The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 2040

Everyone strives for a perfect outcome in life, expending every bit of their energy and soul.

When she finally achieved it and held it close, she realized the hardest part wasn’t reaching the goal but keeping it, because life was full of unexpected twists that she never saw coming.

Time and again, she wished he'd love her—not out of greed but out of a sudden realization that love could be a shackle. She needed this shackle to keep Seth firmly by her side.

Her love for him didn't guarantee he'd stay, but if he loved her the way she loved him, he'd never leave so easily.

Yet, these shackles bound only her. He held the key, always able to slip away at a moment's notice. She was left racked with insecurity, like a lunatic.

The car fell silent, the chill of the night air was like countless needles piercing through her skin, bone-chillingly cold.d2

"Cicely," Seth finally spoke after a long silence, his voice seemingly stiffened by the cold wind. "Don’t be too greedy. Why obsess over that one word? Beyond sentimentality, it holds no meaning. To associate us with that is an insult to both of us."

Sentimentality? An insult? Were they the ones who insulted the very thing called love?

A gaping hole seemed to tear open in her chest, the cold air rushing in, freezing even the blood in her veins. Her expression was distant, her gaze hollow as she stared at him. "Do you have to be so blunt and drag me back to reality? A man's words are indeed best used for deceit."

Even if he lied to her, spinning a web of falsehoods, it was better than dragging her into reality to be pricked and prodded over and over again.

"If I lie to you, you won't believe it. Why would I humiliate myself?"

Cicely forced a smile, her legs numb from the biting wind. "It seems that whatever you do, in my eyes, you can do no right."

Suddenly, Seth gripped her wrist tighter, "We have many reasons to stay together, and even more reasons why I won't leave you. It's not just love that binds people together."

He leaned over and grabbed the seatbelt by her side, "Buckle up, I'm taking you home."

But Cicely pressed down on his hand that held the seatbelt, her beautiful eyes clouded with a mix of bewilderment and scorn. "Indeed, it's not just that love that binds two people together. Guilt, obligation, and a life-saving debt can do just as well."

Seth's dark eyes suddenly grew heavy and frosty, as if brewing a silent, invisible blizzard. Even the arch of his brows seemed frosted with icy blades, cold and sharp. "Do you have to be so aggressive? Cicely, is it that no matter what I say or do, you have already condemned me?"

Cicely clutched the plush cushion, the high-quality velvet inside crumpled in her grip. "You made me sound like I'm more of a clueless judge who doesn't know anything, hastily sentencing to death."

"But Seth," Cicely closed her eyes briefly, inhaling softly, "maybe it's because I'm clueless, so even if you deceive me, I might choose to pardon you."

"Do you find such a hypocritical life entertaining?"

Cicely smiled faintly, shaking her head, "I don't find it interesting either. I guess I just got sentimental for a moment."

"I still have dinner waiting, so go do what you need to do. Going to see Danielle, right? I'll just assume you're out drinking with Kane and the others." She pushed the car door fully open, letting in more of the frigid air.

She stepped out tentatively, her injured foot reluctant to touch the ground after the sudden stop. Leaning on the door, she hid any sign of weakness. If he saw any hint of her pain, he'd likely just scoff, calling her sentimental once more.

Seth watched her coldly, his eyes as desolate as the aftermath of a storm, void of life. "No matter what I say or do, you keep associating me with Danielle. It's as if your perception of me is deeply ingrained. Now, I think since I’m such a terrible figure in your heart, maybe I should really take some time to consider if I actually like Danielle, or maybe even give it a real try with her."

Cicely’s already fragile composure flinched violently at his words, her gaze snapping to the man sneering before her.

"Since you're so set on getting out here, it seems pointless for me to say more." He leaned over, extending his long arm to grab the car door. His gaze swept from her tightly grasped hand on the edge of the door, to her face, adorned with neon lights that hid the pallor on her beautiful face.

In a voice devoid of emotion, he said, "Call Issac to pick you up." With that, he closed the door with force, stepped on the accelerator, and the car sped away into the night.

*

Cicely stood numbly, staring blankly as his car vanished from sight, then mechanically dialed Issac's number.

Seth was seriously considering whether he liked Danielle? So now, was he off to the hospital, intending to give it a real shot with Danielle?

Perhaps it was the cold weather, but Cicely’s blood felt frozen, and the pain in her ankle seemed less intense. Clutching the stuffed cushion, she stood at the desolate roadside, as lonely and forlorn as an abandoned child.

She didn't know how Issac managed to arrive in less than ten minutes. When Issac saw Cicely standing alone by the empty street, his voice was laden with shock and urgency, as if the sky was falling.

"Miss!"

