The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride
Chapter 2041

Before he returned, Seth had found Cicely's words in the car utterly baseless and irrational.

What had he said to her? He told her not to be too greedy, and not to be so fussy. He accused her of sentencing him to death without cause, of making a fuss over nothing.

When she said she could forgive him even if he fooled her just once, he told her she was living a lie, and it was meaningless.

What else did he say? He mentioned he needed to think about whether he really liked Danielle and that maybe he could give it a shot with her.

The memory of Cicely standing at the car door with that panicked and helpless look in her eyes resurfaced in his mind. A bitter taste suddenly rose in his throat, and as Issac clasped his collar tightly, Seth's hands clenched into white-knuckled fists at his sides.

She had given him so many chances, even waited for him to deceive her.d2

Seeing Seth's stricken expression, Issac, regardless of his own raging anger, realized he had to step out of their world. Issac let go, stepped back, straightened his clothes, and left the bedroom. The room fell silent.

Seth gazed at her for a long moment before slowly approaching her. "Why didn't you say anything?"

Cicely looked sideways at the slight gap left by the closet door not being properly shut. "I guess I felt it would be too dramatic to say it out loud. Besides, what's done is done. Speaking about it won't change anything. Why humiliate myself further?" She threw his earlier words back at him.

"I'm sorry."

A flicker passed through Cicely's eyes as she slowly turned to meet his gaze. "The last thing I wanted to hear was an apology because I really don't want to tell you it's okay. It's all so trivial, confirming indeed that you messed up, and it doesn't undo what's happened."

Seth watched her silently, as if waiting for her to vent all the pent-up resentment in her heart.

Cicely took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and when she opened them again, she looked at him with a faint laugh, "Am I being unreasonably stubborn again? Are you always right, and everything I say is just adding to my mistakes?"

As she spoke, she glanced casually at the digital clock on the table, then lowered her eyes, concealing the turmoil behind them, and spoke indifferently. "I'm going downstairs to join Grandpa and Dad for New Year's Eve."

Seth stepped forward, "I'll carry you down."

Cicely turned her head away, her posture as she sat waiting for him to carry her was notably stiff and unwelcoming.

Seth bent down, his long arm sweeping under the bend of her legs, his voice low and dim as he spoke. "I didn't go to the hospital."

Cicely wrapped her arms around his neck to avoid falling. She didn't respond.

Seth lifted her up and headed for the door, continuing, "Because I seriously violated traffic laws."

A sardonic smile played on Cicely's lips. She had seen it all before.

"U-turning on the overpass, driving the wrong way, crossing the median. I got detained, and had to pay a 200 dollar fine."

Cicely's brows twitched, and she looked up at him. "What are you trying to say?"

"Nothing much, just I deserved paying my fine for leaving you there."

Cicely pulled a wry smile, "Don't shift the blame to me. I'm not the one who made you lose points or pay a fine."

Seth cast a glance down at her, stopping by the stairwell wall to carefully set her down.

Cicely frowned, looking at him with her injured foot raised. "Do you think now that Issac is gone, you're the only option I have to get downstairs?"

Seth grasped her waist and leaned in close, his back slightly bending to meet her forehead, his voice carrying a hint of hurt as he reiterated, "I didn't go to the hospital."

Cicely's eyelids flickered slightly. She was once again struck by how deviously manipulative this man could be. He was actually playing the victim and acting hurt, and she was amazed he had it in him. "Not going to the hospital is a regret? I never stopped you from the beginning, so there's no need to feel hurt with me, and you won't gain anything."

Seth's grip tightened slightly, his voice deep and husky, "Do you really have to play dumb with me?"

Cicely's frown deepened, "While wasting time with me here, aren't you afraid Danielle might actually drop dead in the hospital without seeing you?"

Anger began to cloud Seth's eyes, his emotions turning murky. "You don't have to say such nasty things." His breath lowered, "That was not very wise to make you into someone you are not because of her." Cicely chuckled lightly, "Perhaps the truth is harsh. What's the point of living a lie?"

Seth's eyes darkened further, a flash of sharpness passing through, quickly suppressed. "I shouldn't have said those things in the car. I didn't go to the hospital, I never considered liking her, and I wasn't really planning to try with her. Stop using those words against me, okay? They were wrong. It's my mistake."

His current attitude gave Cicely an illusion, that to continue arguing with him seemed pointless. It made her feel even more like a petty, vindictive shrew.

But if he admitted he was wrong, did that mean the pain those words caused could be completely erased?

She closed her eyes, pushing down the sadness in her heart.

Her slightly pursed lips were seized by his cool ones, gently probbing, "The countdown is about to start. Even if you don't forgive me, can we leave this behind? Let's welcome the new year together, okay?" Leaving this in the past year and starting anew the next?

Cicely was carried downstairs by Seth, and both Erik and Creighton looked a bit weary. It wasn't common for people their age to stay up for New Year's Eve, so it must have been tough for them to hold out unti

now.

However, seeing Cicely seemed to invigorate them. "Let's hurry, the countdown is about to begin. Let's go outside for the fireworks."

The TV show was also gearing up for the New Year's countdown.

Seth wrapped Cicely in a blanket and a warm down coat before carrying her outside.

In the yard, Brody and a few men had already set up the fireworks, ready to be ignited at the right moment.

The TV in the living room was turned up to the loudest volume, the thrilling voice counting down second by second.

"Ten, nine, eight..."

"Five, four, three, two, one! Happy New Year!"

The final second ticked by, and the fireworks in the backyard ignited, shooting into the sky with a cacophony of whistles and pops. They exploded in a dazzling array of colors, painting the night with their brilliance.

