The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Chapter 2104

Dawn's gentle light slowly permeated the dim bedroom, a sanctuary of whispered intimacy and soft linens.

The scent that lingered in the air belonged to one woman alone, a fragrance that in this world, was hers and hers alone.

Seth's eyes fluttered open to the woman nestled in his embrace, her form supple and warm against him. He reached out to adjust the tangled strands of hair from her cheek, revealing an immaculate face that took refuge in his gaze.

Even in the tranquility of her slumber, curled against his chest, her beauty was resolute and unapologetic. It was a confidence born of adoration and privilege, woven into her very being.

From the moment he first laid eyes on her, he knew that the stunning girl with an air of arrogance was a danger to him. He'd erected barriers without reason.

Over time, her extraordinary beauty, pride, and commanding presence became the reasons he told himself to detest her. Yet, those reasons, meant to fortify his defenses, became arrows that pierced his armor, time and again.d2

Throughout the years, in countless moments she wasn't even aware of, he found himself disarmed and defeated by her. All the reasons he'd conjured were merely "reminders" to maintain his disdain.

The truth was, from their very first encounter, he was drawn to her. He didn't want to admit it, and he didn’t want to surrender. Her affections were straightforward and fervent, her promises naive and unguarded, potentially faltering before they could even take root.

He couldn't predict, that if he fell, and she withdrew, how decisively she would exit, leaving him to pick up the pieces.

The control was never his.

His mind urged him to resist, yet his instincts were ensnared by her allure, time after time. In the end, his resolve was consumed bit by bit, and despite his struggles, he found himself hopelessly entangled.

He loved that girl. He loved this woman.

He loved Cicely.

He had lost to himself and to this woman a long time ago. She had to be his. The thought of her with someone else was intolerable.

In her absence, the bedroom felt like a sunless prison holding him captive. He was like a prisoner who had willingly shackled himself.

He reflecting on the way she looked at him when she loved him, reminiscing about her resolute demeanor when she said they would no longer meet in life or death, fantasizing about her returning to lazily roam around this house, getting angry with him, acting cutely, furrowing her brows and being picky, bossing him around. It was both torture and salvation.

Now, with his fantasy realized, all he could do was hold on to her.

Seth watched her serene face in slumber, his dark eyes softening, his lips gently touching the tip of her nose. When he opened his eyes again, they glistened with unshed tears. Fortunately, she still loved him, and she was willing to compromise.

The ticklish sensation of his kiss stirred Cicely from her dreams. She snuggled deeper into Seth's chest, then stilled. Her expression was endearingly vulnerable.

A warmth surged through him, and he restrained himself from waking her.

*

At nine, Cicely awoke to an empty bed. Stretching languidly, she sighed and glanced out the window.

The oatmeal-colored drapes she had chosen herself complemented the cold gray tones of the bedroom, warmed by subtle touches of amber.

She had infiltrated Seth's world, slowly becoming a part of it. Her fixation since childhood had finally borne fruit. She had won the man's obsessive love.

The victory was bittersweet, so her happiness had to be reclaimed twofold.

The door opened gently, and she turned to see the man approaching her, his figure lean, his features striking. For a fleeting moment, she saw through the mature man before her to the fifteen- year-old boy, tall and aloof, standing in front of her uncle's coffin, meeting her gaze with detachment and a hint of wariness. She had followed him from the wake to the living room, until he finally admitted he loved her.

Twelve years in the making.

The distance from the door to his side, from fifteen to twenty-seven, seemed to blur in the blink of an eye.

"What are you thinking about?"

She was pulled up from the bed, leaning on his shoulder as he slipped a robe over her. His deep voice echoed in her ear.

She turned to his clean-shaven cheek, her hand climbing his shoulder, fingers weaving through his short hair to touch his earlobe, her breath warm against him. "I'm hungry."

Seth paused and looked at her, then gathered her hair into a ponytail, his hand warming her slender neck before showering her with tender kisses.

"Where are you hungry?" His husky voice murmured, lips brushing her ear with each word. Cicely shivered with a tingling sensation.

She came to her senses a bit, still sprawling lazily on his shoulder, "So hungry, so thirsty."

Her voice was soft and pleading, making Seth breathless with concern. He quickly grabbed the glass of water already on the bedside table and brought it to her lips.