He got out of the car, immediately taking off his jacket and draping it over the woman who seemed lost in another world. Her face was a mix of helplessness and confusion, tinged with anxiety and disappointment.

She’s such a young girl, but her expression was now more complex than he could comprehend.

Her clothes were hardly warm. When girls went out, unless they deliberately went out for a stroll, they didn't dress themselves in a way that seemed bulky and cumbersome.

"Issac, I hit my foot, and it hurts." Her voice was cool and emotionless, and her nose and eyes were red from the cold.

Issac opened the passenger door, bent down to lift her up, carefully placing her in the passenger seat, and then fastened the seatbelt. His breathing became somewhat rapid due to the urgency of the situation.

"I'm taking you to the hospital," he said, the words finally stirring a reaction from Cicely.

Her thoughts seemed to return in fragments as she blinked her eyes and clutched the throw pillow in her lap, "I don't want to go to the hospital. I need to go home for dinner; Grandpa and Dad are waiting for me."

"But..."

"Issac, I'm really hungry."

The look on Cicely's face left no room for further argument. Issac reluctantly nodded in agreement.

*

The car sped down the highway, the side window rolled all the way down, letting the biting chill of the wind rush into the car and slap against Seth's tense, stoic face. The anger boiling in his chest felt like it was about to incinerate him from the inside out.

The leather of the steering wheel deformed under the strength of his grip as Cicely's face, cycling through various emotions, invaded his thoughts without pause.

Mockery, scorn, indifference, blandness... Every expression seemed to taunt him about how utterly ridiculous he was.

Ridiculously greedy.

She took what she wanted without hesitation. When she liked something, she pursued it and made it known, with a candidness that was clear for all to see. When she despised something, she kept her distance, her disdain unmasked.

Simple, flamboyant, and self-assured, and she felt everyone should be the same.

Feelings should be expressed, and dislike was not to be disguised.

Ha.

He scoffed.

The harsh wind filled his lungs, chilling the fiery frustration that had built up in his chest. The last image that flashed in his mind was her standing at the doorway, with panic and helplessness in her eyes as she last stared at him.

His heart suddenly clenched, and the shrill sound of tires screeching violently cut through the emptiness of the city. The car decelerated abruptly, the steering wheel whipping around.

A series of honking horns erupted, one after another. Several cars behind hit their brakes successively, and unsettled horns joined the symphony. Opening the window, the drivers loudly sweared at the luxury car that was driving against traffic on the overpass.

Seth was deaf to their insults, his face set in stone as he navigated the gaps between each vehicle, rolling up the window and blasting the heater to its maximum, turning on the seat warmer for the passenger side as well.

Ten minutes back and forth, but by the time he returned to the spot he had left Cicely, she was gone. He stepped out of the car, finding no trace of her presence.

He was getting angry with himself. What was he thinking, leaving her alone on the street with an injured foot?

Sirens wailed as a police car pulled up beside him. He shut his eyes briefly, trying to contain his irritation.

*

As the car pulled into the Ellis family estate, Cicely spoke softly, "Don't tell Grandpa and Dad where you picked me up today."

Issac's face stiffened, but he managed to mutter an affirmative.

Seeing Cicely being carried into the living room by Issac, Erik and Creighton immediately broke into joyful smiles. "You are home!"

A servant quickly wheeled over a chair, and Issac carefully transferred Cicely onto it.

Cicely frowned, clearly unhappy, "Today's meal was a total letdown. To think I purposely skipped eating all day, expecting something spectacular."

"You are so spoiled. How could you be so picky." Erik chided.

"Yeah, wonder who spoiled her to be like that."

With Cicely's return, the atmosphere instantly lifted.

Brody hurried everyone to the dining room, "Miss, they learned that you are coming home for dinner, Mr. Erik and Mr.Creighton barely touched their food."

Cicely swallowed the lump in her throat, "Well, then, it's perfect. They can eat a bit more with me."

Brody beamed, "Exactly, the more the merrier, and it'll make dinner more enjoyable."

Once everyone was seated, Erik looked toward the dining room door, "Where's Seth? Why didn't he come back with you?"

"Well, Kane called him out for a drink midway, so I told him to go. He's been so busy lately, and then he has to stick by me all through the holiday. I felt bad. I had to practically shove him out the door so he'd go have some fun and get some air."

Hearing this, Creighton nodded, "That's fair. Let's enjoy our meal then."

Cicely took a bite of her food and softly hummed in agreement. She ate heartily that evening, more than usual, until she felt a bit uncomfortable.

The three generations sat in the living room, sipping tea and watching a variety show, as Cicely rubbed her belly and browsed trending topics on her phone. Most were about the variety show.