The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 2084

Charlie knew it all too well.

Seth could fool the world, maybe even keep the charade going for a lifetime. But there was one person he didn't want to deceive—not even for a second—Ms. Cicely.

Every day was a struggle.

Charlie kept silent.

When Seth arrived at the office, he handed Charlie a shopping list for Thanksgiving gifts. "Besides these, see what else she might need."

Charlie glanced at the list: vitamins, liquor, and Thanksgiving gift baskets—all pretty standard stuff. But what caught his eye was a new addition this year—children's toys.d2

Puzzled, Charlie asked, "Mr. Diaz, should I get toys for a boy or a girl, and for what age?"

Seth paused, pondering for a moment, then said indifferently, q5"Three or four years old, gender-neutral, get a mix of everything."

"Got it."

*

Cicely wasn't used to giving gifts, and she didn't buy much as they wandered through the mall.

Charlie, on the other hand, was on a mission with Seth's list and ended up buying quite a bit.

Cicely thought Charlie was shopping for his own parents, so she picked a few similar items herself.

In the end, Charlie stopped in the mall's lounge area. "Ms. Cicely, I've got to pick up some toys for the kids next. If you're tired, you can rest here. What would you like to drink? I can get it for you."

Cicely, who had been growing impatient, suddenly seemed lost in thought at the mention of toys.

"Toys?"

Charlie nodded, "Yeah, it's a holiday after all, can't have a family gathering without something for the kids."

Cicely blinked somewhat uncontrollably.

Yes, children always need toys. What kind of toys did her Hugo like?

"Ms. Cicely?"

Cicely snapped back to reality, "Yeah, I'll come take a look too."

Charlie didn't think much of it. They headed to the toy department together. The entire floor was a child's paradise, toys as far as the eye could see.

Charlie looked around at the other shoppers—hardly any kids in tow—and joked, "If you brought the kids here, they'd probably forget they even had parents."

Cicely didn't respond, her gaze curiously scanning the toys displayed in the windows.

Charlie was surprised by Cicely's curiosity about the toys, but then again, even if she had a privileged childhood, there would always be toys she hadn't seen or played with.

Cicely bought loads: remote-controlled cars, drones, action figures, a variety of storybooks, and even a children's keyboard. She also picked out some dolls, thinking Hugo could cuddle with them or keep them by his bedside.

Unlike her almost obligatory attitude while picking out the Thanksgiving gift baskets, Cicely was genuinely engaged now. Charlie was perplexed but figured his task wasn't too different from Mr. Diaz's sudden request for toys.

*

Damon accompanied Chloe to pick up Hugo. The director personally greeted them, leading them to the classroom door.

Hugo was in the book corner of the classroom, listening to a story from a smart device, carefully kneading some playdough in his small hands.

"This child is so well-behaved. Yesterday, when I told him you'd be coming today to take him to see his mother, he just lay in bed, clutching his blanket, eyes wide open all night. Didn't cry or fuss. The teachers tried to soothe him several times, and each time it seemed like he fell asleep. But as soon as they left, his eyes would pop open again. It's like he was determined to wait until he saw his mother to feel at peace."

Chloe felt a tug at her heart as she watched the small, quiet figure.mQuiet and well-mannered, that was always Hugo's demeanor whenever Chloe met him.

The idea of seeing his mother should have been thrilling, yet he managed to contain his excitement and anticipation with such composure.

His temperament reminded her of the stoic Seth.

Chloe pushed the door open and walked towards him.

The child in the corner lifted his head, his somewhat vacant eyes suddenly alight with eagerness and longing. His hands stopped kneading the playdough.

Chloe stopped in front of him, and the little boy shifted from sitting to kneeling, reaching out to grasp Chloe's dress.

"Ma’am."

Chloe bent down and gently stroked Hugo's head, her voice soft and warm, "It's me. I've come to take you out to celebrate Thanksgiving with your mom."

Hugo's usually expressionless little face instantly brightened with a smile, and he nodded vigorously, "Okay."

Chloe was about to lift Hugo from the ground when an arm suddenly wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. "Careful with yourself, I've got him."

A deep, refined voice sounded beside her, and the next second, Damon pushed her aside gently and scooped Hugo into his arms.

Hugo remembered Damon but was still a bit shy. Now, overwhelmed with happiness, he obediently rested his little hands on Damon's shoulders, not daring to move, and murmured softly, "Mr. Damon."