Ten minutes later, Cicely found herself seated at the dining table in front of a beautifully arranged breakfast. She took a sip of milk, watching the man cutting the ham for her, and casually asked, "Aren't you eating?"

Seth paused and watched as Cicely set down the egg she had just bitten into, curling her legs on the chair, cupping her milk glass, and said languidly, "I'm not hungry. I've lost my appetite."

Seth pursed his lips, placing the sliced ham in front of her, "Finish up. I'll eat with you."

The servant nearby hurried into the kitchen to prepare another breakfast.

After Damon showed up at the gym for a week straight, Seth finally frowned. "Do you really need to come every day?"

Seth glanced at him expressionlessly, "They say married men tend to get comfortable and put on weight. You seem quite cozy lately."

Damon's composure shifted slightly, glancing reflexively at the mirror before relaxing again and turning his gaze back to Seth, with a rare hint of teasing in his voice. "So, who's complained about you getting fat?"

Seth felt a twinge in his temple but scoffed lightly, "You should thank me for reminding you to keep fit before Chloe expresses any disdain."

Damon dismissed the idea, "I work out two to three times a week, play golf occasionally, and our diet is quite healthy and regular. I don't think I need to thank you."

Seth fell silent.

*

Friday was a day off at the kindergarten, so Hugo got to sleep in. Cicely had arranged for Chloe, Yulia, and a few others to come over for a backyard barbecue.

The grill was set up in the yard, and the kids were playing nearby, their laughter filling the air. The women sat at a white table, sipping on herbal tea, watching the men busy themselves around the grill.

The scene was quite the spectacle.

Cicely propped up her chin, utterly bored, her beautiful eyes brimming with amusement. “It's true what they say, always pick a man by his looks. You'll last a few years longer."

Chloe chuckled. "What do you mean?"

"If you end up with an ugly one, every time he annoys you, you'll think you were blind to have chosen him. Unattractive and useless, it's like a double whammy. But with a handsome man, just looking at his face can cool half your anger."

Yulia watched Nathan, who was grilling and munching, now shooing Kane away from the grill with an impatient gesture: "Scram, scram, I'm grilling these veggies for my wife."

She smiled, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Cicely. Over the years to come, they might face many ups and downs, but as long as the initial spark that brought them together remained, and they held each other in their hearts, any friction would simply become part of their shared journey, deepening their love and commitment.

*

Damon was the first to bring a plate of perfectly grilled meat and vegetables to Chloe, leaning slightly to plant a kiss on her forehead. "Need anything else? I'll make it for you."

Chloe glanced at the assortment on her plate—her favorites were all there. "This is enough."

As they spoke, Cicely's slender, fair hand reached over to swipe a skewer of beef from Chloe's plate. Damon glanced at her action, his eyes darkening slightly as he caught sight of Seth approaching. With a swift motion, Damon snatched the skewer just before it reached Cicely's mouth. "How dare you have the audacity to eat something grilled by someone else's husband?"

Cicely paused, her beautiful eyes locking onto Damon for a moment, barely concealing her irritation.

In Damon's eyes, it seemed as if Chloe was the only woman in the world.

Chloe sighed in resignation. When it came to holding a grudge, perhaps no one could surpass Damon. With the grievance of damaging his reputation, Damon was stingy even with a single pleasant expression when facing Cicely.

The atmosphere grew tense, and then Seth came over, placing a plate in front of Cicely. "What's wrong?"

Cicely shot Damon a look, her eyes quickly reddening. Rising to her feet, she flung herself into Seth's arms, her voice soft and tearful, pointing at Damon with an accusing look. "Honey, he's picking on me. You have to fight him for me."

Chloe's eyelid twitched.

Yulia's eyes widened in surprise at the sudden change in the delicate beauty.

Seth gently patted Cicely's shoulder, silently meeting Damon's gaze.

Chloe expected to see a hint of helplessness or confusion on Seth's face. but Seth, expressionless, simply said, "Let's have it out then."

Everyone was speechless.

*

It wasn't just talk; the two men really ended up throwing punches at a boxing gym. Soaked with sweat, they finally sat on the center of the ring, taking big gulps of water handed to them by the staff.

Resting his arm on his bent knee, Damon asked, "Couldn't you tell her act was deliberate and clumsy?"

Sweat dripped down his jaw, and Seth shook the water bottle in his hand, letting out a light laugh. "She's willing to make a scene with me. That's all that matters."

