The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Chapter 2055

The fury that had been brewing now crashed over Cicely like waves in a tempest, and she felt as if the explosion that had rocked her world was detonating once again inside her head. "You think he got what he deserved? You say his death was justified?"

Patty, shaken by the wild rage emanating from Cicely, trembled from head to toe. In her panic, she raised the paring knife she'd been nervously gripping, "What are you trying to do?"

Cicely froze, her figure rigid as a statue. Patty's heart steadied, and her face relaxed into a cold, mocking smile. "Am I wrong? I didn't ask you to come save me. You made that choice on your own, dragging that spineless lapdog up here to his doom. If you hadn't come, how could he have possibly died?"

The veins on Cicely's forehead stood out starkly against her skin, distinctly outlining the extreme anger she felt. "Even if I did come up because I was being stupid, but if you hadn't stalled me for Danielle, Danielle would have been fine, and Issac wouldn't have died. No one in their right mind would have said something like that."

Even Danielle, lying in her bed, sensed the dangerous mood that Cicely was in, especially upon seeing the sharp paring knife in Patty's hand. Her eyes flickered. Pushing through the searing pain in her body, she propped herself up and spat out each word with her raspy voice. "Cicely, don't forget, you were the one who said you wanted to go upstairs to fetch your wedding dress. So, even if we had boarded the rescue helicopter right from the start, Issac wouldn't have left. He might have even gone back for you."

Cicely's face stiffened suddenly.d2

Danielle's voice was now interspersed with painful gasps, "Besides, it was Issac who shielded you with his body. No matter what, you can't blame Issac's death on me and Patty."

Cicely was speechless. No matter her reasons for wanting to go upstairs for that wedding dress at such a time, it didn't matter anymore. Patty and Danielle was right. She had known it from the start.

Still, Issac had still saved them. They owed Issac a debt of gratitude, not to say something as unforgivable as his death being deserved.

How could there be such shameless people?

Her hands clenched into fists, her body trembling with barely suppressed rage.

Patty was gloating, reveling in Cicely's pain. It was evident on her face, uncontrollable smugness. Cicely and the late Millie were so similar, not just in looks but in temperament. Millie was a nothing more than a call girl, lived more lavishly and arrogantly than anyone else, always looking down on others. And yet, all the men seemed to have a soft spot for her.

Even when Millie had died, Patty hadn't seen her humiliated or in pain. Now, she was witnessing it through her daughter. She could almost see Millie's pain in Cicely's anguish.

A cruel smile tinged with satisfaction and triumph flickered in Patty's eyes. Cicely wanted to hurt her, badly, by any means necessary.

After a long silence, Cicely suddenly let out a soft laugh and slowly began. "Patty, do you know why I came to save you? It wasn't because I was scheming against you and trying to gain your favor. You probably haven't realized yet..."

She pulled a faint smile and slowly lifted her left hand. As Patty's gaze shifted to her hand, Cicely continued in a mocking tone, "We're already married."

Patty's face contorted in shock, and even Danielle on the sickbed stared incredulously at Cicely.

Cicely felt vindicated. No wonder Patty could confront her with such extreme, grating words. Now she kind of realized it. It was indeed quite pleasant and relieving.

"Just a few days after Ray nearly forced himself on me, Seth proposed."

Patty's already fragile composure shattered, "You're lying!"

"Have you really never seen a similar ring on Seth? Or do you want to see the marriage certificate? It's in the drawer of the bedroom at Seth's apartment."

Patty froze for a few seconds, staring at the ring on Cicely's finger, her expression twisting even more grotesquely. "No! I don't believe it! He promised me..."

Cicely cut her off, cool and dismissive, "Then why would he suddenly propose to me? Especially when I had already given up on him. Now that I think about it, I was with another man around that time. Perhaps he's fallen for me?"

"Shut your mouth!" Patty was struggling to control herself, the knife in her hand quivering, "He would never fall for you. He promised me."

Cicely nodded, feigning understanding, "Well, so other than him loving me, I really can't think of why he would choose to marry me behind your back."

"It was for the Ellis Group shares, nothing more."

Cicely's eyes flickered, "If that's the case, being open about it would have been better. Why lie to you? I can't understand."

Danielle, slowly recovering from her shock, eyed the trembling knife in Patty's hand and bit her lip. "Cicely, if you're done, could you please leave? I heard from Seth that your father is not out of the woods yet, and his time might be running out. You should spend time with him instead."

Cicely's gaze suddenly darkened as she turned to Danielle, her eyes icy, "What are you talking about? Who says my dad's time is running out..."

Danielle noticed Patty's gaze piercing her and continued despite the searing pain, "Seth told me. They have been keeping it a secret because of Patty."

