The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1968

Cicely had donned a pleated skirt the color of morning mist and a simple white tee, her feet slipping into a pair of white peep-toe mules. The backs of her heels bore the unmistakable mark of two Band-Aids.

Next to the sofa, there was a small bookshelf with a few books. In the corner near the coffee table, there were also several books and notebooks. These were Cicely's exercise books, textbooks, and extra reading materials.

She picked up a novel, opened it to the dog-eared page, and settled back on the sofa, her eyes scanning the words. But comfort eluded her, and soon she was sprawled across the couch, book propped on her chest.

Truth be told, Cicely had never been one for the written word. If not for the necessity of passing her classes, she would happily forget textbooks existed. The reason these were placed here was the only valid and lasting excuse for her to enter and exit this office unimpeded.

No matter how she twisted and turned, the book's allure remained elusive. In the midst of her umpteenth attempt to find a comfortable position, Seth's deep voice cut through the silence. "If changing positions made a book more interesting, I reckon every straight-A student would be diagnosed with ADHD."

Caught mid-turn, Cicely's eyes darted around before she found a position that felt just right. "It's the couch. It's uncomfortable," she declared.d2

Seth said nothing more.

Cicely gazed at the ceiling for a few moments, waiting for the sound of typing to fill the room again. When it did, she frowned, set the book aside, and quietly sat up, peering over the back of the couch.

Seth was just diagonally in front of her, his keyboard still clattering away. To Cicely, there was something undeniably captivating about the man, even the way his hands moved was mesmerizing. She tilted her head, trying to get a better view, but when she caught Seth's gaze, she realized he was already looking at her.

Her hair was a bit of a mess from lying on the couch, her hands gripping the back as her eyes peeked over, curious and full of an unmistakable fondness.

Seth's eyes landed on her delicate, flushed face. "Your feet better?"

Cicely shook her head. "Not really."

Seth just watched her, expression unreadable.

Resting her chin on her hands, Cicely gazed at Seth, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "But I wanted to see you. I'm not whining about it. It'll be at least a week before I'm fully healed. You wouldn't want me to go a whole week without seeing you, would you? That would be so cruel."

Her voice wavered, betraying a feigned distress.

Seth's gaze lingered on her for a moment before returning to his computer screen.

"Get back to your book."

With a hint of disappointment, Cicely slid back onto the couch. "Keep it down," he added. She paused, her hand hovering over a textbook, then stealthily pulled a different book from the lower drawer of the coffee table.

Seth knew Cicely would obey, but he hadn't expected her to do so with such devotion. For nearly half an hour, the only sounds were the occasional page turn and the steady clack of the keyboard.

Seth was midway through an email when he suddenly rose and walked toward the window, making no effort to silence his footsteps. Cicely surely must have noticed his approach.

Standing behind her now, he saw that she was completely engrossed in her reading, unaware of his presence. Her hair was still a touch unruly as she sat cross-legged, absorbed in the book.

He glanced at the title, and his eyes narrowed behind his glasses.

"...she hadn't buttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, and from his angle, her full boobs were partially exposed. His gaze drifted down to a pair of slender legs, accentuated by a short, light-colored skirt."

Seth's eyes darkened, his expression instantly turning icy.

"Cicely." His voice was a chilling echo, causing her shoulders to tense and freeze.

After a moment, she slowly turned, craning her neck to look up at the stern-faced Seth standing behind her. A rigid smile crept across her face, her cheeks burning a deep shade of red.

"You finished with work?" she asked, her gaze flitting around nervously as she discreetly closed the book and shifted it aside.

"I've never seen you so engrossed in reading before," he commented, moving to stand in front of her.

Cicely quickly hid the book behind her back. Seth stopped before her, observing her guarded posture as she leaned back against the couch. "I'm just tired from studying, so I thought I'd take a break and read some other books to refresh my mind."