The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

The silence in the room was palpable, punctuated only by the soft dance of dust motes in the slanting sunlight that filtered through the curtains.

After what felt like an eternity, Seth’s chuckle broke the stillness, low and unexpected.

Cicely’s frown creased her smooth forehead.

Sitting up, Seth wrapped an arm around her, his lean, dark eyes heavy upon her. His lips curved in a gentle smile and his fingers caressed her cheek with such tenderness, his voice was disarmingly soft. “You said you still love me.”

Cicely’s lips, pink and full, pressed tightly together, and she remained silent.

Seth smiled, his long fingers hooking her jaw. Cicely’s delicate face and those scarlet lips always had an allure that one couldn’t help but kiss.d2

He didn’t resist; he leaned in and kissed her lightly.

Cicely’s gaze dropped, her eyelashes fluttering uncontrollably.

“You’re right. There’s a debt between us, lives taken that makes being together without remorse impossible. But I want to be with you.”

Cicely closed her eyes. They circled back to where they started.

Seth’s hand, previously caressing her cheek, retracted, and he looked at her with a faint smile. “What if I said I was willing to pay it back?”

Cicely blinked, confused. “Pay back what?”

“Life.”

The single word sent Cicely’s mind reeling.

What life? How could it be repaid? “What are you talking about?” she asked, her voice trembling despite herself.

“Our barrier is two lives. If I could repay them, would you agree to be with me?”

Cicely stood frozen, her complexion paling.

Seth watched her, a smile playing on his lips as he couldn’t help but touch her cheek again. “Speak up, Cicely. Is that it? If I could repay those lives, would you agree to be with me?”

She shook her head, taking a long moment before swatting his hand away. “Are you threatening me? Are you so sure I would never agree to such absurdity that you dare to propose it? Fine, yes. If you could pay it back, I would agree to be with you. So, what now? How will you pay? What will you pay with?”

Cicely was furious. He exploited her feelings for him time and again, certain of any outcome. Did he think as long as she loved him, he could always make her compromise?

Seth’s lips twitched, with a light smile in his dark eyes. “No backing out.” With that, he kissed her again, this time with a relaxed ease that pressed her back into the mattress in a barrage of kisses.

Cicely furrowed her brow. So, what now? His words were just talk.

After showering her in kisses until she was flushed, Seth finally released her, satisfied, and swung his legs off the bed to head into the bathroom.

When he returned, Cicely had already changed into her home clothes. He reached for her hand. “Let’s go have breakfast.”

Cicely glanced at him. “This is my house.”

just smiled and said

the bedroom when Cicely halted. “Hugo

kid would starve if we

they saw Lana cradling Hugo, who clutched

dark eyes lit up. “Mommy, Daddy,

Cicely was speechless.

her downstairs. He walked over to Lana and reached

shook his head. “Nope, I already ate a hot dog

take you

the rush? You’re trying to get rid of us

to witness our

Lana’s face darkened.

pulled away from Seth.

her back into his embrace.

Lana did take him out. Seth’s words from earlier suggested he had more

room atmosphere lightened considerably, even as Cicely ate with an expressionless

salt and pepper, and a sandwich, fresh and neatly made with vibrant green lettuce and red tomatoes—a

utensils and looked at the man opposite her, who had finished eating and was now

“Full?”

asked, “Do you have something else to say to

without a word, he stood up, collected the dishes, and headed

squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, then followed him into the kitchen. Watching Seth’s bent form as he washed the dishes, she pressed her lips

are more impatient for us to be together than I am.” He placed the last dish on the rack, turned, and smiled

keep lingering in this

“Hmm.”

a clean towel, leaned back against the

left. “If you have nothing else

Seth paused. “I do.”

paring knife from the knife block on the

echoed in her mind, the initial confusion turning into a cold drench as she saw the knife. “What are

you dare

looked at her seriously and calmly. “If you’re afraid, then I’ll do it. It’s the

a ghost, shook her head, her voice

drag this out any longer. Sorry to scare you, but this is something I must do. It seems to be the only way I can

as casually as pinning a boutonniere to his

her eyes widening to their utmost as the blade, inch by inch, disappeared into his chest. She stood there, stunned, as if her breath had been stolen, and her heart ceased to beat. Her blood had instantly

losing their hue, as he leaned heavily against

not

pressed against hers, his voice tender and his eyelashes fluttering with emotion. “It’s all my fault. I’m the one who messed with Ray. I couldn’t shake off Danielle, and I decided to turn you in to the authorities. I was the one who

finally blinked, her breathing returning,

with you. If I die, I lose

finally succumbed to the pain, his knees buckling as he knelt on the floor, his hand braced against his knee, his breathing growing labored. Blood dripped onto the floor, and

wrist, his voice deliberately steady but with a quiver. “You promised me. Don’t back

running to the living room to make a frantic call. Her fingers shook as she dialed. “Hello, this is Cicely’s Mansion, someone’s been stabbed. Please, help. We

sooner had Cicely’s voice faded than the sound of sirens filled the air outside. The front door

phone, “Kitchen… he’s in the