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.

hand to

at her again, his

red, her voice quivering. “Do you feel relieved now? Like you’ve finally gotten it off

stared at her, he saw the fear, the aftershock, the anger, and even more emotions that made it clear to him. Her indifference and calm of the past days had

been forced open,

from his grip, she clenched it into a fist

infuriated in the past, she would never have expended her energy on blind rage, let alone display the hysterical outburst

heard Cicely’s words, he was momentarily stunned. His chest roiled, but he couldn’t hide the surge of elation in his heart.

was like a sting to Cicely, fueling her anger

“You’re worried about me.”

the haunting image of him plunging a knife into his own heart played on repeat whenever she closed her eyes. The shimmering silver of the blade seemed to shorten inch by inch before her, a cruel mimicry of how

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

his deep and husky

I don’t want to

“I apologize.”

Cicely’s breath hitched.

hand glided up her back, “I told you I’d be okay. I do everything

easy for you to say now that you’re okay, Seth. Do you think 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 you. There you were, lying unconscious in the

to be with you. I owe you. I haven’t yet made it up to you. I can’t bear the thought of you with another man. You love me the most, and I can’t let you lose me. You’d be scared, lost, taking all the blame on yourself, drowning in guilt. I won’t let

a cold, mocking laugh, tears streaming down her face. “You say you have to live, and so

reached out to wipe her tears away, kissing the

voice was hoarse, kissing away her tears, “you know it’s always been you. Ever since you first said you liked

breath caught. She looked up at him,

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 you what no one else

this before, laying all his fears bare

he afraid? Afraid her love was just a whim, and

these things too. She thought she was

the feeling all too familiar. “So you’ve always

it’s that I

born with

now?” asked

“I still don’t understand.”

“So you need to teach me well. I’m

her frown deepened, “I’m not qualified, and

learn and

impression that everything is just like it was

promised me, and there’s no backing out now, even if you wanted to.” His brow furrowed, his tone unwavering, “You’ll see

down to

hovered in mid-air, uncertain. She was backed up against the

a release in his chest. It happened in the instant Cicely slapped him. Rather than the shock

her previous indifferent calm. Her willingness

Cicely reeling but still clinging to a sliver

would come to visit, and she hadn’t planned on anything happening here. This situation would

at her earlobe, his deep, throaty voice seeping

and kisses tickled Cicely’s ear, sending a shiver through her

“The doctor says I need three months to fully

on her face, “Aren’t you good at freeloading? It’s

was knocked, ending their

to their marital home

timed his visit perfectly to freeload a

*

month, the news about Danielle

on camera by the media, the internet was ablaze. All the background and consequences were dug up by netizens,

of emotional deceit, mocking him disdainfully, and many

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 legal

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

was relentless, regardless of how sensational the news or how heated the gossip. Yet, after a month or so, the storm would always

was in everyone’s mouth again these days, and for a notorious reason. Danielle

to the law, if a person is found to have