The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride
Chapter 2033

Chapter 2033

Seth raged at her, but she just chuckled coldly in response, unfazed by his fury.

"Does that bother you, Seth? Have you ever thought about the kind of attitude you're expecting fromme?

You want me to act as if nothing's happened? I've been doing just that for a long time, but it seemslike it hasn't worked."

Her lips twisted into a defiant smirk.

"Or do you want a full-blown showdown? What for? To make you neglect Danielle? To forbid youfrom making up for your neglect towards her, turning you into some heartless jerk?"

Suddenly, Seth's eyes, filled with rage, froze.d2

She had actually considered all of this.

Tears rimmed Cicely's eyes, yet she laughed, "A confrontation would mean putting you in a toughspot between two women. Do you think that would be easier for you? Fine, now that everything'sout in the open, can you honestly let Danielle go?"

Seth's lips pressed tightly together as he faced the woman before him, defiant and dripping withsarcasm.

"When she's fully recovered," he finally said.

With a soft laugh, Cicely nodded, "Just as I expected.

And then what? What do you expect me to be like in your presence?"

Seth remained silent.

"The Ellis family has given me enough pride to last a lifetime, Seth. I've always looked down onDanielle. I warned her to stay away from you because she was a nuisance, buzzing around with herintentions clear as day. It was disgusting, like watching a fly. I've always treated her that way, andshe knew it. But now, I feel like a joke. A person I've always despised has become my biggestthreat. I'm worried that one day this person, whom I've trampled underfoot, will step on my face andlaugh at my failure.

"I've thought about you, Seth, maybe too much. That's why I've been compromising, praying that Iwon't be the one laughed at in the end. My dignity is in your hands; what else do you want fromme?"

Her voice rose as she said his name, her eyes blazing with defiance and mockery.

Seth realized he needed to control himself, like right now.

Whether Cicely liked him was always clear.

He knew her attitude was based on her feelings for him, s

o why did he lose control tonight?

He embraced her, his voice now restrained and hoarse, his breath warm against her face.

"I haven't been good enough, and you have the right to be angry, to lash out at me. But don't reachout to other men, Cicely. I don't like that."

"Other men? Oh, I hadn't realized I am still so attractive. Just a second encounter and I've alreadystolen a heart. You don't like it, so I can't do it. Is that it? It seems you're well aware of how much Ilike you, that's why you can say such things so easily.

"If you're aware, then there's no need to bring it up again. I like you, so I won't give other men achance. My feelings aren't so cheap, not until I truly believe they're worthless."

Her expression briefly turned chillingly cold and dismissive before she pushed him away and left forthe bathroom without a word.

"Go eat if you haven't. I'm not in the mood for dinner with you."

*

After a shower, Seth was still in the bedroom, now in his pajamas, with damp hair, clearly post-shower as well.

Cicely blow-dried her hair tonight. Mainly because she had been staying with Seth recently, and thishabit of not blow-drying her hair had been gradually changed by Seth.

She didn't want to deal with his commands or his somber face because of wet hair, and tonight, shedidn't want him drying it for her either.

Seth's gaze habitually swept her hair before watching her slide under the covers with a calmexpression.

"I'll call Charlie back tomorrow, but I'll follow up on Danielle's condition until she's healed. I promisedher a new show, and that's it. No other promises, nothing else between us. Your worries won'thappen," he said, standing by the window.

Cicely, her hair now loose, lay down. She spoke, waiting for his response.

"You're making a commitment tonight. You'll take care of her until she's better, you'll secure her acareer-making show, and then no more ties with her, right?"

"Right."

"Good. I trust you."

What other choice did she have?

Her response was neutral, but she gave the reaction he needed.

He wasn't satisfied, but couldn't pinpoint what more he wanted.

He moved to the bed, unwilling to accept her turning her back to him.

Perhaps knowing what Seth might do next, Cicely spoke first.

"Have you ever thought about the day I might leave you?"

Seth paused, then pulled her into his arms.

Cicely faced his chest, eyes wide open, waiting for his response.

"No, I haven't thought about it. You won't," he said with conviction, as if he knew her through andthrough.

Cicely's eyes flickered, then closed, "I can't imagine it either."

The bedroom light went off, and the woman in his arms' breathing evened out.

Seth, eyes narrowed in the dark, gazed at the wardrobe's reflected patterns, his arms still tightaround her.

Would she leave him?

How could she?

If he didn't want to let go, how could she possibly leave his side?

But the moment the question arose, a flurry of panic surged in his heart, as if the mere speculationof such a day could tear a gaping hole in his chest, with no way to mend or fill it.

*

True to his word, Charlie came back, and first thing the next morning, he made a point to check in atthe apartment in person.

It was Monday, and Cicely had school. She hadn't slept late the previous night and had woken upearly.

Seth took it upon himself to make breakfast that morning, and Cicely answered the door for Charlie.

Their meeting was marked by a smile that was almost too eager to please. "Ms. Cicely, I'm here totake you to school."

He was the one who usually waited in the car downstairs. Today, he made the extra effort to comeup, his intentions as clear as day.

Cicely couldn't be bothered to call him out on it. She tossed him the car keys. "There are two pictureframes in the trunk. Bring them up for me."

Charlie caught the keys deftly and immediately went downstairs.

Soon after, he was lugging two frames—one large, one small—into the living room.

