The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Chapter 2089

Cicely instinctively took a step back, bumping into Seth who had followed closely behind her.

Seth wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace. Those people passed by them without a second glance.

Cicely's eyes softened for a moment, and she straightened up, attempting to step out of Seth's arms.

Seth didn't let go. In a low voice, he said, "Cicely, let's take Hugo to see an eye specialist."

"No need," Cicely firmly replied, "Damon has already made arrangements. Tomorrow, I'll take Hugo myself."

Seth pondered for a moment, "Alright, if Damon's arranged it, there should be no issues."d2

Standing slightly behind her, he couldn't see her face, but his gaze was fixed on Hugo's youthful features, which bore a striking resemblance to his own.

Perhaps sensing Seth's gaze, Hugo, out of curiosity or wariness, turned his blind eyes towards Seth, his gaze filled with caution and inquiry. Such a guarded look brought a slight smirk to Seth's lips.

Hugo's eyes furrowed, a clear sign of his displeasure, as he buried his face into Cicely's neck.

When Cicely turned to face Seth, she found his eyes already on her. She frowned slightly, a muffled commotion catching her attention.

"It wasn't me! I haven't done a thing, what proof do you have?"

The voice was familiar. Cicely turned to see familiar bouncers at the door.

"Let me go!"

As Danielle's voice grew more piercing and clear, she was dragged out by the men. Her pale face twisted in anguish, she was dressed in a hospital gown, struggling despite her evident lack of strength.

Maybe it was their gaze that caught her, but Danielle suddenly straightened up, her struggle turning into a desperate attempt to reach them.

Seth tightened his hold on Cicely, "Let's go inside."

"Seth!" Danielle's cry stopped him, and she ran up to him. "Did you send these men for me?"

Seth remained silent.

A bitter, trembling smile cracked Danielle's lips, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. "Won't you leave me even a shred of dignity? How desperately do you want to destroy every good memory I have of you? I've done nothing wrong, Seth. I just loved you. Why must you be so cruel to me?"

"I tolerated your lies for three years, and I donated blood desperately to save Grandpa, nearly half my blood. Yet you sent people to arrest me the day after the surgery?!"

She had thought the revelations of the previous day were the depths of despair, but today she discovered a new abyss.

How easy it was to be hurt, to despair, and to collapse? Was this the pain Cicely had felt years ago? Indeed, it was a tragic thing.

Her gaze slowly shifted to Cicely and the child in her arms. She paused, "Cicely, who are you holding?"

Danielle's expression was filled with a heavy deathly pallor and madness. Cicely took a step back, holding Hugo close. "That's none of your concern."

"Who is he?!" Danielle screamed, her whole body trembling, her face contorting into something fierce.

Hugo, hidden in Cicely's embrace, furrowed his brow, tightened his grip on her collar, and turned his head to "face" Danielle. "Don't you dare hurt my mom!"

Danielle's eyes widened with shock as she stumbled backward at the sight of Hugo's face.

Hugo, unable to see Danielle's expression, wanted to stand up for his mom but felt powerless. His little face clouded over with dark anger, mirroring Seth's own angry expression.

Danielle shook her head, "No, it can't be. You were in prison... How could you have his child...”

Hugo's dark eyes "looked" towards Danielle, then after a few seconds of silence, he turned and reached out, fumbling until he found Seth's sleeve. "Daddy, hug—"

Seth's heart thudded violently, his eyes involuntarily trembling. "What did you call me?"

Hugo frowned, pursed his lips, and repeated, "Daddy, hug—"

Cicely was also shaken, unable to regain her composure, but Hugo in her arms was squirming, truly wanting Seth to hold him.

Seth looked down at Cicely, and seeing no objection from her, he reached out and lifted Hugo into his arms. Seth held Hugo with practiced ease and natural grace.

Danielle's mind went blank, her ears ringing. If not for the people on either side, she would have collapsed to the ground.

They had a child together three years ago! What did that make her?

For three years, every beautiful moment she had imagined with him had already been claimed by Cicely.

Was there any joke more ridiculous than her?

She had not been able to compete with Cicely three years ago. And now, after all her scheming, she had lost miserably again.

She laughed and cried at the same time, shaking her head, unable to accept this reality. Yet, the undeniable truth was right before her.

"Ah—"

Her scream echoed through the building, as if shaking loose dust from the ceiling.

Hugo clutched his ears tightly, and Seth covered Cicely's ears, pulling her into his embrace. "Are you not going to take her away yet?"

The men beside Danielle nodded and dragged away the completely broken woman.

Peace returned to the hallway, and Cicely pushed away from Seth to look at Hugo in his arms. "Hugo..."

Hugo eagerly reached out to Cicely. "Mom, are you okay?"

Cicely shook her head with a complex expression, then remembering Hugo could not see, she added, "I'm fine."

Hugo had done it on purpose. That one word, "Daddy," had been a final devastating blow to Danielle.

What was he really thinking? Did he understand the grudges between adults? Did he know how effortlessly he could corner someone without lifting a finger?

Her gaze fell on the man holding Hugo, and she shivered, reaching out to almost snatch Hugo back.