Amidst the festive clamor, Cicely thought she heard Seth's voice near her ear. She paused, turning to look at him with a puzzled expression, "What did you just say?"

Seth looked down at her, his dark eyes reflecting the colorful lights from the distant fireworks.

A faint smile played on his lips, and the icy look in his eyes seemed to melt away as he gazed intensely at her, then leaned down to gently peck her lips. "Happy New Year." Cicely's eyes flickered with a hint of subtle disappointment, but it was fleeting.

She looked back up at the sky and replied softly-

"Happy New Year."

Happy New Year.

There was the new year, but joy seemed absent.

Cicely's winter break was marred by a foot injury that set her back over twenty days.

Even so, even after a spat they had on New Year's Day, Seth, upon returning to work from his holiday, still bombarded her with a flurry of company emails. He's determined as ever. Bored at home, Cicely read a couple out of the ten emails and then spent her time tucked in a corner of the living room, piecing together a castle from a set of building blocks she'd bought. Seth came home several times to check on her progress, and finding it wanting, he went straight to Creighton with his complaints.

Creighton could hardly contain his bemusement as he pointed at her, and from then on, he took it upon himself to supervise her. Even as she sat in the corner building her castle, Creighton would drill her on the company's history, the famous projects they'd pushed forward, their progress, outcomes, and the comprehensive reasons behind their inception.

Cicely's head spun with the daily analysis. She chewed Seth out in her mind while stacking blocks-a grown man, tattling, of all things.

Danielle's condition was not dire. The checkup revealed minor issues but nothing significantly worrisome, only a slight delay in her recovery.

Seth still visited her occasionally, accompanying her to the hospital when it was time for her bandages to be changed. He even went so far as to bring in a renowned rehabilitation specialist from abroad. The Ellis family also extended their utmost support.

Whether Danielle was spurred by some unseen motivation, her cooperation with the therapy was surprisingly zealous, and her recovery progressed remarkably.

After New Year's Eve, Cicely stopped bringing up Danielle. It didn't matter if Seth visited the hospital, arranged for experts for Danielle, or ensured someone was always there to watch over her. Sometimes, Seth wondered if he was uncomfortable with a life too tranquil.

Cicely fought with him over Danielle, and he was dissatisfied. Now that she no longer made a fuss, he was still displeased.

He felt Cicely did not really care about what he did. It's like as long as he was there in the end, she could tolerate anything he did. He did not like this feeling.

Once Cicely's foot was nearly healed, Seth brought her back to his side. He personally drove her to the office, ensuring she stayed within his sight, whether she was playing or dozing off from boredom.

He had even set up a desk for her in his office at Diaz International, right next to his own. Her desk was smaller, a bit shorter than his, and whenever he brought her there, her petite figure seated beside him exuded an air of endearing obedience that he found quite pleasing.

Aside from work, she took an interest in almost anything. Her desk soon became cluttered with little trinkets, including some on his desk-everything she deemed unsightly was replaced with items she favored He let her be.

The progress on their wedding home was on track for completion in two months.

Wedding planners had begun to consult with Cicely on the details, and she spent her days in front of the computer in discussion. Every now and then, she sought Seth's opinion, which he occasionally provided with superficial consideration. Eventually, Cicely found his advice lacking and stopped asking.

The venue was set in P City's largest church, a testament to the Ellis family's penchant for indulging their loved ones. The church was funded and built by the Ellis family over a decade ago, as a gesture of goodwill and safety for their daughter who had married abroad.

The hotel was the most luxurious one in P City.

Just the selection of these two sites had made Cicely's wedding preparations the talk of the town, with everyone eagerly anticipating the event. Cicely had become quite the busy bee, taking on some of the Ellis Group's less crucial matters since Seth had oddly entrusted her with them. Though reluctant, she had picked up a few things, and she was getting to know the company's leadership quite well.

But life in the Ellis Group always came with its share of troubles, so she preferred spending her time at Diaz International. Lounging idly there was easier, as there was no need for her to get involved in company affairs.

Seth never hid anything from her. So, when she overheard Seth mentioning a software project that had been in preparation since last year, requiring a substantial investment and loan arrangements with the bank, curiosity got the better of her. "What kind of software development requires such a huge sum? What field is it in, and are you confident about it?"

Seth replied coolly, "Sixty percent confident."

Developing the software was one thing, and market adaptability was another. If it couldn't seamlessly integrate into the market, failure was the only path that awaited him.

Cicely frowned, clearly puzzled. "The Ellis Group has been dragging on that mechanical construction project until now, and you know my dad has been holding onto it for you. You pass up a project that's practically handing money to you to chase a new development you're not entirely sure of. Two years of preparation, and you're only sixty percent confident now."

"You want to prove yourself, to claim your dignity, not to play second fiddle to the Ellis family. C&P has already succeeded, and now you're the one calling the shots at the Ellis Group, with notable results. Now who would dare to speak ill of you? People are falling over themselves to get in with the Ellis Group. So why does it seem like you're the only one running in the opposite direction?"

Seth's face was stern, his voice low and serious, "I'm not avoiding the Ellis family. This project was something I intended to pursue from the start, regardless of whether the Ellis family extended an olive branch or not."

Cicely took a deep breath, "But what if it fails? What will become of Diaz International? Seth, why not let Diaz International take shelter under the Ellis Group's wing? They can invest in your development project."

Seth pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly irritated by Cicely's suggestion, "I don't need it. If I truly fail, then the Ellis Group can consider taking over Diaz International without any resistance." To acquire a shell of a company would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?

"Even if the Ellis Group did take over Diaz International, it would be for the good of Diaz International."

Seth inhaled deeply, "Let's not talk about this anymore. Aren't you busy planning a wedding? That should be more important to you right now."

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