The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Cicely felt a twinge in her heart, a sting she couldn’t quite place. She blinked a few times,

unable to help herself, and held her gaze steady on him. It wasn’t that she was trying to

decipher any hidden signals in his expression; she simply didn’t know what to do next.

She should be saying something assertive, something like, “There are plenty of great guys

out there. Dozens would kill to be in your shoes, Seth. I’m not desperate for you.” But

even as she thought it, such statements felt like self-deception. The so-called ‘strong’

words would sound unconvincing coming from her lips, and ridiculous to anyone listening.

Cicely had no interest in making a fool of herself for others’ amusement.

After a long moment, she brushed back her hair and tilted her head slightly, offering Seth

a faint smile. “My head’s telling me this isn’t the time for a scene.”

Her fingers intertwined nervously as she paused, her voice growing tense. Realizing she

couldn’t quite capture the right emotion to express her strength, not weakness, she let her

voice turn cold. “I can’t stand to look at you right now. Just disappear from my sight.”

The sky above them darkened, and a gust of wind whipped through the space between

them. Seth watched her quietly for a moment before standing up and widening the gap

between them.

Cicely walked past him, her footsteps echoing chaotically on the concrete. Raindrops

began to fall, pattering against the car windows—one, two, three.d2

Seth turned to watch her retreating figure grow distant. As the rain grew heavier and the

Ellis’ family butler ran to Cicely with an umbrella in a fluster, Seth finally climbed back into

the driver’s seat. He watched through the car window as Cicely entered the villa and

disappeared from view before he started the car and drove away.

She would be just fine without anyone. Who could possibly be irreplaceable to her?

*

True to her word, Seth vanished from Cicely’s life. She stayed home, not wanting to worry

Creighton with her unhappiness, and spent three days in the kitchen, learning to cook.

Everyone knew Cicely was dating Seth, and the servants all assumed her sudden interest

in cooking was to impress him, a romantic gesture common among young lovers.

Cicely had never been one for the kitchen, and the staff wouldn’t dare let her near the

stove, relegating her to picking vegetables, a task that already proved challenging

enough. Had it not been for her insistence, they wouldn’t have let her touch a knife at all.

Then, she spent most of her time dicing carrots, a task the servants assigned under the

guise of honing her knife skills.

Danielle seemed to lead a fulfilling life, rarely seen as she was busy with studies, dance,

and violin lessons.

Cicely didn’t pay much mind to Danielle’s whereabouts. Everyone had their own pursuits.

Hers was now mastering carrots in the kitchen, while Danielle chose to enrich herself in

other ways.

What a coincidence. Cicely had just heard some gossip about Danielle earlier in the

afternoon, and then Danielle ended up joining them for dinner. As dinner neared its end,

Danielle put down her fork and revealed the reason for her rare presence at the family

meal.

“A theater company approached me recently. They’re grooming actors for a new play, and

I want to pursue acting with them,” she stated matter-of-factly, not seeking approval but

merely informing them out of courtesy.

Creighton wiped his mouth with a napkin, his expression neutral. “What about your

studies?”

“I’ll try to balance both.”

“What’s the scale of the play? When is it, and how long will it run?”

“It’s a national tour—possibly international. Training starts next year, and I’ll join the

troupe. It could be a month, a year, or a decade.”

Creighton looked at her, a faint smile gracing his lips. “So you’re setting a course for your

future? A lifetime in theater?”

Danielle nodded. “I love the stage. Acting has always been my dream. If I can spend my

life doing it, I’ll be happy.”

“I thought you might join the company, with your shares in the family business.”

She offered a thin smile. “Don’t worry, I’ll make it clear and not cause any trouble.”

Creighton looked at her, chuckling softly. “You’ve always been decisive. I won’t dictate

your life, just be sure to take care of yourself.”

“I know,” Danielle replied, her voice devoid of emotion.

Cicely, who had barely touched her food, now listlessly poked at her food. Creighton

glanced at her, pursing his lips. “And you, Cicely? What are your plans?”

She lazily looked up. “Go to school, I guess.”

“You can’t be a student forever.”

After a brief pause, Cicely propped her chin on her hand. “Well. I guess I’ll join the

company.”

Danielle stood up. “I’m going to rest upstairs.”

Cicely didn’t look up at her.

Once Danielle had left the dining room, Creighton asked, “What’s going on with you and

Seth?”

Cicely paused. “Nothing much.”

“Do you know what he’s been up to?”

“Do you think he’s the kind to report his every move to me?”

Creighton watched her for a moment. “If you plan to join the company, put some effort

towards that goal. I don’t expect you to know everything, but you should be aware of the

essentials. Seth is ambitious in business, don’t just focus on your romance or any tiffs.”

“Who said we were having a tiff?” Cicely retorted.

Creighton scoffed, “Seth’s stepping out from both family businesses and is getting

involved in showbiz. How come you’re out of the loop?”

Cicely paused her fidgeting with the napkin and looked at Creighton with a touch of

surprise, “He’s aiming to be an actor? Hmm. With those looks of his, if he has even a

smidgen of talent, he’d be an overnight sensation.”

Creighton pinched the bridge of his nose, “He’s looking to invest. What on earth are you

daydreaming about?” The notion of Seth seeking the spotlight as an actor was

preposterous.

Cicely blinked, not too astonished, “Why the sudden interest in pouring money into

movies?”

“The entertainment scene at home is just kicking off, and it’s booming.”

“I see.” Cicely’s reaction cooled, “He’s sharp, a real money-maker. If there’s a juicy

opportunity, it’s no wonder he’d take a bite.”

Creighton watched Cicely for a while, then let out a silent sigh.

*

Staring at a phone that did nothing but push ads, Cicely was all tangled up in annoyance.

She wanted to chat with someone, yet she realized there wasn’t anyone available for a

heart-to-heart, especially not about the messy topic of love.

She opened the class group chat and scrolled through the list of members, finding that

aside from Joel, with whom she could exchange a few words, she hadn’t really interacted

with the others.

Just as she was about to leave, disappointed, Joel reached out to her. [Rare to catch you

online.

What have you been up to?]

Cicely replied, [Busy playing chef with carrots in the kitchen.]

Joel: [Whipping up a homemade meal for your boyfriend?]

Cicely: [Just a spur-of-the-moment thing.]

Joel: [You seem down.]

Cicely: [I’m a bit frustrated.]

Joel: [How can you be with a boyfriend in the picture?]

Cicely hesitated for a moment, [He’s really busy.]

Joel also fell silent for a spell before responding, [There’s a Queen of the Night garden on

the outskirts of town, and they’re expected to bloom tonight. Wanna check it out? You

could invite him along.]

Cicely: [I don’t want to be the one reaching out to him.]

It took Joel a while to reply, [I’ve planned a meetup with a few classmates to go see it. Do

you want to come clear your head?]

After pondering for a moment, Cicely sent back one word—[Sure.]

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