The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Chapter 1980

Seth gathered her damp hair, carefully drying it with a towel. Cicely remained passive, letting him take care of her. As she accidentally glanced down, her expression froze for a moment, and a blush spread quickly across her cheeks. Instinctively, her hand moved to cover her chest, but she could hear Seth's low chuckle from above. "Only realizing it now? Isn't it a bit late?"

Cicely bit her lip, still clutching the neckline of her shirt.

Fresh out of the shower, she had slipped on one of Seth's white shirts, and now, with nothing underneath, her wet hair had soaked through the fabric, making the shirt cling to her skin and leaving little to the imagination.

"You... you noticed earlier?" she stammered.

Seth tossed the towel onto the armrest of a nearby couch, his gaze brazenly sweeping over her chest. "You talk a big game about starting a family, as if you're so worldly, but here you are, so embarrassed at the slightest glance, not to mention..."

He paused, a sly grin breaking through his usually composed demeanor. "One touch, and you're trembling like a leaf."d2

Cicely tried to compose herself, but his words sent a fresh wave of color to her cheeks. That "one touch" he referred to happened that morning at the clinic.

"I'm just not used to it," she managed to say.

Without a word, Seth switched on the hairdryer.

Standing in front of him, Cicely fidgeted with the collar of his casual shirt. "You're being unusually considerate today. Feeling guilty for crossing the line this time?"

His fingers continued to work through her semi-dry hair. "Crossing the line? I only speak the truth. You don't want to see me, so I won't show up unless necessary. I doubt there's a man out there who could please you more than I do."

She hesitated before meeting his gaze. "I said I didn't want to see you, and you didn't even call or text?"

"If I had reached out, would you have responded?"

"No," Cicely said without hesitation, her tone tinged with defiance.

Seth's smile widened slightly.

"That's not necessarily true," she continued. "You didn't even try. How do you know I wouldn't have paid you any mind? Whether I do or don't is separate from whether you should make the effort."

She frowned, a new thought crossing her mind. "Or is there something else you've done wrong? And that's why you're suddenly being so nice today."

A flicker of annoyance crossed Seth's forehead. "What do you think I could have done to warrant this kind of groveling?"

Cicely's eyes darted around. "Another woman? Have you been seeing someone else behind my back?"

The whir of the hairdryer was the only sound on the balcony. Seth's silence weighed heavily on Cicely, her previously unconcerned mood growing darker. "You don't really have someone else, do you?"

Turning off the dryer, Seth looked at her indifferently. "So you're saying if I did have someone else, this level of groveling would suffice for your forgiveness?"

Her expression cooled instantly. "Do you think it would?"

"A woman for me has a very clear boundary: If it's not you, it will definitely be someone else. If I chose someone else, I wouldn't waste my time with you. Understand?"

Cicely nodded. "I'll take your word as a promise for now. Cheating is despicable, and since I'm your girlfriend at the moment, it's highly unlikely there's another woman you'd even consider. But Seth, if you ever do find someone else, we're done for good. Like you said, if that day comes, I'll consider it your choice to leave me for her. I may like you a lot, but I have my limits, and another woman is where I draw the line. I hope she never appears. Got it?"

The last sentence was a clear challenge.

"Go find something else to wear in the closet," he said, unplugging the hairdryer.

Cicely let go of his collar and playfully slapped his chest as she passed by.

Opening the wardrobe, she saw rows of high-end suits and dress shirts. She grabbed another white shirt and turned to face him, holding it to her chest. "This is your bedroom? Where are you sleeping tonight?"

Seth paused. "Where do you think I should sleep tonight?"

Her gaze inadvertently swept over the adjacent bed. "You could sleep here if you like. It's your house, after all." She stumbled over her words, nearly biting her tongue.

Seth smiled faintly. "It seems you don't really want me here."

Cicely opened her mouth but said nothing.

"Change your clothes and don't get sick with a cold tomorrow," he advised before stepping out of the room. Before closing the door, he paused and added a cool "Goodnight."

Those two words landed gently on Cicely's heart. As he started to close the door, Cicely called out to him. "Seth."

The door stopped and swung back open.

She approached, looking up at his refined features with a radiant smile. "You shouldn't leave things half-done. A goodnight and a kiss go hand in hand."

Seth looked at her silently for a few seconds, then stepped through the door and bent down to kiss her.

*

For three days straight, Seth was practically glued to her side. A goodnight kiss had become a nightly ritual.

