Concussion. The head wound needs stitches. He’s staying overnight to bring the fever down.”

Cicely bit her lip. Stitches and concussion. None of it was reassuring.

Just then, a young nurse ran over, tears streaming down her face.

“What happened?” asked the doctor.

The young nurse, holding scissors, sobbed, “The patient with the fever and the car accident won’t let me shave his head. He’s so scary.”

The doctor closed his eyes and took a deep breath, “What’s more important, his life or his hair?”

The nurse sniffled, “You should be telling him that, not me.”

The doctor was speechless.

need to shave his

shave the hair around the wound,”

a moment before pressing her

looked at Cicely,

shook her

just let

Cicely frowned.

*

mood hadn’t lifted. “If you’re

off a lock will be covered by the hair on top. It won’t be noticeable, and your

lips, “You would not like me if

not exactly fond of you right now, especially with the way

the nurse shaved as little as

smirk at Seth’s sullen face. Despite just losing a tuft of hair, he seemed

haircut had taken its toll, and with the IV

lay by his bedside, watching him sleep, then looked at Cicely

up Hugo. “Alright, it’s time for us to go

“Are we

take care

eyes lingering

by the door. Seeing Cicely, she had an expression

“Yes.”

the hospital entrance when Charlie

“He’s in room V2010.”

wanted to say more, but Cicely didn’t give

fallen, and Hugo, exhausted, fell asleep in Cicely’s arms. Cicely, too, had closed her eyes for

suddenly spoke up, “Let me ask you one

turned to look at

at Cicely’s Mansion, and

going to keep this up? Cicely, if you want to avoid any entanglements with him, three years aren’t enough. You walk away for another three, five, or ten years. Or, just stop wasting time and get back together already. It’s clear there are feelings,

arms, her tone resigned,

we have to be together?” Cicely, still holding Hugo, headed upstairs, “We’re getting along peacefully now, and I won’t stop him from seeing

You’re still young. If you’re not with him, does that mean you won’t

someone I like or someone suitable, I’ll naturally

finding a stepfather for

gently placed him on the bed, “That’s a matter

you think you’ll find a

doesn’t matter. As long as he loves me even a little,

completely. “You really have thought this

“I’m going to see what’s for dinner. I’m

*

her inquiry. She sat down and instructed them, “Prepare some

“Right away.”

onto Lana’s plate. “I don’t have the time or the energy to embark on a

fork, her face rather cold. “Cicely, don’t mess

around? Regardless,

Lana said no more.

around eight in the evening, and Cicely got him up, fed him, and bathed him. It was past eleven when

*

IV, Seth looked around the hospital room—there

“Mr. Diaz, you’re awake!”

room again, his voice weak and hoarse. “Where

softly, “Ms. Cicely and the young master

removed the IV. Only then did he get out of bed, fighting off

Diaz, what are you

Halfway out, he asked Charlie for

drive,” Charlie insisted, noting Seth’s fever.

for a response, Charlie hurried

*