The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Chapter 2058

Cicely found herself behind bars in the local detention center. Lana had pulled every string within the Ellis family's extensive network. Yet, astoundingly, she couldn't spring Cicely from jail.

She couldn't fathom who was backing Seth. She refused to believe that Seth, despite his capabilities and the power wielded by his Diaz International, could hold more sway than the entire Ellis clan, especially given his tender years.

The first night in lockup, Cicely lay awake. The cell was unlike anything she'd imagined. A private room, spotless and tidy, with brand-new bedding – the same brand she'd always favored. Dinner was served to her: a balanced meal with both meat and veggies, and at bedtime, a glass of milk was delivered.

Was this really the quality of life in a detention center?

But Cicely was no fool. What was Seth playing at?

He had her arrested, then pampered her with good food and comfort. Did he think this would soften her resolve? Or did he believe that by giving her perks, she would overlook past issues and remain by his side, content and oblivious?d2

Had she been too easy to appease in the past, giving him the impression he could always win her back, no matter the hurt he caused?

She ate the dinner, drank the milk, then sat on the bed hugging her knees, staring blankly for a while before lying down.

Seth stood outside the intensive care unit, an emotionless mask on his face. His tall, rigid figure a steadfast sentinel there for over an hour.

Charlie kept a watchful eye on Cicely's situation in the detention center, and it was only when reporting to Seth that a trace of emotion flickered across his stoic face.

"Ma’am has eaten her dinner, albeit not much."

"She drank the milk."

"She sat on the bed, lost in thought."

"She has gone to sleep."

With each update, Charlie noticed Seth's tense frame relax ever so slightly before tightening up again.

Patty had survived the emergency room, but lay in the ICU where complications could arise at any moment.

The Ellis family, Diaz International, and C&P all needed Seth's attention. He’d even had someone keep tabs on Mr. Ellis' situation and also Danielle, not to mention the myriad of other complex issues converging upon him. Now, deep into the night, he finally had a moment to himself, standing vigil.

Today, the fact that Mr. Diaz had signed the critical condition notice and then left his mother's side in the emergency room to attend Cicely's interrogation was, to anyone else, a serious misjudgment of priorities. Had the worst happened, would Mr. Diaz have regretted it for a lifetime?

"Mr. Diaz, there's a lot to handle tomorrow. You should rest now."

After a silent moment, Seth slowly lifted his gaze toward the ICU doors before finally turning to leave. "You should rest early too."

＊

Three days later.

The court session was scheduled for 2 PM. In the morning, Lana went to the Ellis Group to find Seth. His secretary, not recognizing Lana, tried to stop her but nonetheless, Lana barged into his office.

Several sharp-suited individuals were in the office, each exuding an aura of success and expertise.

Their faces were stern as they spoke with Seth, indicating a significant disagreement. Seth sat expressionless, unfazed by Lana's unexpected entrance.

Initially, her intrusion sparked irritation, but Lana furrowed her brow, "Out, all of you. I need to speak with him."

One man, offended by her manner, started to retort but was quickly pulled aside and led out by a colleague. "Let's go, no more words. That's Mr. Erik's daughter."

Once the door closed behind them, Lana approached Seth's desk, looking down at him thoughtfully. It wasn't hard for her to guess that these men had been trying to pressure Seth, the Ellis Group's current figurehead amidst the chaos. His cool, composed demeanor was not typical for someone his age.

"Are you dead set on not releasing Cicely?" she asked.

Seth's gaze slowly met hers, "The last thing you should've done was come back, and you definitely should not have urged her to leave. Erik will recover, as will her father. Why did you plan to take her away?"

Lana's frown deepened, "What do you think the reason is?"

Seth diverted his eyes to a trinket on his desk that Cicely had placed there. "Everything will be resolved. It was you, who gave her a choice before I could fix things. Without you, she only had me."

Lana watched him silently, then suddenly let out a bitter laugh.

Seth watched her with a cold, hard stare.

Her laughter turned into tears, "Seth, Cicely said you don't love her, but..."

She locked eyes with him, the chilling laughter continuing, "Not only do you love her, you don't even realize how much. Haven't you noticed? Your love has turned you into a madman."