Damon's brow twitched. His friends did not make life easy for him.

Chloe found the title amusing, capturing Damon's fleeting helplessness in her eyes and smiling softly.

Damon looked at her, and she shrugged her delicate brows, as if to say, "I laughed, what are you going to do about it?"

Damon pursed his lips; indeed, he couldn't do much.

Over the years, it was Chloe who had been supporting the orphanage and giving special care to Hugo. The orphanage naturally wouldn't make a fuss about the two of them coming to take Hugo out—just a matter of following procedures and signing some papers.

"What would you like to eat for dinner, Hugo? I can have someone prepare it for you in advance?" Chloe said.

"I like whatever Mommy likes."

Chloe paused, affectionately touching his little cheek.

His eyes, usually as still as a pond with no ripples, had been brimming with excitement and anticipation since seeing her. Yet he remained well-behaved and quiet, his face showing a faint smile that clearly revealed his joy. In every way, he resembled Seth.

"Where is Mommy?"The car drove all the way. Hugo answered one question after the other, until he, who never initiated the conversation, suddenly asked.

"Mommy is getting you a present."

"Mommy is already a present."

"But Mommy loves you so much, and she wants to give you lots and lots of things."

Hugo pursed his lips, not uttering a word, just nodding over and over again.

The suburbs were a good distance from downtown, and Hugo probably hadn't been out much. After insisting on staying awake for a while in the car, he finally succumbed to sleep. He remained asleep all the way until they reached Alyssa's place.

Damon lifted him from the car while Chloe directed the servants to bring down the gifts.

Upon entering the house, Nathan caught sight of Damon carrying a child and hurried over with Anya in his arms.

Casting his gaze around and not spotting Chloe, Nathan’s heart skipped a beat, and his eyes widened in disbelief, staring at Damon, before a look of profound distress overtook his face.

"You you you..."

Damon shot him a cold glance, and Nathan quickly turned to Alyssa and blurted out, "Granny, my brother has brought home his love child!"

Everyone fell silent. This kid's imagination was running wild.

At Nathan's words, Alyssa rolled over in her wheelchair, smacked Nathan on the butt, and scolded, "You think everyone is as foolish as you?"

Nathan hopped away from the slap, wondering where he'd been foolish. His brother bringing home a love child, what did that have to do with him?

"Nathan, don't cry." Anya's little hands cupped Nathan's face gently, her voice soft and comforting.

Nathan's face crumpled into a "woe is me" expression as he rubbed Anya's tiny hand. He thought that his little sister-in-law was really the gentle soul here. (At this time, he still didn't know.)

Alyssa didn't bother with his antics, instead, she looked up at Damon, who was holding the sleeping child, and whispered, "Did you get him out?"

Damon nodded, bending slightly so Alyssa could have a better look at the child in his arms. Alyssa peered at the boy, murmured an affectionate "Oh my!", "He's so handsome, just like his dad. Look at that furrowed little brow. Go, lay him down so he can get some proper rest."

"Okay."

Just as Nathan was pondering how to salvage the situation for his big brother, it seemed Chloe looked utterly unfazed. And Alyssa's words just now seemed to indicate he'd misunderstood something.

"Whose kid is this?" His curious, gossipy face leaned in closer.

Alyssa pulled Chloe aside, shooting Nathan a glance, "Come on, Chloe, have some fruit. We don't talk to fools."

Nathan was speechless.

*

On the way to drop Cicely off at home, Charlie received a call. It was from the hospital. "Mr. Charlie, Ms. Danielle has attempted suicide."

Charlie's expression turned grave, "Did you call a doctor? I'm on my way."

After hanging up, Charlie sped up the car.

Cicely, her expression indifferent, offered, "If you're in a rush, I can take a cab."

"No trouble, I'll take you home first."

Cicely said no more. Perhaps it was a real emergency, as Charlie didn't even bother to take the gifts from the trunk before hurrying off.

Cicely guessed someone in his family had had an accident and was hospitalized. Her heart remained still. She was never one with an excess of empathy. Her own life was in such disarray, how could she afford to pay mind to others' joys and sorrows?

Back at her apartment, after a shower and intending to rest, she silenced her phone and saw Chloe's message. [We're at Granny's. He's asleep.]

Cicely's fingertips trembled slightly.

Hugo.

Her teeth bit down on her finger joint, staring at that message for a long time before reluctantly deleting it.

Get through today, and tomorrow she could see her son.

Thanksgiving...