The Enticing CEO's Chosen Bride novel Chapter 2088

Erik's condition was stable, and Cicely had been by his side in the hospital room for two hours.

"There are plenty of people here; go get some rest." Seth had been there with her the entire time, glancing at his watch over and over until he finally spoke up in a deep voice.

Cicely shook her head, refusing to leave.

The room fell silent once again, the sounds of the medical equipment becoming all the more pronounced.

After a while, Seth stood up from the couch and walked over to her. "Come on, I'll drive you home."

Impatience flickered across Cicely's face. "Are you done?"d2

Seth stared at the strands of her hair caught in the light above her, his expression indifferent. "Weren't you supposed to go to Alyssa's for Thanksgiving?"

Cicely's complexion stiffened instantly. Her mind exploded with the shock.

Hugo?!

Sensing her body tense up, Seth lowered his gaze, his voice growing hoarse. "Grandpa has someone here to look after him, and you can rest easy. Since you promised to spend Thanksgiving with them, don't keep them waiting. It's not right."

He paused for a moment, then slowly reached out and rested his hand on her shoulder. "I'll take you there."

"No need!"

Cicely jerked to her feet as if stung, shaking off Seth's hand. Realizing she had overreacted, her eyes flickered and she changed her tone. "I mean, I'll go back on my own."

Seth pursed his lips, his gaze locked on her tense face, and after a moment of silence, he said in a raspy voice, "I'll just drive you there. I won't come in, okay?"

Cicely's eyes trembled unexpectedly. She thought she had misheard. Ever since she first met Seth when she was younger, she had never heard such pleading and inquiry in his voice.

What's more, he had everything nowadays, with power in his hands and calling the shots, and this submissive tone didn't seem like it should come from him.

But why? Just to drive her home, he was putting on this act.

"What if I say no?"

Seth's gaze lowered, his voice sounding like it was dragged out of him, "It's Thanksgiving today, we could spend a little time."

"You said you wouldn't come in."

"Not going in." Seth stepped forward and gripped her arm, his dark eyes locking onto her glowing and radiant face. His husky voice seemed to come through a dense fog, "We'll celebrate on the road."

Cicely watched him silently for a while. After a long pause, she looked away, her voice calm and cold when she spoke again. "If I disagree, are you planning to drag this out all night?"

Seth pressed his lips together and remained silent.

Maybe that was his plan.

*

Once inside the car, Cicely leaned back in her seat, staring out the window expressionlessly. Seth got in from the other side, and the two sat at a distance from each other.

Halfway through the journey, silence reigned. Charlie, driving the car, felt the atmosphere was so oppressive it was suffocating.

Mr. Erik had pulled through, but were these two just planning to keep this deadlock? Both so stubborn, how would this end?

Cicely's hand, resting by her side, was clenched tight. She didn't trust Seth, or perhaps, she feared a "mishap" more.

Everything from three years ago came without warning, including her worries outside the operating room today, and even now. Even if Seth really did as he said and didn't come in, she couldn't predict what else might happen.

If he crossed that threshold, she couldn't imagine what she'd have to face.

But she had to go back. She had promised Hugo to celebrate with him. No matter how difficult, she couldn't break her word. Otherwise, her Hugo would be disappointed, sad, upset, and might even cry in secret.

The thought that there might be a chance of that made her heart cramp in pain. Those days of crying in secret were so heartbreaking. She couldn't let that happen.

With a few visible teeth marks on her lower lip, she watched the car move forward, and the tension in her head grew tighter.

Beside her, there was a rustling sound, but she was too preoccupied to notice. After a short while, Seth's hand came into view. She looked down to see a long, slender finger holding a half-eaten apple pie.

"You'll probably have more to eat later, so just have half for now."

A low, mellow voice filled the car, tinged with a hint of subdued pleasure. Cicely paused, turning to look at the man. In the dim light of the car, she could only make out half of his face. His dark eyes watched her quietly, simply wanting her to take the pie.

She looked back at the pie, her eyes flickering, and reached out to take it. He had said they would celebrate Thanksgiving on the road.

Under his unwavering gaze, she took a small bite. Seeing her eat, Seth allowed himself a small smile, glanced at the remaining half of the pie in his hand, and brought it to his lips.

Charlie in the front seat felt a pang of sadness. He had never seen Mr. Diaz eat apple pie before.

But did this count as celebrating Thanksgiving? It probably did, in a way.

After all, for the past three years, no one had celebrated Thanksgiving with Mr. Diaz, and no one had shared apple pie or a holiday meal with him. Even other holidays, it had always just been him alone.

Cicely felt a wave of sadness welling up, choking her. The pie in her mouth stuck, impossible to spit out or swallow. In the end, she took another bite of the pie, swallowing it down with the lump in her throat.