Cicely had planned to stay a few more days, but in just three short days, his phone calls grew more frequent, and his hours in front of the computer stretched longer.

"You don't have to stay with me all day. I'm feeling much better. Go take care of your business." She had enjoyed her stay, and her color had returned.

Seth glanced at her. "I'll take you home tomorrow."

Cicely frowned. "Can't I stay here?"

"Leave you alone in the house?"

"No problem. Just make sure you come back on time at night."

"I can't promise that," he replied coolly. "With you here, I can't focus on my work. I can't take care of your meals, and I can't guarantee I'll be back at a set time in the evening."

Cicely leaned back on the couch, hugging the plush toy Seth had bought for her, her beautiful face full of reluctance.

Seth remained steadfast, "I've got a lot on my plate right now. You either head back to the Ellis estate, where you'll be well looked after, or I clear my schedule and stay home to focus on you. It's your call." Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

*

Ultimately, Cicely chose to return to the Ellis estate.

Maybe Seth had her number, knowing she wouldn't put him in a tight spot, which was why he laid out such a stark choice.

He seemed to take their previous conversation to heart this time, keeping in touch daily through calls or texts, though face-to-face encounters were rare.

She'd casually inquired about his ventures into film and television. Seth admitted there was truth to it but divulged no further details.

Seth was indeed a busy man. The rare evenings he did appear were around ten, and even then, he wouldn't leave his car. Cicely would join him for a chat in the vehicle before he drove off.

She didn't know what he was busy with, and he wouldn't say when she asked. Perhaps he thought there was no substantial use in telling her, just a waste of words. Or maybe, he was haughty and self-reliant, accustomed to resolving things on his own.

Aside from their scarce meetings, their relationship remained amicable. Occasionally, he'd surprise her with a gift, or, after much cajoling, bring her a late-night snack, and never failed to leave her with a goodnight kiss.

On the rare days he wasn't swamped, Seth would take her out for a splendid dinner.

Life glided on peacefully.

His cool detachment was laced with a gentle warmth towards her. Apart from work, he played the boyfriend role to near perfection. She couldn't find a single flaw.

It was mundane yet satisfying. Everyone says that after enduring a certain stretch of ordinary time together, marriage becomes the next logical step.

Cicely was looking forward to that.

*

Life's monotony was occasionally broken by vibrant streaks. Like when Danielle caught the eye of a well-known talent agency, Apex Media.

Ray, Apex Media's young scion, took a particular interest in her. The kind of interest where a man set his sights on a woman.

Ray, a junior at Summit Ridge University, didn't have the best reputation, especially with women. Born into a showbiz family, wealth and influence at his disposal, he had his pick of beauties—no reason to play the saint.

However, his pursuit of Danielle seemed earnest. It was hard to tell how much of his sincerity was true affection for her and how much was wariness of the Ellis name.

Life is a mix of effort and fortune, and Danielle had luck on her side. A regular in a theater troupe fell pregnant unexpectedly, and Danielle was called in as a last-minute substitute. Her performance was a hit and she secured her spot in the cast.

The play demanded a blend of vocal prowess, presence, acting chops, and dance skills. Clearly, having grown up in the Ellis household, Danielle excelled in all these areas.

Her role in the play was what drew Ray's attention and his subsequent pursuit. He followed her around campus, attended six or seven of her performances in various cities.

Creighton, aware of Ray's attentions, broached the subject when she was home for a rare visit. "Have you considered Ray's advances, Danielle?"

Cicely, within earshot, heard Danielle's scornful chuckle. "Everyone knows what he is like. Should I even consider him?"

Cicely's expression turned cold, matched by Creighton's icy demeanor. "It's your decision whether to consider him or not. If his advances trouble you, I'll arrange protection."

"No need." Danielle rejected Creighton's offer with aloofness. "If it's my business, I can handle it. Better save your concern for your precious little girl."

Relations between Danielle and Creighton grew tenser by the day. Danielle's frosty arrogance grated on Creighton's patience.

"I've found an apartment in the city. I want to toughen up, live independently. I'm going upstairs to pack and will leave this afternoon. Here's my address, and please, don't worry about me." She placed a piece of paper on the coffee table and headed upstairs.

Creighton sat on a single sofa. Despite trying hard to endure it, his complexion was particularly unpleasant. His breathing was uneven, and his chest was visibly rising and falling.

