The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Chapter 1986

Isaac became aware of his emotions, stayed silent for a few seconds, and then slowly said. "The scene inside isn't as harmonious as it seems. It's not safe for a lady like you. Miss, let me accompany you inside."

Despite his concern, Cicely declined the offer. "Really, I'll be fine. If anything comes up, I'll call you."

With a reassuring smile, she turned and headed towards the grand villa that had been converted into a boutique hotel for the evening's soiree. She was wearing a pair of high heels she had bought earlier that day, her steps careful and slightly unsteady. Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.

Passing through the ornate entrance, the bright lights from the hotel's ballroom spilled onto the path ahead. Silhouettes of guests mingled and moved within.

Cicely paused just outside the doors, shifting her weight from one foot to the other before straightening her posture and stepping into the ballroom.

Her silent arrival should have gone unnoticed. But there she was: a woman so strikingly beautiful and delicate that she captured attention effortlessly. Standing alone at the threshold, it was inevitable that she caught the eye of a few.d2

After an initial wave of admiration, more curious and envious glances followed.

Seth, lurking near a corner close to the entrance, caught sight of her and his gaze darkened. Before he could approach, whispers began to circulate amongst the crowd.

"Isn't that the Ellis family's darling? Why is she here alone?"

"Didn't her boyfriend just arrive with another girl?"

"Is she dumped or cheated on? Her man arrives arm-in-arm with someone else, and here she is, solo at a party. What if they run into each other..."

Cicely never cared for how others perceived her. And she certainly didn't listen to the snippets of gossip, but even so, the deliberately hushed yet audible comments made her uncomfortable.

She took a few more steps forward, then looked up to find Seth's intense gaze fixed on her. He was alone.

Their first encounter of the evening could be considered passable, much better than she had expected, especially compared to the prospect of him standing side by side with Danielle.

With a quirk of her eyebrow, she walked directly towards Seth. "I'm curious, what kind of car did you bring tonight?"

Seth's eyes were cold and sharp as he replied. "A Maserati sedan."

Cicely's lips curled into a half-smile, nodding in approval. "Not bad. Quite an upgrade from your old Benz, I suppose."

The weight in Seth's gaze seemed to intensify, his voice as cold as ice. "Leave. Now."

Taken aback, Cicely let out a soft chuckle. "What's the matter? Is it that I shouldn't be here, or are you afraid my presence will embarrass you? Considering my man is making a public spectacle with another woman, I should be the one who's embarrassed."

"I'm not foolish enough to be deceived by appearances. But Seth, you're my boyfriend. Other than your mother, I'm the closest person to you in this world. Anything I have, you can use, and I wouldn't mind. You could have simply asked for the invitation to tonight's gala from my father instead of going through the trouble with Danielle. Knowing it would upset me, why did you act so recklessly and seek trouble for yourself?"

"I'll give you an explanation, but right now, you need to leave this place and go home." Seth's expression was a mix of impatience and irritation, his words an unequivocal command.

Cicely's expression cooled. "So eager to send me away? What else are you hiding, Seth?"

"Seth, what's going on... Cicely, what are you doing here?" Danielle, noticing the focus of everyone's attention, approached out of curiosity, only to find Cicely.

Before Cicely could reply, Danielle's voice cut through the air, drawing Cicely's gaze. In just a glance, she felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, leaving her chilled to the bone.

Cicely also watched Cicely with some surprise, then glanced down at herself. Her expression gradually turned grim. The dresses on both of them were exactly the same, but the styles worn by the two were worlds apart.

To complement the dress, Danielle had chosen an elegant updo and meticulous makeup, creating a crisp and clean look. In contrast, Cicely wore her hair loosely over her shoulders, her bright features lightly adorned with makeup, exuding a natural charm that was stunning and spectacular.

Both women looked striking, but it was impossible to deny that Cicely had the edge. Danielle's complexion soured with discomfort.

As Cicely's eyes moved from Danielle back to Seth, she suddenly broke into a laugh. "Don't tell me this is why you're in such a hurry to get rid of me. Seth, did you personally go to the store to pick out that dress for her?"

Seth's brow furrowed, but he remained silent. Cicely didn't press him, instead, she scoffed, "I am furious right now, but I know better than to cause a scene here. So, Seth, either leave with me now or we can step outside to talk in private."