Damon fell silent, remembering the Seth he knew from the years without Cicely—a facade of nonchalance, yet trapped in a quagmire of confusion. So now, he understood that to Seth, Cicely was both a goddess and a demon. For her, he'd gladly become her most devoted follower.

"Aren't you afraid you'll spoil her rotten?"

Seth looked up and let out a sigh, his eyes reflecting the bright light overhead.

"She's been pampered from birth, yet I still fell for her, head over heels. Besides, she's never hurt anyone, ever."

Damon looked down, silent, considering the truth in Seth's words. The princess of the Ellis family was proud and arrogant, marching to the beat of her own drum, exuding a bold and unrestrained demeanor, covered in thorns but never causing harm to anyone.

There had to be a reason to fall in love with someone. If Seth couldn't help but love her, how bad could she be?

"You're not one to talk." Seth finished his water and stood up, extending a hand to Damon. "You're no different with Chloe."

Damon smirked, accepting Seth's help to stand up. "She's the one worth it."

*

Seth came home sporting a new bruise on his face, and Cicely noticed it the moment he walked in. Her brow furrowed, a flash of regret crossing her face. "I was just joking. Couldn't you tell?"

Seth's eyes softened with amusement. "Didn't you say he was bullying you?"

"Why go for a proper fight then? You should've just ambushed him. I told you to hit him, not get hit."

Seth thought for a moment. "Ambushing Damon wouldn't be right."

Watching the frustration on her face, Seth's smile grew wider. He leaned in, nuzzling her cheek with his nose. "It hurts, what should I do?"

Cicely's eyes narrowed, her long lashes sweeping his skin as she looked at him coolly. Then, she looked down and jabbed his chest forcefully with her finger.

"I've told you before that you're mine. You didn't protect yourself, and you let my thing get hurt, over and over. I'm very angry."

Her eyes darkened with rage as she spoke. Seth leaned in to kiss her, his voice deep and soothing. "I promise, it won't happen again. Will you help me with the ointment, hmm?"

Cicely glared at him, leaned over, and expertly retrieved the ointment from beneath the coffee table. "If there's a next time..."

Seth bent down, taking a seat on the sofa, and smoothly pulled the woman into his arms, settling her onto his lap. He stared silently at her, waiting for her to finish speaking.

Cicely frowned, squeezing ointment onto her fingertip, looking deep into his eyes. "If this happens again, I'm running away from home."

Seth's lips curled into a smirk. "Then, can I crash at the neighbor's for a meal?"

Cicely pressed the ointment onto his cheek with more force than necessary. "No, you cannot!"

*

The next day was Saturday.

Hugo didn't have to wake up early for school, so the family of three gathered for breakfast. The housekeeper brought in four servings of breakfast.

Cicely eyed the extra plate with confusion, "Is someone else joining us for breakfast?"

The housekeeper was just as puzzled, "No, there isn't."

"Then this extra breakfast is for?"

Realization dawned on the housekeeper, "Well, it's for Mr. Diaz. Hasn't he been having two servings for breakfast lately?"

Cicely raised an eyebrow, "Since when does he eat two servings?"

Hugo, with his big, dark eyes, shook his head at the housekeeper, "Nope, Dad just has one serving because he always has breakfast with me."

Cicely paused, instantly grasping the situation.

The housekeeper patiently explained to Hugo, "That's because after your dad finishes breakfast with you, he has to keep your mom company."

With a warm smile, she continued, "Otherwise, your mom won't obediently finish her breakfast."

Hugo had an epiphany and giggled, looking at Cicely, "So Mom needs Dad to eat breakfast."

Cicely blinked, her ears turning a shade of pink. Cicely glared at Seth, who sat beside her, with a silent smile on his face. Cicely gritted her teeth and said, "Be careful, or you'll pack on the pounds early in life and your fitness will suffer."

Seth shook his head, "That's why I've been hitting the gym. You checked out the results yourself last night. How did that feel?"

The blush spread to her cheeks, "Not that great."

Seth raised an eyebrow, "Really? Looks like I need to step it up a notch."

Cicely's eyes flickered, as if she remembered something, and she involuntarily shrank her shoulders. "I've decided that I'm going to wake up early and have breakfast with Hugo every day."

Otherwise, the consequences of those two servings, she might not be able to bear.