Cicely frowned, approached him, "Dad, are you okay?"

Creighton took a deep breath, gesturing that he was fine. His voice carried an unmistakable tinge of sadness and helplessness.

She poured him a glass of water, "Dad, we owe her nothing. You don't need to indulge her. Some people only take advantage when shown kindness."

Creighton sighed, "I'm her elder. And she's your uncle's only daughter." As his brother's child and part of the Ellis lineage, he couldn't completely abandon her, no matter his personal feelings.

Cicely urged him not to dwell on it and helped him upstairs to rest.

After chatting until he fell asleep, she tiptoed out, shutting the door gently. Noticing Danielle's room door ajar across the hallway, Cicely's expression turned icy. She strode into Danielle's room and slammed the door.

Startled, Danielle, who was packing, turned to face an irate Cicely. "Did I give you the permission to enter my room? Is this the upbringing of Miss Cicely from the Ellis family?"

Cicely retorted coldly, "Is this your room?"

Sensing Cicely's hostile mood, Danielle stood up, chin tilted defiantly. "Get out."

Cicely's cold laugh preceded her approach. Without pause, she slapped Danielle across the face. The sharp smack echoed in the solitude of the room, an unanticipated strike.

Danielle never expected that Cicely would suddenly slap her. Her cheek stung as if touched by a branding iron, and a ringing filled her ears.

"Cicely!"

Cicely tossed her head back with a defiant tilt of her chin, "What?" It was almost the same gesture Danielle might make, but when Cicely did it, it was blatantly brazen and arrogant. Natural, unapologetic, as if she was born to look down on the world with that haughty sneer.

It’s in stark contrast to Danielle, who always seemed to be trying too hard to maintain her composure.

Clutching her reddened cheek, Danielle's lips quivered with suppressed rage, yet she couldn't muster a single word in response.

Cicely watched her for a moment, then let out a cold, mocking laugh. "Are you cursing me out in your head, Danielle? Does that make you feel better? Does it ever get tiring, holding yourself so high and mighty all the time? If you're trying to put on an act, you might want to lay it on thicker. You, with your cold arrogance, your book smarts, your talent in the arts, you're the untouchable debutante, a seemingly perfect façade. But what about respect for your elders, and gratitude? Are those concepts foreign to you, or did they just get omitted from your vocabulary?"

"Danielle, I've told you time and again, for better or worse, but you never listen, and you just get more and more insolent. You're practically begging for a slap. And this one was long overdue. I've never so much as shown a frown to my dad, and who are you to give him grief the moment you see him?

"Without my father, where would you be? Your life of pride, your status, your piano, and your dance lessons – would any of it exist? I'm not asking for undying gratitude, but even a stranger at the door shows my father some respect. After all he's done for you, are you here to make him sick?

"Think you can stand on your own two feet just because you got into some shabby drama troupe? What if I told you I could make them disappear with just one word?"

Danielle's eyes blazed with anger, bloodshot and fierce.

"Gratitude?" Danielle's teeth chattered with fury. "I have the blood of the Ellis family too, and everything I have now is what the Ellis family owes me. I'm no different from you. You talk to me about gratitude – on what grounds? Where do you get off positioning me like this?"

"What 'favors' have you done for me? Enjoying the lifestyle owed to an Ellis family member is a favor from you? The man I care for is pushed towards you, and now he asks me to consider some notorious trust fund buffoon? What exactly do you expect in return?"

Cicely's expression turned even colder. "You've always acted as if we owed you something, watching us with detached indifference – isn't that you? You set the boundaries with us from the start, and now you accuse us of being the cold ones? Drinking too much of that fancy drinks must've soaked your brain, Danielle."

"Bringing up Ray was just to get your opinion. Who knew you'd absolutely despise him? There are plenty of scumbags out there , and who's to say they can't change? It's up to you who you like, and if you don't, we'll deal with the hassle. But you twist everything, being sarcastic with my father, causing him stress, and you still think you're the one in the right?"

Cicely truly wanted to slap Danielle again. Her days with Seth had been too smooth, making her quick-tempered and impulsive now. "And for the record, I chose Seth myself, and I pursued him. My father forced him on me? Do you think I'm not good enough, or is it an insult to Seth, suggesting he's so easily manipulated?"

At that, Danielle, who had been glaring murderously, suddenly let out a sardonic laugh. "Do you really believe that Seth is with you just because he likes you?"