"What? Creighton is dying? Creighton is dying?!" Patty's shrill voice cut in abruptly. Cicely frowned and as she turned, she saw Patty's crazed gaze fixed on her, the knife lunging toward her belly.

Cicely, in shock, instinctively shielded her stomach and stumbled backward. Patty lunged again. "It's all your fault! You are jinx!"

Cicely stumbled backward, her retreat halted by the hutch behind her. Trapped, she had no choice but to reach out and grasp Patty's wrist. "What the hell is wrong with you?!"

The trembling in Patty's hands seemed to emanate from deep within her, sending shivers through Cicely's taut nerves. Patty's eyes were bloodshot, tears streaming down her cheeks as she glared at Cicely, unable to mask the madness and hatred. "It's all because of you! If it weren't for you, Creighton would be fine. Everyone would be fine. You're like a curse. You might as well drop dead, go find Millie and stop tormenting the living."

Cicely was still reeling from Patty's emotional outburst. Did she really care about her father's condition this much? What was going through Patty’s mind?

If Patty loved her father so much, why did Patty want to kill her now?

"Seth promised me, he would never fall for you." Patty's vision swirled between the image of Millie and Cicely. One moment it was Millie's face, the next it was Cicely's, flipping back and forth.

Cicely, seeing Patty's bewildered look, glanced down at the knife in her hand. Just as she thought to wrestle it away, Patty suddenly tightened her grip on Cicely's hand.

Cicely frowned, but then Patty gave her a cruel smile. "I told you once at Diaz International, even if I die, I'll make sure Seth hates you for the rest of his life."

Before Cicely could process her words, Patty yanked Cicely's hand, turned the knife handle, and plunged it into her own chest.

Cicely's eyes widened in horror as Patty, clutching her hand, yanked the knife out, blood spraying onto Cicely's face and clothes. Patty then slowly released her grip, watching as her warm blood painted Cicely's hands a vivid red.

As Patty's body began to slide down, she clung to Danielle's hospital bed, gripping the blanket tightly. "Danielle..."

Her agonized expression spoke volumes. That word was alreay her limit. Her grip was on the blanket indescribably tight, her eyes locked onto Danielle's, as if trying to convey a message.

The sight filled Danielle with terror, and she finally let out a piercing scream. "Patty, somebody... somebody help!"

The door burst open as Shane and two men who had been following Cicely rushed in. The scene stunned them into silence.

Patty lay beside the bed, drenched in blood, while Cicely stood with bloody hands, holding a bloodstained knife, her clothes and face splattered.

Shane was the first to snap out of it and called for a doctor in shock.

Danielle fainted. The room descended into chaos, and Cicely stood frozen in place, receiving suspicious and avoidant glances from the medical staff.

Cicely was terrified. She might have been tough and brash, but she had never witnessed such a gory scene, especially not this close.

Eventually, she was ushered out of the room by the hospital staff, stumbling to the restroom where she shakily washed the blood from her hands, face, and body. Then, in a daze, she made her way to Creighton's intensive care unit.

She arrived before visiting hours and stood outside the unit, lost and motionless. The two men who had been with her immediately called Seth, unsure of what else to do as they stood by her side.

In a daze, she overheard a commotion behind her.

"Who are you guys? Step aside."

"Sorry, but you need to leave immediately."

A few seconds of silence followed.

"Cicely."

Cicely blinked, slowly lifting her head and turning toward the familiar voice.

A beautiful woman stood before her, well-preserved, exuding a mature elegance distinct from the youthful grace of a young lady, an air of graceful allure and undeniable fortitude softening her features.

Cicely stared in confusion at the familiar yet somehow distant figure and murmured, "Auntie Lana..."

Lana's clear eyes fixed on her, and with a slight frown, she tapped Cicely's forehead. "Look at you, such a mess." The tap was firm, enough to make Cicely wince and step aside.

Lana could see Cicely's abnormal reaction. With a furrowed brow, Lana stepped forward, cradling her niece's face. "What's wrong?"

Cicely's eyes flickered, and she shook her head slightly, but tears filled her eyes nonetheless.

Lana had braced herself, but seeing Cicely's tears, she was still taken aback. She hadn't seen her cry even when Millie had passed away.

Considering everything Cicely had been through, Lana took a deep breath and pulled her into an embrace. Stroking her hair, Lana whispered softly, "It's okay, I am here now."

Seth raced to the hospital. Patty was in critical condition. Shane tried to recount the scene they had witnessed upon entering the room.

Patty was stabbed in the chest, the blood-stained knife was in Cicely's hand, and Danielle lay passed out in the hospital bed.

Shane was careful with his words, not wanting to influence Seth's perception of the events, but no matter how it was explained, everything seemed to point to Cicely.

Seth arrived at Creighton's ICU and saw Cicely standing with another woman, deep in conversation.

