The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1979

Blinking her eyes, she seemed to perk up a bit, her little head swaying left and right as she took in the room's minimalist decor, all shades of muted grey. It was exactly the kind of Spartan aesthetic Seth would have.

After Seth set her down, he reached out to steady her restless head, straightening it. "Stay put, will you?"

Cicely looked at him, puzzled. "Your place... your own house? When did you..."

She didn't finish her question. After all, knowing Seth was a force to be reckoned with wasn't news. That there was suddenly an apartment in the mix was hardly a shocker.

She clutched the edge of the blanket wrapped around her, her eyes bright with excitement as she looked at Seth. "Why'd you suddenly bring me to your place?"

Seth stood up and shrugged off his suit jacket, the easy, deliberate movement making Cicely's cheeks flush. "Taking care of my sick girlfriend, isn't that just the done thing?"d2

Cicely tried to suppress a smile, "But what about my dad."

"You think he wouldn't approve? If that's the case, I can take you back right now."

Cicely curled a little deeper into the blankets, "I think it's perfectly fine."

"I'll talk to your dad. I've kept him in the dark about how sick you've been, and it's only fair you get a chance to recover before heading back."

"I see."

Seth gave her a faint glance and turned to leave the bedroom.

"Where are you going?"

"Just lie still."

Cicely murmured an obedient "Okay," and truly didn't move a muscle, her curiosity about the room waning as nearly an hour passed, and she felt her eyelids grow heavy.

When Seth returned, he had swapped his formal wear for something more casual, the fatigue from earlier now washed away from his face. "There's soup simmering in the kitchen. Do you want to eat in here, or shall we dine at the table?"

"The table." Before Seth could even finish, Cicely's voice piped up.

He probably anticipated her answer, his expression unchanging as he approached the bed. He had barely bent down when her arms slipped out from under the covers and wrapped around his neck.

Seth looked at her, "Aren't you taking things for granted?" Despite his words, he lifted her in his arms.

"It's called being in sync. Didn't you want to come over and carry me?"

Cicely reveled in the rare moment of Seth being at a loss for words.

Settled at the dining table by Seth, she watched him head back to the kitchen. The table was already laid out with a few simple but appetizing dishes, and a clay pot that wafted the scent of rice.

Cicely glanced around once more, making sure they were alone in the apartment, then asked Seth as he returned with another pot, "Did you make all this?"

"What do you think?"

Clearly, he did.

"I never thought you could cook..." Cicely was pleasantly surprised.

"As long as you can read and follow instructions, and not make any mistakes in the regular process, there typically shouldn't be any problems."

Cicely understood what he meant. It's basically the idea that you don't have to have done something to know how it works. She became a little apprehensive about the taste of the food he had cooked.

A soft clink, and Seth placed a bowl of steaming soup in front of her. "Drink up."

She hesitated, but Seth's kindness and tenderness that day were like a blue moon event, and for that alone, even if the soup were poison, she'd drink it.

Her struggle and her resolve didn't go unnoticed by Seth. He watched, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, as she cautiously took a spoonful, blew on it, hesitated, and finally tasted it. Cicely's furrowed brow relaxed almost immediately.

"Hmm?" She blinked at Seth, "This is actually really good."

"It sounds like you expected less from me."

Cicely immediately gave a thumbs-up, "Not bad at all, my man of many talents."

Seth said nothing, sitting opposite her, sharing a quiet lunch.

Through the evening, Seth never left the house, though his phone rang off the hook. Cicely often heard his deep voice on calls through the walls, a reminder of his presence and dedication to his work.

Despite a twinge of resentment, Cicely kept her complaints to herself. A man with ambition deserved her support, she thought; she might not be able to help much, but at least she wouldn't hold him back. After all, even if she offered him everything she had, he probably wouldn't take it.

Drifting back into sleep, she woke again at dinnertime.

Feeling much better after the meal, Cicely, wearing Seth's oversized slippers, roamed the apartment. She wasn't quite sure of the specific address, but it seemed like a very ordinary apartment—three bedrooms, two living rooms, and two bathrooms. The decoration was simple yet luxurious, with fully equipped facilities. It looked very new, indicating that he probably hadn't lived here much.

She wondered, was she the first to stay here?