The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 2049

Halfway to his destination, Seth's body stiffened as a thunderous crash echoed from behind. He pulled over, and turning his head, he saw thick smoke billowing from the Diaz Tower.

Without hesitation, he turned back, only to be confronted with an even more harrowing sight up close. As he scanned the area, there was no sign of his mother or Danielle.

A soft voice from a nearby legal officer reached his ears, "Your mother and Ms. Danielle haven't come down yet."

Seth's eyes narrowed, and he looked up toward the 12th floor, swallowing hard, his face a mask of icy resolve. He began to shrug off his suit jacket when the officer spoke again, "Mr. Diaz, there's no need for you to go up. Rescue operations are underway."

Eventhing happened in such a short time. Seth hadn’t seen any fire trucks arrive, but perhaps someone had reported the situation because a firefighting helicopter was now descending onto the roof of Diaz International.

Patty was still up there, and even though others were attempting a rescue, Seth couldn’t stand idle.d2

Ground firefighters had already arrived and were rapidly setting up a perimeter. Seeing Seth ready to enter the building, they immediately intercepted him. "Sir, the building could collapse at any moment. We advise against going in to search. We've arranged for an aerial rescue. Please, don't add to the complications."

*

With the elevators out of commission, Cicely made her way up the stairwell to the 12th floor. She and Issac had hoped to encounter Danielle and Patty in the stairwell, but with each floor they climbed, their hearts sank a little more.

Escaping through the stairwell was common sense. Not finding them meant the likelihood of their having perished was even greater.

The 12th floor was a blast site, the stairwell entrance clogged with rubble but still passable. They managed to push aside a beam and entered. Inside, smoke choked the air. Issac, covering Cicely's mouth and nose with a damp cloth, bent low and made straight for Camden's office.

The office was empty.

"Damn it, where are they? Danielle!" Cicely, frustrated and angry, called out for Danielle but inhaled a lungful of smoke, coughing violently.

Issac quickly covered her face with the wet cloth. "Don’t shout. They must have gone up."

"Are they insane? The lower floors could collapse any second, fire spreading, smoke rising. Are they trying to die faster?"

"It means they're still alive."

"Miss, I can handle this alone. Can you get out first?"

Cicely shook her head, heading toward the stairwell. "If the codes don't come through, and Diaz International is destroyed, that's on me. If Diaz International is gone, and something happens to Patty, I can't imagine the blow it would deal Seth. At least I need to safeguard one thing for him."

Issac simply pursed his lips, no more words exchanged.

As they reached the landing to the 13th floor, a loud crash resounded from behind them—the stairwell to the 12th floor had collapsed.

Cicely froze.

Issac pulled her along, "Move fast."

"How will we get down?"

Issac, calm in crisis, replied, "A rescue chopper will come for us. Let's find them first."

Cicely felt a wave of relief and finally, on the 15th floor landing, they found the two trapped women. Patty sat with her head in her hands, sobbing hysterically, clearly in shock. And Danielle was futilely pushing against a beam blocking the stairwell door.

The smoke was rising fast, bringing a wave of heat with it. Sounds of collapsing materials echoed from below.

"Danielle!" Cicely, livid, pulled Patty to her feet. "Are you braindead? Did all your fire safety training go to waste? Running upstairs during a fire?!"

Danielle turned, her once immaculate makeup smeared, hair disheveled, tears and sweat creating streaks of dirt on her face. Her eyes met Cicely's and Issac's, startled and helpless.

"Move!" Issac stepped forward, his voice cold, and began to push against the heavy beam and the barricading cabinet.

The group hurried inside a well-lit space that felt strangely safe. But Issac's expression grew darker. "This is a dining hall?"

Cicely hesitated, "There's an open dining area for staff on the 15th floor."

Issac's face turned pale, "We can't stay here. Move!"

Realization dawned on Cicely, and she urged Patty to keep moving up. But Patty shoved her away fiercely. "Don't touch me!"

Patty retreated to Danielle's side, glaring at Cicely. Her emotions resurfaced, along with her resentment.

Issac's face was grim, "Ma’am, Ms. Cicely came up here risking her life to save you."

"I would rather die than be saved by her. After you ruined Diaz International, now you want to win Seth's heart through me? I won't let you succeed. I'd rather die than be saved by you, and I'll make sure he despises you forever."

Cicely couldn't believe that even in a life-or-death situation, Patty’s disdain for her was still her priority. "What did I do to make you hate me so much, Patty?"

Patty snapped, "I do hate you. It was your mother, Millie. She ruined my life. The man I loved, loved her, and my husband loved her. Why was she so blessed? How many men went crazy for her, and how many women's happiness did she steal? And now you're the same, born adored and destined for a smooth life. But too bad you fell for my son, and you expect him to love you unconditionally. I'll never allow it. Even in death, I’ll make sure he hates you forever. And don't even think about using me to capture his heart."

Shock wasn't reserved for Cicely alone; Danielle stood by, equally stunned. No one would have guessed that the reason Patty hated the Ellis family and Cicely so much was actually for this reason.

What kind of twisted love triangle was this?

Cicely found it all ludicrous. Her parents were truly in love, and Patty's solution was to blame others for her own failure and to use her son as a pawn for revenge against another's daughter was utterly irrational.

At that moment, a rescue helicopter circled outside the window. Issac, seeing this, went over and opened the window. "We're here!"

The helicopter hovered in place, with a pilot and a firefighter on board.

Issac turned and called out to them. "Hurry up, we've got a gas leak and this whole place could blow any second."

Danielle, upon hearing this, panicked, only now noticing the pervasive smell of gas. She quickly pulled Patty toward the window. "Patty, we've got to go!"

Yet Patty stood frozen by the window.

The helicopter's downdraft whipped their clothes and hair, stinging their faces. Patty looked down, a sudden impulse rising within her.

Cicely, tired of the drama, turned to Issac and said, "I'm heading to the rooftop. Take them to the chopper."

As she turned to leave, Issac caught her arm. "What do you need on the rooftop?"