The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 2036

"Misunderstood?" Cicely's drowsy eyes suddenly sharpened as she gazed at the handsome face just inches from hers. A gentle smile tinged her eyes, "If such misunderstanding warrants a penalty for self-justification, then what about when you misunderstand me? Shouldn't I consider how to punish you?"

Seth's face held the same amused expression, yet a chill seemed to seep into his smile. "Go ahead. Punish me any way you see fit."

Cicely slightly tilted her head, calmly and seriously meeting his gaze. "You must feel pretty confident, thinking that because I'm so into you, any punishment will be trivial and painless."

Seth pinched her beautifully curved jawline, "So, ask yourself, do you really have the heart to give me a severe punishment, huh?"

Cicely raised an eyebrow and ran her hand across his face, her lovely eyes brimming with tenderness.

"I couldn't bear to."d2

Capturing the emotion in her eyes, Seth felt a subtle stir in his heart, his fingertips gently caressing her smooth chin, "You like me that much?"

Cicely was candid, "Mm-hmm." Her hand moved from his face to his collar, fiddling with it, "But have you ever heard, love and hate are two extremes. The more one loves someone at the start, the more they might hate them later?"

A coldness crept into Seth's warm and smiling eyes, but Cicely's gaze remained playful, her eyes and brows soft with flirtation, "Don't worry, though. Even if that day comes, which I doubt it will. I wouldn't choose to hate you."

It felt like a bee sting to the nerve, his dark eyes fixed on Cicely for a long time before he cracked a faint smile. He let go of Cicely's chin and stood up straight. His shirt was already missing two buttons that Cicely had undone; he casually unfastened the rest.

"I'll let you off tonight. It's still early, so be good and wait for me."

He turned to leave and then paused, "If you're not obedient, I'll have to wake you up my way."

Cicely had no desire to find out what his method of waking her might be. So when Seth emerged from the shower, Cicely was propped up in bed, engrossed in a video game. She glanced at him, then refocused on the still unfinished game.

Seth climbed into bed and snatched the phone from her hands. Cicely didn't react strongly, "Is there something you need to tell me?"

"Yeah, join me at the office tomorrow morning."

While talking, he swiped and tapped on her phone screen.

Cicely frowned, "I don't know anything about business, what am I supposed to do there?"

"If you knew even a little, you wouldn't need to tag along with me to the office first thing in the morning."

"Do I have to go?"

"Aren't you the good little girl? Do you think your dad asking you to learn more is him picking on you for no reason?"

Cicely frowned, still resistant.

"Whether it's your life now or in the future, your only sure bet is the Ellis family. Your dad won't manage the Ellis family forever. If one day, shareholders take advantage of a weak moment and start eating away at you, swallowing up the entire Ellis family, you won't even know where to cry. Don't be naive, thinking everyone around you is harmlessly benevolent."

"Does that include you?"

"Including me."

Cicely fell silent.

"The Ellis family is mine, isn't it yours too? What's there to argue about?"

"Anything, only when truly in your own hands, is secure."

Cicely watched him quietly, "What makes you insecure? You think one day I might leave you? Or maybe you want to leave me one day without concern?"

Seth's fingers froze. Turning to her, his gazes were unfathomably deep.

His voice chilled further. "It sounds like you're quite convinced you've fallen for a man who leaves a trail of broken hearts."

"I'm just saying. But beyond these two reasons, is there anything else?"

Seth's expression didn't improve, and he didn't speak.

Cicely's eyes shifted, the shadow in their depths replaced by a shallow smile. "I shouldn't be so quick to assume. In fact, instead of you being unhappy, you should be reflecting on why I harbor such uncomfortable suspicions."

Seth handed her phone back, "I've downloaded some files to your email. Read as much as you can before sleep, and ask me about anything you don't understand tomorrow."

Cicely took the phone, the document app he had just downloaded for her was filled with a blur of text. "What will you be doing?"

Seth glanced at her, then got out of bed, lifting the covers. "I'm not happy right now, and I need to reflect. Naturally, I can't stay by your side and affect your mood."

Cicely watched him get up, grab a coat, and walk out. Her face looked troubled. Cicely understood all too well; it wasn't about reflection. The man was throwing a tantrum.

＊

Seth stayed in his study for two hours. Approaching eleven at night, he stood up, his face looking worse than before.

Back in the bedroom, the lights had dimmed, leaving only a nightlight by the bed. Seeing the woman sleeping with the phone in her arms, his anger reignited.

Heartless woman.

He slid into bed, taking the phone from her hand and glanced at the document she hadn't closed.

It was the same one he'd opened for her before leaving. He then looked at her peaceful sleeping face and sneered.

No wonder Creighton was in a rush to find her a reliable man.

Locking the phone and tossing it aside, he watched the woman sleep in disarray, his face cold as he pulled her into his embrace.

Cicely, used to the man's arms and scent, shifted comfortably against him, mumbling drowsily. "Done sulking?"

For a moment, Seth wanted to wake her up, maybe keep her up all night. But after her one sentence, she fell silent again, and any further pursuit would seem petty.

＊

He wasn't petty; the next morning, he woke Cicely with a kiss that was more reviving than a cup of strong coffee. Even for school, Cicely rarely awoke this early. Already prone to morning grumpiness, she was even more irate when robbed of breath.

Shoving Seth away, she kicked him hard a couple of times. "Are you out of your mind?!"

Seth flashed a mischievous grin as he swung his legs out of bed, "Time to rise and shine, off to the grind."

"No way! I am not going." Cicely yanked the comforter over her head in protest.

"Better show your face." Seth's voice carried a serious note.

Cicely didn't budge.

"Are you really gonna make me do this the hard way?"

After a moment, Cicely flung the comforter off with a huff, sat up, and lobbed his pillow straight at him, but what strength could she muster just out of bed, and with a pillow at that?

Seth was close by, and the pillow barely registered upon impact.

"I'm so over this, I'm not going to the office."

Seth bent down, picked up the pillow, and placed it back on the bed, "I'm going to get ready. If I don't see you up by the time I'm out, I'll just carry you to the bathroom. If you don't want me to wake you up for the second time, then go back to sleep."

Cicely gritted her teeth in frustration. As Seth turned away, the corners of his lips curled into a sly smile.

Frowning, she threw the covers aside and stomped off to the bathroom, where Seth was busy squeezing toothpaste onto his brush. He watched her grumpy reflection in the mirror.

With a subtle raise of his eyebrows, he shifted aside to give her space.

Cicely approached, took her brush, and Seth, as if on cue, applied toothpaste to it. She glanced at their reflection. Seth nonchalantly placed the toothpaste tube aside.

Eyes back on her task, she started brushing. It was not like she needed his help with something as simple as toothpaste. The frothy white bubbles conveniently hid the slight smile of her lips.

After breakfast, they headed to the Ellis Corporation together.

"How much of the document from last night did you read?" Seth pretended not to know anything.

"About two pages. So what am I supposed to do at the office, exactly?"

Seth just smiled and didn't respond.