Seth pressed his lips together, fighting the throbbing in his temples, and took Cicely's hand, leading her out.

Danielle panicked and reached out to him, "Seth, are you going to leave me here all alone?"

He withdrew his hand, "I'll be back soon."

Cicely’s beautiful face darkened noticeably.

Seth led her to an isolated spot near the villa, beside a large, tranquil pool. Releasing her hand, he spoke with a chilly voice, "If you have something to say, make it quick."

"It can't be made quick," she replied.

His frown deepened, and as he lowered his gaze to her, his face was met with the sharp sting of a slap. The sound echoed crisply by the poolside.

Cicely shook her hand that throbbed from the impact, "No wonder when I went to get the dress, the salesperson had this mysterious look and told me that buying this dress was like getting a personalized one. At first, I found it inexplicable, little did I know it was like this."

As she said that, she suddenly sneered. "They must have thought you were picking out a dress for me, and the secrecy was because you wanted to surprise me. Hah."

Never had Cicely felt so aggrieved. No, she actually had never felt aggrieved before. Even after all these years of her father dividing his affection between her and Danielle, it had never hurt like this. Her heart felt sour and tight, painfully constricted.

Cicely could only let out a bitter laugh, "Starting tomorrow, I'll be the joke of P City over coffee and bagels. Everyone will know that the surprise meant for me will drape another woman, and the

punchline? The dress she flaunts was picked by my man while the one I'm wearing? Bought with my own cash, and to top it off, we're clashing at the same gala."

Saying it out loud only made her feel more ridiculous and sad. Her voice was tinged with the threat of tears, her eyes reddened but not a single drop fell.

The icy look in Seth's eyes melted away in an instant.

"I've never been humiliated like this, Seth, not once in my life. Before I came, I crafted the perfect excuse for why you had to bring Danielle tonight. I smashed your car, vented my anger, and convinced myself you had your reasons, that I should let it slide. But even with all your justifications, did you really have to personally pick out a dress for her? Could she have come to the party naked without your dress?"

"Still no words? Then what excuse should I make up this time to convince myself?" She looked like she might burst into tears any second.

Seth's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice husky, "I'll have someone take you home."

Cicely tilted her head and stared at him silently.

Not getting a response, Seth grabbed her arm, intent on forcibly removing her from the scene. Cicely stood firm, her voice cool and detached, "Are you personally escorting me home? If not, let me go."

Seth's expression hardened, "Is Isaac waiting outside for you? Call him or I'll take you myself."

Her heart sank, "Let go."

Seth didn't.

"You're hurting me." This time, he let go.

Cicely's head felt heavy, and her feet ached fiercely. "I don't want to see you right now, so there's no need for you to escort me. I'll call Isaac, and you can go back to the party without worrying about me."

Seth's patience was running thin. He scooped Cicely up, his face set in a stone-cold mask, and strode out of the mansion.

Cicely's voice was flat, without a trace of emotion, "I said, put me down."

"Cicely." Seth didn't heed her request, his deep voice echoing. "I don't know what you ever saw in me. But since you keep saying you like me, you'll have to endure whoever I bring to the banquet today or whatever rumors come out tomorrow. I told you not long ago, that if I truly choose another woman, I won't waste any more time with you."

Cicely's eyelids twitched, her long lashes fluttering briefly before she locked eyes with him, "Should I also thank you for not dumping me yet?"

Seth's jaw clenched, "I made a promise to you, and I don't break my promises lightly."

Cicely sneered, "So I should just endure it all? Do you think I'm heartless, that no matter what you do, I won't be hurt?"

Seth stopped, looking down at her, "Don't you like me? Is this the extent of your trust in me? I said I wouldn't leave you easily, and I meant it. Or do you see me as a hypocrite?"

Cicely closed her eyes briefly, her head pounding, feeling a surge of anger giving way to a throbbing pain. "Fine. I'm not feeling well right now, I don't want to talk, and I certainly don't want to see you anymore. Put me down, I'll call Isaac to pick me up."

"Where does it hurt?"

"My head."

Seth quickened his pace.

Cicely was thoroughly annoyed. She had never felt such disgust for Seth as she did in that moment, but she didn't have the energy to keep fighting him.

Just as she was about to compromise and let him carry her out, Seth's phone rang. He squinted in the dim light. Glancing at Cicely, who had just reopened her eyes, he quickened his pace.