Soon, the car pulled up in front of Alyssa's cozy little villa. Seth finished his pie while Cicely still had some left.

The moment the car stopped, Cicely couldn't wait to open the door and leave. Charlie got out first.

Cicely was stopped by a gentle pull. She stiffened, turning to look at Seth. "You said..."

"Happy Thanksgiving."

Seth spoke softly, the words stopping Cicely's words in her mouth and filling her with a sense of shame, as if she had misjudged him.

"Happy Thanksgiving." She hesitated for a few seconds but still left him with those cold words before turning and opening the car door.

Seth let go of her hand, not holding her back.

Charlie brought all the gifts from the trunk into the villa, running back and forth three times to finish the task.

Anya was playing with Hugo on the side, and when she saw the toys, she dragged Hugo over excitedly.

Charlie carefully arranged all the gifts to one side, then turned to the room full of guests with a hearty, "Happy Thanksgiving, folks." But as his gaze swept across the room, it landed on two children nearby, and then fixed intently on Hugo.

It was as if a lightning bolt had struck him. His expression shifted to shock, his mouth gaping open as he turned to Cicely.

By the time Cicely realized what was happening, it was already too late to do anything but step in front of Hugo, trying to act as a shield. "What are you staring at?"

Charlie averted his gaze, slowly closing his mouth, shaking his head. "No, nothing, I was just leaving."

He couldn't remember how he had exited the door. It wasn't until he was in the car for a while that he rubbed his face vigorously.

Seth watched the brightly lit mansion fade away through the car window, a hint of longing hidden in the depths of his eyes.

"Mr. Diaz." Charlie's voice was suddenly stiff.

Seth did not respond.

"I just saw a little boy in the villa."

Seth's eyes flickered, glanced at the villa one last time, then withdrew his gaze.

"He looks a lot like you. And Ms. Cicely seemed quite guarded around me. Is it..."

"Drive."

Seth's impassive response made Charlie pause, but after a few seconds, he understood. Mr. Diaz already knew.

Throughout the drive back, Charlie kept silent, untangling the mess of thoughts in his head.

"Why don't you confront it, Mr. Diaz?"

The taste of apple pie, sweet and lingering, was still in his mouth. Seth slowly opened his eyes, silent for a moment. "She won't even let me drive her now." If he confronted her, would she take the child and go into hiding?

Charlie bit his lip. "But you can't just pretend you don't know forever."

"That depends on how long she plans to keep it from me."

He had promised Chloe not to use the child as a bargaining chip. He had made mistakes before, and used the wrong methods; he couldn't repeat making the same mistakes and cause them more pain.

Charlie felt a tightness in his chest, suffocating. Even as a bystander, he felt this way; he could hardly imagine what the man in the back seat was enduring.

*

Only when Cicely was sure Seth's car had finally left did she bend down and hug Hugo tightly.

"Hugo, I'm sorry. Mommy's late."

Hugo's lips were pressed tightly together, his eyes reddening, tears swirling but not falling. "It's okay. I knew Mommy would come."

He buried his face in Cicely's embrace, his arms wrapped tightly around her neck, unable to hold back his low sobs.

Cicely felt her heart shatter. If not for Seth's reminder, she would have let Hugo down tonight. Hugo believed in her so much.

Tears glimmered in Alyssa's eyes. "This child, he was so well-behaved, just waiting patiently for you; I've never seen a child so understanding."

Cicely nodded, standing up with Hugo in her arms. "Alyssa, thank you for today. I'm sorry for the intrusion."

"Not at all. I'm old and love the excitement, especially being around you young ones. Hugo is such a darling."

"I likes you too, Great-Grandma."

"Great-Grandma. Oh, such sweet words."

Hugo's voice, still quivering from crying, melted everyone's hearts.

"Weren't you waiting for Mommy to share the apple pie? Let Mommy have a bite." The child had insisted on waiting to eat his pie until Cicely returned.

Cicely sat down with Hugo on the couch, and upon hearing Alyssa's words, she looked down at Hugo.

At her mention, Hugo shifted, trying to climb off Cicely's lap, his dark eyes searching anxiously, hands reaching out into the air. "Ms. Chloe. Where is my apple pie..."

Chloe had said she would keep it for him, but he didn't know where it was.

Everyone's heart clenched at the sight. Hugo was at an age where he should be exploring the world, and curious about everything. Those beautiful yet unseeing eyes, those hands fumbling in the air, his face a mixture of urgency and helplessness, tugged at everyone's heartstrings.

Cicely's tears welled up as she took Hugo's hand and kissed it. "Hugo, Mommy also prepared a apple pie for you."

Hugo immediately calmed down, turned his head towards Cicely, his eyes filled with anticipation. "Where is it?"

Cicely looked at the half-eaten pie in her hand, a piece Seth had given her, which she had nibbled but not finished. "Right here."