The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1959

Seeing Cicely, Seth barely registered an emotion. She tried making conversation, but his responses were as flat as day-old soda.

Creighton caught a glimpse of Cicely's disappointed face, but it didn't seem to crush her spirit.

Just then, Cicely looked up, her eyes crashing into Creighton's. He gave her a look that screamed "I knew it would go down like this," a cocktail of resignation and inevitability.

A cloud of gloom settled over Cicely. "I'll leave you to it then," she said, heading for the door as Creighton called after her. "Danielle is studying, try not to disturb her when you get back."

"As if I want to see her. I'm not going home right now."

"Then where will you go?"d2

"To hang out with friends."

Her words hung in the air as the door slammed with a resounding "bang."

Seth stood still, his chin slightly tucked, his eyes a narrow mystery.

Creighton sighed, a mix of indulgence and helplessness flavoring his breath. Later, he turned over his ever-loyal assistant to Seth. "I'll have him run you through everything about Diaz International, down to the nitty-gritty. You've got three days to get up to speed. If something's not clear, ask Seb, or you can come to me anytime."

Seth nodded.

"In a bit." Creighton glanced at his watch, "at ten, we've got the senior meeting for business. You'll attend with me."

Seb, overhearing this, shot a surprised look at Creighton. Seth, too, was looking his way. He had no experience with corporate affairs, and he knew these meetings weren't for just anyone. He wasn't even on the payroll.

He had a hunch about what Creighton was planning, his eyes darkening. "I don't belong there."

"Whether you belong or not is for me to decide," Creighton countered, well aware of Seth's concerns. "Don't feel pressured just yet. Your capabilities are yet to be tested. I want you at this meeting to get a feel for the environment. By choosing you, I'm choosing to trust you."

He locked eyes with Seth. "Even if things don't go as planned, the Ellis family may well end up in your hands, to care for along with Cicely."

Seth's lips pressed into a thin line, his eyes turbulent, but he said no more.

Creighton's stance had always been clear. Whatever his relationship with Cicely, he wouldn't force it.

He coughed into his fist, and Seb was quick to hand him a glass of water, which Creighton's trembling hands struggled to hold.

Seth's brow furrowed slightly.

After a sip, Creighton set the glass down and gazed at a photo frame on the desk, rubbing his temple. The frame held a picture of him, Cicely, and Millie, taken when Cicely had just started kindergarten, a moment captured by the school as a keepsake.

Back then, Cicely was in a beautiful pink dress, her hair exquisitely done by Millie. Her lovely face was too cute, her smile too bright, her teeth too white, her big eyes too curved with joy.

It was the happiest, most innocent of smiles. Now, it’s forever out of reach even though he could easily see her smile even today.

Since Millie's death, he could hardly recall seeing Cicely cry. He only learned from the housekeeper that, on the day Millie passed, Cicely had run to the Ellis family's backyard, wept gut-wrenchingly inside a decorative rockery, her stifled sobs overheard by a passing gardener.

When he found her and held her, her voice soft with a thick nasal sound, her eyes swollen, she asked him, "Daddy, will mommy never be with me again? I won't taste her cakes or have her braid my hair, or hear her tell me princess stories at night."

Creighton couldn't find words to ease her pain. All he could do was hold her close. "You still have me," he said.

She was too clever and sensitive. Her sobs broke free, tearing his heart to shreds. The guilt, the pain, the sorrow - they all mingled together, overwhelming him, and he wept with her.

That was the first and last time he heard her cry so desperately and unrestrained.

At Millie's funeral, Cicely sat quietly in his arms, silent throughout, not shedding a single tear. He later found out from the red-eyed housekeeper that when she took Cicely to rest, her unusual silence had prompted concern. "Miss, if you're upset, it's okay to cry." But Cicely had just crawled under the covers and shook her head. "I'm not sad. I don't want to make Daddy sad."

The housekeeper's eyes welled up, and so did his. That was his and Millie's precious daughter. How could he let her suffer even a sliver of hardship now?

His affection for her, be it indulgence or spoiling, he had never regretted. He would grant her every wish.

"Your mother will be returning to the M Country in a few days. If it's inconvenient for you to live alone, you're welcome at the Diaz family."

"No need," Seth cut in without hesitation. "I can manage on my own."

Creighton looked up. "What if I want you to look after Cicely?"

Seth's voice was even. "No one would think the Ellis family can't take care of their own darling."

Creighton took a deep breath. "Alright, go on now."

Seth nodded and was the first to leave. Seb lingered, concerned, suggesting to Creighton, "Mr. Ellis, maybe you should have a check-up at the hospital."

Creighton waved him off. "Just leave."

Seb didn't push further.

--

Cicely didn't hesitate to dial Joel's number for a meetup. When she mentioned hanging out with a friend, Joel was the only one who came to mind. They'd been orbiting each other's social spheres lately.

Joel dashed into the cafe, gasping for breath. Across the room, Cicely sat languidly in an armchair, with a slice of cheesecake and a latte before her, gazing out the window.

She turned her head as he approached, resting her chin on her hands, a lazy smile on her fair, lovely face.

"Was there ever such a hurry?" she teased. "Why the rush?"

Joel took a deep breath and sat down across from her. "Didn't want to keep you waiting."