Cicely tore off the packaging, revealing two brand-new, well-designed frames. The larger one held aphoto of the two of them together, and the smaller one was a solo shot of Cicely.

Charlie, by her side, saw the images too. When Cicely glanced his way, he gave an awkward laugh."Ms. Cicely, you look stunning."

Cicely flashed a wry smile. "Go replace some tools in the storage room and help me hang them up."

"Sure thing."

As Seth emerged from the kitchen with breakfast, he heard Cicely's voice and found her directingCharlie on how to hang the frames by the bed. She was in a wedding dress, and he in a suit—it wasa moment captured without him remembering when.

Her tone suggested she was in a good mood.

"A bit to the right."

"Be careful with the wall. Don't make it ugly."

"And mind my picture. If you ruin it, you can make amends with your life."

It wasn't a particularly hard task, but Cicely's words had Charlie sweating bullets.

Seth approached, his gaze briefly sweeping over Charlie, his voice cool and steady.

"It seems you're quite at ease with Charlie around."

Cicely's lips curled into a small smile. "Of course, after all this time, Charlie and I ought to have builtsome rapport."

Charlie nearly leapt out the nearby window.

This was surely Ms. Cicely's way of getting back at him.

"Time to eat."

Seth's chilly voice came from behind. Cicely didn't move. "A little more to the left. There, that'sperfect."

Charlie exhaled in relief, only for Cicely's voice to rise again. "There's another frame. Hmm, hang itin the study. What are you doing?"

"Time for breakfast."

Seth's face was a mask of displeasure as he pulled her away, almost forcefully.

After breakfast, Seth and Cicely left the apartment together.

He dropped her off at school before Charlie took over the driving duties to head to the office.

The school was abuzz with the scandal involving Santino from yesterday, but Cicely checked onlineonly to replace that, thanks to Santino's comment outside the restaurant the previous evening, his fanschose to stand by him, rejecting the rumors. It was only after Santino's studio issued an officialstatement denying the affair that the matter finally settled.

A few people mentioned her, but it didn't make a splash.

She wondered if her reputation in P City wasn't strong enough, or if someone had deliberatelyquashed the story.

Cicely didn't dwell on it.

Once it was over, it was over.

Later, Santino sent her a message, apologizing for any trouble he might have caused.

Cicely felt some responsibility too, but in the end, the matter was resolved, and it was best to let itgo.

However, the brief interaction with Santino had confirmed some of his words for her.

For instance, the usually busy Seth had taken the time to drive her to school in the mornings, pickher up in the afternoons, and have dinner with her in the evenings.

She could tell he was genuinely busy at times, but he never let it interfere with his work.

His efficiency visibly increased.

Yet, it was clear he was getting tired.

Women don't need men to tell them how busy they are because they'll always replace reasons to beunderstanding and to feel for them.

They'll step back, compromise, and willingly forsake their desires to accommodate them.

Like her, she wished Seth would continue spending time with her, but she didn't want to see himexhausted.

Thankfully, it was only for a week.

*

Cicely spent a day resting at home during the holiday.

The next day, she received a message from Issac: [Danielle was causing trouble at the hospitalagain.]

Starting some simple rehab exercises had reignited her pain and weakness, leading to anotheremotional breakdown.

If Cicely didn't know Danielle was truly crippled, she would have suspected it was all an act togarner attention.

It had worked for her before.

Danielle's room was in disarray.

It showed signs of being cleaned up, but that was no match for Danielle's deliberate mess.

Cicely visited around noon, bringing lunch from home.

Danielle's edgy bravado seemed to wane upon seeing her, her demeanor shifting to a feigned calmas she faced Cicely coldly.

"Here to gloat over me again?"

"There are a lot of people far more entertaining than you. Now, other than lying in bed, what's sointeresting about your little performance art of throwing things around?"

Danielle scoffed. "Cicely, I may be broken now, but it won't last forever. I won't suffer all this fornothing. Everything I'm enduring now, I'll claim back double someday."

Cicely opened the food container, letting the aroma of the meal waft out.

Hearing Danielle's words, her grip on the container's edge tightened.

"Danielle, I really don't like you. I despise you so much that every word out of your mouth soundslike a conspiracy to me. For example, all this suffering you're enduring, nearly crippled, experiencinginhuman pain—I suspect it's all part of your grand design."

Danielle's hands clenched the blanket. After a few seconds, she laughed derisively. "Funny, I hateyou just as much."

Cicely's smile was thin. "You're not even on my level. Your misery in bed has nothing to do with me,nor does it mean everyone owes you something. But remember, Danielle, you still owe me."

Cicely glanced at the caregiver beside her, who promptly set up the tray table and arranged thelunch before Danielle.

Danielle looked down at the spread that could be considered lavish, a sarcastic smirk forming onher lips as she turned to Cicely.

"What's this supposed to mean? I thought I was in debt to you? What's this, kill me with kindness?"

Cicely couldn't help but laugh as if she had just heard the funniest joke.

"When have I ever been anything but spiteful in all these years that you could use that term todescribe me?"

Danielle's face turned sour with malice.

A frosty layer settled over Cicely's eyes too, her voice as cold as ice, "I'm not one to turn the othercheek. But don't you worry about me poisoning you; you're hardly worth the effort of exacting such aprice. What goes on between us is our own business, but my visit today has everything to do withyou and Seth. After all, you risked your life to save him, and as the one he loves the most, it's onlynatural I take care of some nuisances for him while he's tied up with other matters."