A figure approached rapidly with a phone in hand. "Sir, they have left."

After glancing at the woman in his arms, the man lowered his voice, "We need to hurry, otherwise, she might actually be in danger."

Despite his hushed tone, Cicely caught every word. Seth stopped, looked down at her, and then gently put her down. "Call Isaac to come get you."

Cicely countered, "My head is pounding, and you insisted on taking me out."

Seth's face was tense, "I have other matters to attend to now. Tell Isaac to come in for you."

Without giving Cicely a chance to respond, he turned on his heel and strode away.

Cicely stood dizzily, watching Seth's retreating figure with an expression of indifference and irony.

A gust of wind blew through the corridor, and she shivered. Each step in her high heels felt like walking on sharp stones, so she bent down and took them off.

She walked a few steps, saw a swath of light ahead, and turned into the hotel's front desk lobby, sinking into a sofa in the rest area. Then she fished out her phone and called Isaac. "I'm not feeling well, my feet hurt like hell, and I don't want to walk out alone. Find a way to come get me."

After getting a response from Isaac, she hung up. She sat for a minute before standing and approaching the front desk. The staff, noticing her pale complexion, asked softly, "Miss, are you alright?"

Cicely replied, "A cup of water, please."

"Of course, just a moment."

In the short wait, across the lobby, near a room, two figures seemed to tangle from inside to the doorway.

The woman's hair was disheveled, her posture in disarray. Her one arm flailed, and the other seemed trapped.

Cicely frowned. The distance wasn't far, and she would never forget that dress on the woman for as long as she lived.

"Ray, let go of me!"

"Danielle, you look so beautiful today. I genuinely like you. You love theater, right? I've picked out the best two scripts. One's a stage play, coveted by many directors. Just be with me, and I'll give you the lead role, isn't that what you want? I bought it just for you."

"I don't need it! I can land roles on my own merit, without your help."

"Danielle, you're so naive. How many in this industry actually get ahead based on talent and hard work alone? You think you're not an outcast in the Ellis family without your parents? The head of the

Ellis family won't treat you like his own daughter. If you don't have my help, you might make it on your own, sure, but it'll take at least twenty years. Can you wait that long?"

Danielle's complexion changed ever so slightly. Ray's words had struck a nerve, but no matter what, she wouldn't associate with someone like Ray and ruin her life.

"That’s none of your business. Let me go."

"Danielle, I like you, and I can give you whatever you want."

She couldn't match Ray's strength, and as she struggled to break free, a mix of urgency and irritation flooded her mind. Looking for someone to help, she caught sight of Cicely watching them. She hesitated, not wanting to ask Cicely for help.

A staff member brought some water over, glanced in Danielle's direction, and quickly looked away, pretending to have seen nothing.

Cicely, carrying the water, walked over to the sofa in the lounge area. The standoff continued, and the reception staff seemed oblivious. Cicely knew that the staff, probably accustomed to seeing such scenes, would rather secure their own livelihoods than provoke the ire of some rich brats.

"Let go of me. Ahhh!"

Danielle's sudden scream turned heads. Cicely frowned and looked back, only to see Danielle enveloped in the man's embrace, his head buried in her neck.

Disgusting.

"Help! Cicely!"

Cicely closed her eyes, took a deep breath, grabbed the high heel next to her, and strode over. She raised the shoe high and brought it crashing down on Ray's head.

Ray cried out in pain, pushing Danielle away while clutching his head with one hand and grabbing Cicely's arm with the other. "How dare you hit me?"

Ray's eyes were bloodshot, his grip unnaturally hot. After all, Danielle was the daughter of the Ellis family. If he was in his right mind, he wouldn't dare act so recklessly.

Realizing the gravity of the situation yet unable to free herself, Cicely was suddenly yanked into a room. Staggering, she instinctively looked back at Danielle.

Danielle looked panicked, standing in place and staring at her. When their eyes met, her expression turned even more startled. She understood what Cicely meant, but as she watched the now irrational man, she shook her head, took two steps back, and finally turned around. Covering her mouth in a state of panic, she ran away.

A loud thud of the door closing echoed behind her. Danielle paused, looked back, and saw the corridor had returned to its eerie quiet. Biting her lip, she finally turned and ran away.