Seth's arms were now empty, and his face was shadowed by a faint layer of melancholy.

Hugo, sensing the tension, clung to Cicely in silence.

Cicely had spent the entire morning in the hospital room, cradling Hugo in her arms while Erik lay ill. Seth had offered to have lunch together, but Cicely had coldly declined. She held onto Hugo tight, her departure hasty, and her demeanor frosty, leaving no room for Seth to even utter a word.

In the afternoon, she went to the welfare center to complete the discharge paperwork, then packed her belongings, ready to fly out of the country the next day.

Charlie returned home that afternoon with a grave expression on his face. "Mr. Diaz, Cicely’s passport restrictions have been lifted, but do we really need to lift the lockdown as well? Just in case..."

"Lift it." Seth stood at Erik's bedside, his voice brooking no argument.

Charlie clenched his teeth, muttered an acknowledgment, and left the room.

Staring at the aged figure on the bed, Seth finally spoke in a hushed tone, "Does her freedom include me?"

Erik remained motionless, the only sound in the room the rhythmic beeping of medical equipment.

Seth pursed his lips, his eyes downcast, a wistful smile playing on his lips, revealing a world of desolation and helplessness. "What if she doesn't want me?"

*

That night, it dawned on Cicely that she had nowhere to go. If it had just been Chloe, it might have been fine, but Damon was back. With Hugo in tow, it was even less appropriate for her to continue imposing on their hospitality.

After a quiet dinner, there was no more reason to stay. As she was about to leave with Hugo in her arms, the doorbell rang.

Standing there, just outside the door, was Seth. His gaze locked onto her. "Go upstairs and rest."

Cicely frowned, unmoving at the threshold. Seth wasn't in a hurry. The two stood facing each other in silence, neither willing to budge.

Damon, already annoyed by Cicely's "nuisance," suddenly stood up from the couch, walked to the door, and disdainfully nudged Cicely from behind.

Caught off guard, Cicely stumbled forward, right into Seth's embrace. Her arm instinctively protecting Hugo.

Thanks to Seth's quick reflexes, Cicely steadied herself. Turning around in anger, she was met with Damon's indifferent shrug as he dusted off his hands and coldly said, "Stay away from my doorstep. You're an eyesore."

Cicely was speechless.

Damon lifted his gaze, challenging, "What, you want to cross me?"

Cicely blinked back her anger and forced a smile through gritted teeth, "Goodnight."

With a "bang," the door closed mercilessly behind her, Damon not even bothering with a response.

"Mama." Hugo's voice sounded lost and vulnerable.

Cicely realized then that her child was now in Seth's arms. She reached out to take him back, but Seth subtly dodged her attempt. "Your passport is still with me."

*

With Hugo's eye treatment scheduled for tomorrow, once inside the apartment, Cicely had no more energy to maintain the standoff with Seth.

After tucking Hugo into the guest bed, she went downstairs to retrieve her passport from Seth.

Descending the stairs, she could faintly smell the scent of tobacco. As she reached the downstairs, the aroma grew stronger.

Frowning slightly, she confronted Seth, who stood on the balcony of the living room, smoking.

Perhaps he heard her approach; he stubbed out his cigarette in the crystal ashtray and turned to face her, his voice hoarse from the smoke. "Is he asleep?"

Cicely's response was a detached "Hmm."

Seth's gaze lingered on a magazine on the coffee table for a moment, then he said, "I'll go with you tomorrow."

Cicely's eyes flickered.

Seth continued, "Having me there will make things easier for you, and you'll have more time to look after Hugo." Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Cicely clenched her fists, a hint of a smile on her lips. "If I don't agree to this, will you take it to court?"

Seth's eyes briefly widened in shock. After a pause, he looked away, and his voice husky, "Not anymore."

Cicely’s expression was indifferent, her voice cold, "You said you'd give me my passport."

Seth silently picked up the passport from among a few magazines on the coffee table and handed it to Cicely.

Cicely's eyes narrowed as she almost snatched the passport from his hands. "Thank you."

Seth watched her leave, standing still for a long time before settling back on the couch, still wearing his clothes heavy with the scent of tobacco. He sat alone for what seemed like ages, then stood up and, picking up a few bags, went upstairs.

*

The next morning, Cicely woke up early, got Hugo ready, and found his clothes laid out on the bed.

After a slight pause, she dressed Hugo in them.

"Mommy, these clothes are so soft and smell nice." Hugo's voice was still groggy with sleep.

Cicely's hand brushed the fabric discreetly. Indeed, The clothes seemed new but lacked the stiffness and smell of newness, instead carrying the familiar scent of laundry detergent.

"Yes, I can smell it."

She carried Hugo downstairs, where Seth glanced at Hugo and slightly tugged at the corner of his mouth, "Come have breakfast."

Hugo blinked, his dark eyes following the sound, a tiny furrow appearing between his brows. Cicely showed no emotion, not refusing the offer.

Chloe wanted to accompany them to the hospital, but Damon wouldn't allow it.

