The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Damon wasn’t one for the pleasantries.

The surgery had been a success; as far as he was concerned, Seth waking up was just a matter of time, the worst-case scenario being a bit of a waiting game.

Lana’s words fell on deaf ears as Damon’s gaze remained fixed on Cicely, his voice firm, “Once should be enough of a lesson. If we drag this out, are you really waiting for him to throw in another life for good measure?”

Cicely’s heart skipped a beat, her emotions betrayed by her face, and Damon, seeing this, was satisfied. He turned to Chloe, who was huddled in his arms, and deftly fastened the buttons of her trench coat collar. “If you don’t agree to get hitched, I won’t meddle in whether he lives or dies after this. But if you do tie the knot…”

After adjusting Chloe’s coat and tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear with a half-smile, Damon’s gaze shifted back to Cicely. “There might just be an absolute stunner of a surprise in it for you.”

Cicely’s brow furrowed. “What do you think could possibly surprise me now?”d2

Damon’s lips curled into a smirk. “If I say there’s a surprise, there definitely is one. If you’re curious, why not walk down the aisle and find out?”

The crowd exchanged glances, wordless. They all knew Damon was breaking his back over Seth. He was pulling out all the stops – carrot and stick.

Kane and Nathan exchanged a knowing look. Damon was going all out for Seth; they’d make sure Seth knew it and was eternally grateful to Damon.

*

Three days felt like an eternity. Damon’s few words had completely spooked Cicely. Seth was still not out of the woods, and anything they feared could happen at any moment.

The ICU strictly prohibited visitors. The round-the-clock vigilance was torturous.

Seven days later, Seth came to and was moved to a regular room. Cicely, along with Hugo, visited him. Her expression was neutral, revealing no emotion.

Fourteen days later, Seth was off medical support. Cicely still showed little emotion, visiting at the same time every day, just before noon, always with Hugo. They never brought lunch; it was always Charlie who brought it, and the three of them ate together. Seth ate his share, Cicely sat on the sofa feeding Hugo, and occasionally herself.

Nathan and Kane were daily fixtures, their banter often ending with Seth sending them away with a cold glance. Yet the next day, they were back again.

One month later, Seth was planning his discharge, and the hospital had given the green light.

In that month, Cicely had scarcely spoken a few words to him. She came every day, ate lunch with Hugo in his room, and then went upstairs to see Erik.

On the day of Seth’s discharge, Cicely arrived early. Hugo had been restless all night and woke up at the crack of dawn. Cicely, roused by his fussing and unable to vent on Hugo, bottled up her frustration.

At 8:30 AM she was at the hospital, Seth no longer in bed. He stood by the window, already dressed, and despite the severity of his injuries, he never once appeared disheveled. Seth was standing upright at this point, cell phone in his right hand, talking on the phone.

As Hugo entered, he joyously called out to his father. Seth turned his head, his gaze shifting from Hugo to Cicely, unblinking, his thin lips suddenly uttering a few emotionless words. “I’ve got to go. Something’s come up.”

Cicely had just overheard him say “Don’t press it.,” but before she could ponder it, Seth was by her side. He grabbed her wrist. “Up with the birds today?”

Cicely looked at him, her tone detached. “Thanks to him.”

She pushed Hugo toward Seth, feeling jealous.

Seth looked down as Hugo gazed up at him adoringly, sandwiched between his father and Cicely. Seth smiled faintly, ruffled Hugo’s hair, and gently nudged him aside. Taking a few steps forward, he enveloped Cicely in his embrace.

Hugo stood to the side, suddenly feeling superfluous, his little lips pouting. He wandered out to the adjoining room, familiar with the place after a month of visits. On the coffee table lay his unfinished coloring book.

As Seth inhaled the subtle scent of her neck, he spoke, his voice a low murmur in her ear. “You haven’t paid much attention to me this month.” There was a hint of accusation and hurt in his tone.

Cicely pressed her lips together, her eyes cold as they fell upon the neatly made hospital bed. “Does it still hurt?” she asked, her voice frosty.

Seth hugged her tighter. “Not anymore.”

Silence filled the room.

Eventually, she pushed him away and looked up into his handsome face, towering over her by a good margin. She smiled slyly and then slapped his cheek with a swift motion.

