The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Seeing Cicely, Seth barely registered an emotion. She tried making conversation, but his

responses were as flat as day-old soda.

Creighton caught a glimpse of Cicely’s disappointed face, but it didn’t seem to crush her

spirit.

Just then, Cicely looked up, her eyes crashing into Creighton’s. He gave her a look that

screamed “I knew it would go down like this,” a cocktail of resignation and inevitability.

A cloud of gloom settled over Cicely. “I’ll leave you to it then,” she said, heading for the

door as Creighton called after her. “Danielle is studying, try not to disturb her when you

get back.”

“As if I want to see her. I’m not going home right now.”

“Then where will you go?”d2

“To hang out with friends.”

Her words hung in the air as the door slammed with a resounding “bang.”

Seth stood still, his chin slightly tucked, his eyes a narrow mystery.

Creighton sighed, a mix of indulgence and helplessness flavoring his breath. Later, he

turned over his ever-loyal assistant to Seth. “I’ll have him run you through everything

about Diaz International, down to the nitty-gritty. You’ve got three days to get up to speed.

If something’s not clear, ask Seb, or you can come to me anytime.”

Seth nodded.

“In a bit.” Creighton glanced at his watch, “at ten, we’ve got the senior meeting for

business. You’ll attend with me.”

Seb, overhearing this, shot a surprised look at Creighton. Seth, too, was looking his way.

He had no experience with corporate affairs, and he knew these meetings weren’t for just

anyone. He wasn’t even on the payroll.

He had a hunch about what Creighton was planning, his eyes darkening. “I don’t belong

there.”

“Whether you belong or not is for me to decide,” Creighton countered, well aware of

Seth’s concerns. “Don’t feel pressured just yet. Your capabilities are yet to be tested. I

want you at this meeting to get a feel for the environment. By choosing you, I’m choosing

to trust you.”

He locked eyes with Seth. “Even if things don’t go as planned, the Ellis family may well

end up in your hands, to care for along with Cicely.”

Seth’s lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes turbulent, but he said no more.

Creighton’s stance had always been clear. Whatever his relationship with Cicely, he

wouldn’t force it.

He coughed into his fist, and Seb was quick to hand him a glass of water, which

Creighton’s trembling hands struggled to hold.

Seth’s brow furrowed slightly.

After a sip, Creighton set the glass down and gazed at a photo frame on the desk, rubbing

his temple. The frame held a picture of him, Cicely, and Millie, taken when Cicely had just

started kindergarten, a moment captured by the school as a keepsake.

Back then, Cicely was in a beautiful pink dress, her hair exquisitely done by Millie. Her

lovely face was too cute, her smile too bright, her teeth too white, her big eyes too curved

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with joy.

It was the happiest, most innocent of smiles. Now, it’s forever out of reach even though he

could easily see her smile even today.

Since Millie’s death, he could hardly recall seeing Cicely cry. He only learned from the

housekeeper that, on the day Millie passed, Cicely had run to the Ellis family’s backyard,

wept gut-wrenchingly inside a decorative rockery, her stifled sobs overheard by a passing

gardener.

When he found her and held her, her voice soft with a thick nasal sound, her eyes swollen,

she asked him, “Daddy, will mommy never be with me again? I won’t taste her cakes or

have her braid my hair, or hear her tell me princess stories at night.”

Creighton couldn’t find words to ease her pain. All he could do was hold her close. “You

still have me,” he said.

She was too clever and sensitive. Her sobs broke free, tearing his heart to shreds. The

guilt, the pain, the sorrow – they all mingled together, overwhelming him, and he wept

with her.

That was the first and last time he heard her cry so desperately and unrestrained.

At Millie’s funeral, Cicely sat quietly in his arms, silent throughout, not shedding a single

tear. He later found out from the red-eyed housekeeper that when she took Cicely to rest,

her unusual silence had prompted concern. “Miss, if you’re upset, it’s okay to cry.” But

Cicely had just crawled under the covers and shook her head. “I’m not sad. I don’t want to

make Daddy sad.”

The housekeeper’s eyes welled up, and so did his. That was his and Millie’s precious

daughter. How could he let her suffer even a sliver of hardship now?

His affection for her, be it indulgence or spoiling, he had never regretted. He would grant

her every wish.

“Your mother will be returning to the M Country in a few days. If it’s inconvenient for you

to live alone, you’re welcome at the Diaz family.”

“No need,” Seth cut in without hesitation. “I can manage on my own.”

Creighton looked up. “What if I want you to look after Cicely?”

Seth’s voice was even. “No one would think the Ellis family can’t take care of their own

darling.”

Creighton took a deep breath. “Alright, go on now.”

Seth nodded and was the first to leave. Seb lingered, concerned, suggesting to Creighton,

“Mr. Ellis, maybe you should have a check-up at the hospital.”

Creighton waved him off. “Just leave.”

Seb didn’t push further.

—

Cicely didn’t hesitate to dial Joel’s number for a meetup. When she mentioned hanging out

with a friend, Joel was the only one who came to mind. They’d been orbiting each other’s

social spheres lately.

Joel dashed into the cafe, gasping for breath. Across the room, Cicely sat languidly in an

armchair, with a slice of cheesecake and a latte before her, gazing out the window.

She turned her head as he approached, resting her chin on her hands, a lazy smile on her

fair, lovely face.

“Was there ever such a hurry?” she teased. “Why the rush?”