From home to the airport, then abroad, Seth and Charlie handled all the arrangements. Cicely didn't have to worry about anything and could focus entirely on caring for Hugo, not resisting any of Seth's plans.

Arriving abroad, they went straight to the hospital for further detailed examinations on Hugo.

The checkup was quick since it was a specialized exam, and results came promptly. In the afternoon, while the experts continued their detailed discussions, Seth noticed Cicely's anxious demeanor and led her out of the hospital.

Cicely hadn't let go of Hugo all day, and her tension was now manifesting as exhaustion.

"Let me take the child."

Cicely shifted slightly, not speaking but her body language showing resistance.

"You're tired, Cicely." His voice was soft, his eyes resting calmly on Cicely's beautiful but visibly fatigued face.

Hugo blinked, snuggled closer to Cicely, and planted a kiss on her nose. "Mommy's tired. Don't hold me."

Cicely bit her lip hard, her eyes reddening with restrained sorrow.

"Hand him over," Seth said, extending his arms. "You're wiped out today. You planning on skipping out on the surgery tomorrow?"

Sensing that Seth wanted to hold him, Hugo stretched out his arms towards him.

Cicely's eyes flickered, and she let go.

"Let's go grab a bite to eat first. Hugo must be starving by now."

Hugo's eyes were dull, but at the mention of food, he nodded vigorously. "Yeah! Mommy, I am hungry."

At that, Cicely quickly said, "Alright, let's go get something to eat."

Once they arrived at the diner, Hugo ordered a ton of food, a bit of this, and a bit of that. Looking at the table heaped with dishes, even Cicely couldn't help but intervene. "That's enough, Hugo. You can't possibly eat all that."

"I just want to taste everything."

Cicely sighed, resigned. "No more of this next time, Hugo. Let's not be greedy."

Hugo's little hands clung to the edge of the table as he gently nodded, "Got it."

Cicely felt for him, but it was impossible to finish the mountain of food on the table. In the end, though, not much was left. Hugo would take a few bites of each dish and then push it towards Cicely to try.

Seth sat beside them, watching as Cicely ended up eating quite a bit herself, his lips curling into a subtle, knowing smile.

It seemed like Cicely was coaxing Hugo to eat, but in the end, who was coaxing whom? The little guy was pretty clever.

Indeed, Cicely ate a lot. Hugo, holding a piece of cake, was trying to persuade Cicely to eat it when Seth "hijacked" it midway.

Hugo frowned.

"I'm hungry too." With that, he put the cake in his mouth.

Cicely breathed a sigh of relief. If she kept eating, she'd really need a detox.

*

Back at the hospital, Charlie had already arranged the room. After a day of running around and eating, Cicely tried to put Hugo to bed but ended up falling asleep herself.

Seth stepped forward to tuck them in gently, standing by and watching the mother and son snuggle together, feeling something inside him slowly overflowing.

He reached out and carefully swept Cicely's stray hairs aside, her soft skin within reach, yet untouchable.

Only in moments like these could they be together, undisturbed.

*

As Seth opened the door to the hospital room, Charlie was there to meet him. "Mr. Diaz, the doctor needs to speak with you."

Seth's gaze dropped indifferently, murmuring a soft acknowledgment.

There were risks to the surgery. Should it fail, the consequences would be his to bear.

Seth had specially instructed Charlie to keep this quiet, and to discuss it with him alone.

When the doctor explained the potential risks in detail and handed him the waiver to sign, with its clauses and stipulations, Seth felt a thin layer of sweat on his palms. The possibility of permanent blindness was not ruled out in case of failure. Although he had considered this, seeing it in black and white was a hundredfold more daunting.

"Do you know who arranged this surgery?"

The doctors sat upright, their expressions somber. "Mr. Harper."

Seth pursed his lips and signed the waiver.

Then he stood up, his voice cold, "Just make sure to deal with the consequences."

That single sentence changed the complexions of the few world-class ophthalmologists present.

Climbing to their positions hadn't been easy.

*

Cicely woke up suddenly from a dream, a nightmare where Hugo was undergoing surgery.

His eyes were bloody, and he cried out in pain. She tried to comfort him, but couldn't reach him through the door. Then, when the surgery was over and it hadn't been successful, he was wheeled out, his eyes streaming blood, the whites not even visible. Suddenly, he turned his head, his face bloodied, and he screamed as he lunged at her.

She had gone to bed early last night, and when she woke up in fright, it was only six in the morning. Her gaze fell upon Hugo, sleeping peacefully in her arms, and she breathed a sigh of relief, leaning in to kiss his forehead.

"Bad dream?" Seth's deep voice resonated, and Cicely sat up gently, a fine sheen of cold sweat covering her pale face. She nodded, the scenes from the dream too terrifying.

"I dreamt of Hugo. And the surgery failed."

She raised a hand to her forehead, the fear deepening in her heart. She wanted desperately to hear a word of certainty.

"Don't worry. The surgery isn't too complicated. There shouldn't be any problems."

Seth's words came from above, blending perfectly with her urgent need for reassurance.

She looked up at him helplessly, "Really?"

Seth nodded, "Yeah."