Seth’s face turned with the force of the slap, a clear handprint appearing on his chiseled features. Yet, there was no other sign of emotion; he remained as composed and aristocratic as if the slap had landed on someone else’s cheek.

Seconds later, he turned his head back to face Cicely’s sardonic smile. He took her hand, his fingers spreading hers, gently kneading her palm. “Doesn’t hurt?”

Cicely’s fingertips trembled.

to

up at her again,

red, her voice quivering. “Do you feel

her, he saw the fear, the aftershock, the anger, and even more emotions that made it clear to him.

tiny outlet had suddenly been forced open, and all the

pulling back her hand from his grip, she clenched it into a fist and began pounding on his shoulder, her voice strained with tension. “Seth, you’re an absolute

past, she would never have expended her energy on blind rage, let alone display the hysterical outburst she was showing now. Maybe she had never been pushed this far

Cicely’s words, he was momentarily stunned. His chest roiled, but he couldn’t hide the surge of elation in his heart. He grabbed her hands, pulling her tightly into his arms,

joy was like a sting to Cicely, fueling her anger even more. “Amusing,

“You’re worried about me.”

into his own heart played on repeat whenever she closed her eyes. The shimmering silver of the blade

the steel pierced his chest, it was she who felt as if death itself were upon her. As the vision slipped through

deep and husky voice a soothing balm in her ear.

I don’t want to hear that word

“I apologize.”

Cicely’s breath hitched.

I do everything with the sole purpose of being with you, so nothing’s going to happen to

I’m still the naive girl you could easily comfort? Everyone related to you was there that day, even Damon wasn’t sure he could save

with another man. You love me the most, and I can’t let you lose me. You’d

her face. “You say

tears away, kissing the tip of her nose,

was hoarse, kissing away her tears, “you know it’s always been you. Ever since you first said you liked me, loved me, I’ve been terrified that one day you’d

breath caught. She looked up at him, her eyelashes

kissed her. “You say you like me, but I’m not that great. I’ve always been worried that once your novelty of me wears off, and you realize I’m not as perfect as you thought, you’d leave me without hesitation. So I wondered if you would always love me and stay by my side as long as I am good enough, strong enough, worthy enough to give

him open up like this before, laying all his fears

love was just a whim, and she’d let

he was afraid of these things too. She thought she was

feeling all too familiar. “So you’ve always

it’s that I didn’t

born with

about now?”

“I still don’t understand.”

to pierce hers, “So you need

was erratic, but her frown deepened, “I’m not qualified, and I don’t

then we’ll learn and explore

who gave you the impression that everything is just like it was

now, even if you wanted to.” His brow furrowed, his tone unwavering, “You’ll see if you can ever

leaned down to claim the lips

uncertain. She was backed up against the

felt a release in his chest. It happened in the instant Cicely slapped

tantrums in his presence were far preferable to her previous indifferent calm. Her

uncontrollable, Cicely reeling but still clinging to a sliver of

and she hadn’t planned on anything happening here.

After a prolonged kiss, he nibbled at her earlobe, his deep, throaty voice seeping into her ear. “How about we

Cicely’s ear, sending a shiver through her as she turned her head slightly away.

a moment, “The doctor says I need three months

a wry smile on her face, “Aren’t you good at freeloading? It’s not far, you

door was knocked, ending their

their marital home

visit perfectly to freeload a meal. And

*

the news about Danielle

internet was ablaze. All the background and consequences were dug up

years of emotional deceit, mocking him disdainfully, and

been sent to prison years ago based on Danielle’s false testimony in court. Even Seth’s Mother killing herself and blaming Cicely for doing that was orchestrated by Danielle. Danielle’s charge of premeditated murder was established, with evidence publicly disclosed by

that, Seth might have had ulterior motives, but his kindness to Danielle over the past three years was well known. Not only was she the most popular artist of C&P Entertainment, but she also reigned supreme as the queen bee of the entire western showbiz industry. Every imaginable advantage was handed to her on a silver

was relentless, regardless of how sensational the news or how heated the gossip.

name was in everyone’s mouth again these days, and for a notorious reason. Danielle had been diagnosed with

a person is found to have a mental