The two men in black sighed in relief when they saw Seth. "Mr. Diaz."

Cicely tensed.

Lana turned, appraising the young man before her. Handsome, young yet possessing a calm and detachment beyond his years. But still, he was too young; despite his attempts at composure, Lana's experienced eyes could see through his façade.

He’s a good man. No wonder Cicely had fallen for him.

"So you are Seth? My niece's husband?" Lana's words had clarified Seth's confusion.

Turning his gaze to Cicely, whose face was ghastly pale, he asked, "Your aunt?"

Cicely staredat Seth, her silence lingering for a few seconds before she spoke indifferently, "Your mother might be in critical condition."

"Since you've already decided on a divorce, her condition is none of your business, and there's no need for you to worry." Lana was always decisive and straightforward. Once she had made up her mind about right and wrong, even if misguided, she stuck to it tenaciously, a trait that had often caused her husband headaches.

At her words, Seth's face darkened immediately, "Who said we're getting a divorce?"

"If the marriage is beyond saving, why not let it go? Do you really think you can act as if nothing has happened and continue living together? It's better to part on good terms while you're still young, so neither of you wastes the other's life."

Seth didn't respond to Lana but kept his eyes intently on Cicely, his voice flat and emotionless. "Did you say that?"

Lana narrowed her eyes at the arrogant man.

Cicely nodded, "I'll give you the shares of the Ellis Group."

"Is Issac dead?"

At the mention of Issac, Cicely's eyes shook, and she looked up at Seth with a cold stare, "You're asking me?"

"So he's not dead, which means we can't get a divorce."

Anger swelled in Cicely's heart, "Seth, just to avoid a divorce, you would stoop so low? Did you have something to do with Issac's disappearance? Unless I see him leave with my own eyes, or hear of his death, we're bound by marriage?"

"Think what you want."

Cicely suddenly let out a chilly laugh, "I asked your mother, 'Do you love me?' She went mad, insisting you couldn't possibly fall for me, and I agreed it was unlikely. But look at your actions now. Could it be that you've truly fallen for me?"

Seth's hand in his pocket clenched slightly, his eyes narrowing, "What exactly did you tell my mother?"

Cicely sneered, "She suggested I saved her to use her to capture your heart. I told her we're married, at your proposal. And I asked her if you loved me."

Seth's brooding gaze locked onto her, sharp and profound.

Lana wasn't interested in their emotional entanglement. Glancing at the time, she spoke up, "I'll go talk to the doctor, arrange for a discharge as soon as possible. I'll take your dad and you first, and then we'll arrange for someone to bring your grandfather over."

As she said this, she was already walking away but paused mid-way, casting a glance at Seth before turning to Cicely, "If he refuses to divorce, you don't need to talk so much with him. If I remember correctly, the marriage law states that, under irreconcilable differences, living apart for two years will automatically dissolve a marriage."

Cicely nodded, "I'll come with you."

As she moved to follow Lana, Seth caught her wrist. "Cicely," he began quietly, his voice finally revealing a trace of restraint, "Do you really think I'd let you leave just like that?"

"Why don't you go ahead and finalize our divorce?"

Seth stared at her silently, his voice subdued and steady, "Be sensible. Don't provoke me."

Cicely's heart sank a little. "It sounds like you're planning on killing me if I insist on leaving?"

"No."

"That's good. So, I'll be leaving and I'll complete other procedures two years later."

Visible impatience and anger finally surfaced on Seth's face. "Did you not hear or not understand what I said?"

Cicely was startled by his low growl. For a moment, she was silent. The grip on her wrist tightened. He spoke again, his gentle voice marked by deliberate stiffness. "Behave, Cicely. Don't push me..."

Suddenly, Cicely was gripped by palpitations. Painfully, she twisted her arm, trying to break free from his shackles. She didn't answer him verbally, but her actions gave him an answer.

He stared at her, the darker his gaze was, the tighter his grip became instinctively as she struggled.

Cicely winced. A thin layer of sweat had pushed through her forehead.

Lana frowned, stepped forward, and grasped his hand, intending to help Cicely escape but found his grip as unyielding as iron claws embedded in her skin. Lana was slightly surprised. In the end, it was with all her strength that she managed to break his fingers.

At the moment his grip loosened, Lana quickly pulled Cicely behind her, eyeing Seth with a wary gaze, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of his dark, bottomless eyes.

What kind of look was that? It was deep, unfathomable, as if stacking dry wood and bones at the bottom of an abyss, devoid of sound, wind, breath, or life.

She held Cicely tightly and hurried away. She had never seen such a gaze before, one that seemed to live in eternal night.

Lana looked back at Cicely and wondered if she realized what kind of man she had provoked.

Seth stood watching their retreating figures emotionlessly. His lips parted slowly, almost soundlessly. "I told you, don't provoke me."