Joel took a deep breath and sat down across from her. “Didn’t want to keep you waiting.”

Cicely glanced at her phone for the time and sighed, “We’ve still got plenty of time.

What’ll you have?”

“I’m not familiar with this stuff. Recommend something?”

Cicely nodded. “How about a latte?”

“Sounds good.”

While waiting for the latte, Joel asked, “Any particular reason you wanted to meet up

today?”

Cicely, her slender fingers idly scrolling on her phone, looked bored as ever. “Mmm…” she

drawled, “I did well on the exams, thanks to you. Just wanted to say thanks, treat you to

lunch.”

“You don’t have to be so formal about it. I learned a lot helping you, too. It’s mutually

beneficial.”

Cicely shook her head. “Still, I imposed on you. I don’t like owing favors.”

With nothing more to say on the matter, Joel couldn’t help but feel a tinge of

disappointment.

They lingered in the cafe until noon before heading to the adjacent bistro. “I’d think most

girls would kill time shopping rather than sitting in a cafe,” Joel remarked.

Cicely strode to the bistro’s counter, gave her name, then leaned on the polished black

marble, smiling sideways at him. “Shopping can be a delight, but it’s exhausting. I’m not

really lacking anything right now. My mood dictates my shopping sprees, and even if I did

need something…”

She blinked playfully, “Someone would usually have it ready for me.”

Joel nodded in understanding.

Of course, for Cicely, the family’s darling, her attire, custom-designed and delivered each

season, there was no need for shopping unless she fancied it.

The choice of bistro was mainly because Cicely found the online pictures charming and

quaint. Once seated, Cicely snapped a photo with her phone, touched it up, and shared it

on her social media.

Her caption read: “Feeling good, appreciation lunch.”

Seth had been swamped all morning until his pal Seb texted him for lunch. Only then did

he take a break. Rubbing his temples, he accidentally hit his phone screen and noticed

Cicely’s update at the top of his feed.

He hesitated, then clicked. Her recent post popped up first. Photos of gourmet dishes, and

words: appreciation lunch.

His eyes narrowed slightly. He hit the home button, leaving the screen and heading out.

The company cafeteria was decent, leaning toward hearty rather than exquisite.

Seth wasn’t much for talk, and Seb, accustomed to his quiet, didn’t mind their silent meal,

only speaking about work-related matters.

Seth didn’t think twice about it, but Seb was certain. Seth was in a darker mood than in

the morning.

But the reason? Seb wouldn’t dare to ask or comment. Despite his young age, it was clear

Seth was not easy to approach.

Managing a company was never a trivial task, and Seth was fully aware of that.

Throughout the day, his focus had been on the fundamentals, interlinked and essential.

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Perhaps influenced by Seb or Creighton, he received a call before the end of the workday.

“Don’t rush things,” Creighton advised. “You don’t have to be so hard on yourself. It’s

important to take your time to understand the basics thoroughly. Start slow, be thorough,

and everything will fall into place.”

“Balance work and rest for better results.”

Perhaps that was true.

With half an hour left to his workday, Seth hung up and didn’t push himself further. He

tidied his desk and left the building.

On his way home, he reopened his social feed, going straight to Cicely’s post. On the

reflective surface of the white plate, you could see a shadow.

Her classmate, the one she was thanking, who else could it be but Joel?

A sardonic smile curled at his lips. He turned off the screen, his thoughts darkening.

An urgent call to the office had canceled his plans to tutor Danielle. It wasn’t that Cicely

was particularly fond of him; it was more about possession, not wanting to give Danielle

any satisfaction. As long as he didn’t end up with Danielle, Cicely would be content.

Now she was out enjoying herself with someone else, wasn’t she? He looked out the car

window, his expression grim.

Arriving home, Patty was instructing the staff in packing, just a few clothes and many

boxes of local specialties and odds and ends.

At dinner, Patty reminded him. “I’ll be staying in M Country for a while, maybe traveling

with friends. I don’t understand the business, and I hate being around work. If you need

anything, go to Creighton. To repay him…”

Her voice trailed off, then she continued, “Just take good care of his daughter.”Books

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The sudden change in her attitude caught Seth off guard. He frowned at Patty, who smiled

knowingly. “What else does Creighton care about more than his daughter? Just play to his

interests.”

Seth’s eyes fell, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Indeed, that was the case.

“Look, I’m not saying you can dismiss Danielle entirely. You’ve got to take care of her for

me too.”

Seth’s patience wearing thin.

Patty sighed, her voice taking on an unusual edge of severity, “The debt I owe to Danielle

is something I can never repay in this lifetime, but that doesn’t mean I can just stand by

and do nothing. Seth, consider it a favor for me.”

“Do you think babysitting her is going to ease your guilt?”

Patty shook her head, “It might help me sleep a little better at night, at least.”

Seth pushed his plate aside and stood up. “You feel guilty, you want to live with a clear

conscience, so the best solution is to push her out of sight, out of mind. If you keep her

close and constantly think about compensating her with whatever means necessary, did it

ever cross your mind that one day you might spoil her rotten? And then, what grand

gesture are you planning to make up for it all? Sure, I can look after her, but how long are

you expecting me to play guardian angel?”

Patty’s expression turned icy as she put down her fork, wiped her mouth with a napkin,

and stood to face Seth. “You never used to talk to me so much about taking care of her.

Why do you make such a fuss every time it comes up now? You’re asking me how long?

Until the day I draw my last breath.”

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