"Your mother loved my older brother but ended up marrying your father. I know she could live with the lie forever, but if she knew, the truth would utterly destroy her. Your mother has always been fiercely competitive, very stubborn since she was young. So, you can imagine the lengths your father went to pursue her. But I also think that's why she'd be utterly devastated by the truth – your father's efforts weren’t out of love for her, but deeper love for my sister-in-law. He married your mother to secure a worry-free life for Millie. Your mother's love was obsessive, and it seems you're just like her. And you are also like your father, capable of even crueler, colder acts for love."

As she spoke, Lana watched Seth's face turn to stone, the smile fading from her own. "Your mother would never let you fall for Cicely, let alone marry her. But you went ahead and got married. Seth, are you just planning to drag this out?"

Seth's brow suddenly furrowed with intense irritation.

"Cicely thinks you're conning her for the Ellis Group shares, but in reality, you're trying to deceive your own mother, aren't you? How long do you plan to keep up this charade? Until the day she dies?"

Abruptly, Seth rose from his chair, his voice hard as steel, "Have you said enough?"

Lana's lips curved into a sly smile as she continued, "Have you ever, even for a fleeting moment, wished for your mother to pass away sooner?"

"Enough!" It was as if a venomous sting had struck a raw nerve. Seth's low growl was filled with a dark, terrifying wrath that sent shivers down the spine.

Yet from his reaction, Lana garnered the answer she sought. "Lunatic."

Seth's body tensed, the coldness on his handsome face was palpable.

"Seth, I'm asking you one last time, are you going to drop the charges or not?"

"Do you really think I'd wait all this time just to drop the charges?"

Lana slammed her hand down on the table, her voice rising sharply. "But, after all this time, Cicely hasn't budged an inch. We're talking about a detention center here. Do you actually plan to throw her behind bars?!"

Seth's fists clenched on the desk, his suit sleeves stretched so tight they threatened to rip. "The choice is hers. She doesn't have to choose jail."

Lana closed her eyes briefly. "By doing this, you're only driving her further away. Aren't you afraid she'll never forgive you for the rest of her life?"

"She won't." She wasn't foolish. She must know that all he wanted was for her to stay.

"Where's this confidence coming from?"

"Because she loves me. She's just angry at me right now. Threatening to leave is just her being upset. If I let her go without doing anything, she would be disappointed and hurt."

Lana paused, then shook her head in disbelief. "This is madness. Why can't you admit that you're in love with her to the point of death? Why do you still look for excuses in her actions?"

Seth ignored her remark, "I've waited for her for three days. This afternoon is the last chance. If you really can't bear to see her in jail, go tell her you won't take her away."

Lana narrowed her eyes, "Seth, I don't believe you can imprison her for life."

Without another word, Seth grabbed his coat to leave. Lana followed him, "I've hired the best legal team for this case. Seth, you can't hold her."

Still, Lana received no response.

＊

Lunch was a three-course meal and soup, each dish was what Cicely had requested, and she even ordered a glass of plum juice to finish off her lunch.

Once they were done, someone approached with an awkward expression. "Ms. Cicely, we need to head to court now."

Cicely's eyes flickered, as if she had anticipated this moment. She finished the remaining plum juice and slowly rose to her feet.

The handcuffs, identical or not, were fastened once again around her wrists. Even though it wasn't the first time, the click of the cuffs seemed to pierce straight through her heart, the pain was suffocating. Then she was escorted to a car and driven straight to the courthouse.

A swarm of reporters had already gathered at the entrance. As soon as Cicely stepped out of the vehicle, they surged forward, snapping pictures of her, especially focusing on her cuffed hands.

Her complexion pale, Cicely was protected by the officers as she entered the courthouse. It wasn't until she climbed the grand staircase that she glanced back. "Why are the reporters here?"

"I don't know."

Cicely clenched her handcuffed hands, "Is this trial public?"

"No."

With no further words and no opportunity for more, Cicely was led inside.

She was seated in a separate room, guarded by two people. Someone came to announce the start of the proceedings.

Mechanically, she was taken into the courtroom, where Seth's figure loomed at the entrance. "One last time I ask you..."

"I will. Move aside."

She would leave, so step aside. Without a second thought, she knew what he was going to ask. Cicely, her expression neutral, cut off his words, her gaze drifting past Seth to the empty jury box behind him.

She stepped forward, but Seth reached out, gripping her wrist. The clatter of the handcuffs seemed exceptionally loud in the silence.

"Mr. Diaz, I don't think the court allows settling personal scores here. The cuffs are hurting me."