The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride
Chapter 1973

Chapter 1973

Seth had indeed seen the picture Kane initially sent, but it was just a random shot that he saw no need to pay attention to. Afterwards, when he saw another message from Kane, he furrowed his brow. Without even giving the picture a proper look, Seth finished the document he was working on and then simply replied: [No idea.]

Kane waited forever just to get that emotionless reply. Glancing at Cicely munching away across from him, he shook his head with a smirk. [Jeez, you're not exactly boyfriend of the year material, are you?]

And Cicely, she was just asking for it, wasn't she? Out of all people, she had to fixate on Seth, even blatantly throwing herself at him for everyone to see. Now, instead of being treasured like a delicate gem, she was treated like just another pebble.

Kane's response made Seth halt his perusal of the next document. He stared at the message for a few seconds before picking up his phone again to open the picture. After a while, Kane received another reply from Seth. [Her diet isn't anyone's concern.]

Kane looked at the message for a few seconds, his brow furrowing slightly. [Dude, you're kind of a jerk, you know that?]

[Girls, they just want the simple things - food, fun, shopping. Cicely's not hurting for cash, and you don't have to worry about her being materialistic, but if you think you don't need to bother about these things, what, are you dating just to kill time?]d2

Seth, staring at Kane's barrage of messages, looked cold.

Eventually, Kane sent another message, [What, did you guys date for a few days and now you're calling it quits?]

Seth's brow furrowed even more, his slender fingers tapping out a reply on the screen. [So what?]

Kane raised an eyebrow, [So you guys are really breaking up?]

Seth didn't reply.

Kane followed up, [Well, that might be for the best. Cicely has always been coddled and pampered since birth. She's meant to be cherished. All the things you find unnecessary are as vital to her as air. If you can't even provide that 'air,' how's she supposed to thrive by your side?]

Seth looked at his phone expressionlessly, feeling a vague sense of irritation coursing through his veins. [Think you're some kind of love guru after a few girlfriends? Mind your own business and stay away from her.]

Kane, pulling his gaze back from Cicely to the chat, shook his head at the reply. [Since she's been your girlfriend, I wouldn't dream of going there.]

He wasn't planning on replying again, but then he saw Joel, leaning in and asking Cicely in a tender, attentive voice what side dish she'd like, and couldn't help but smile and text Seth one more line. [Don't worry, what you don't think is necessary, someone else will.]

With that, he pocketed his phone. He knew Seth well enough to be sure he wouldn't reply.

Cicely declined the side dish. The spread was too much for her to handle. "I'm heading to my room to rest a bit. What time are we heading to the base?"

Joel saw her disinterest and didn't insist. "Get your rest. You won't sleep till tomorrow morning, will you?"

Cicely took a sip of water, set down the glass, and stood up with a faint smile, "I didn't ride over an hour to come here and sleep."

Joel nodded.

Cicely added, "Actually, don't wait up for me. If you want to head out early, go ahead. It's not far from here to the base. I'll make my own way."

"No worries, I think most folks would choose a cool air-conditioned room over the scorching heat outside."

Cicely's smile was non-committal as she left the dining area.

...

At six in the afternoon, with the sun still high, Cicely contacted Joel in advance and was now waiting for the elevator in the lobby.

"Fancy seeing you here."

The voice was familiar, and without turning, Cicely saw the reflections of several figures in the elevator mirror.

Kane, with one hand in his pocket, was followed by two girls. Cicely, fresh from a nap and still a bit drowsy, simply replied, "Hey." Her tone was dismissive.

Kane was grateful for even that small courtesy.

As the elevator doors slid open, Cicely stepped in first. Kane followed with Rose and Ollie.

Standing in the back with Cicely, Kane couldn't stand the silence. "I didn't get the full picture at lunch, didn't realize you and Seth were on the outs."

Cicely paused, her usually droopy eyes lifting to meet Kane's.

Kane continued, "You know, Seth isn't all that great. Cold, rigid, heartless. Not really a ladies' man. He might be cut out for business, but romance? Not so much. You're the belle of the ball, no need to settle. The next one could be better."

Cicely listened quietly until Kane finished with a reassuring smile. She spoke softly. "Break up?"

Rose, ahead of them, turned to look back at Kane and Cicely.

Kane nodded, "You don't have to hide it, I know."

"How do you know?"

"Seth told me."

Cicely's eyes froze.

Rose, who had no chance to hold back Kane, really felt like giving him a good kick, directly in the head.

The elevator stopped, the doors opened, and Cicely finally looked up, her lips pale but curving into a faint smile. "Is that so? What exactly did he say?"

"Just that..."

"Please, just ignore him," Rose interrupted, pulling Cicely to her side. "Do you think Seth has that much free time to discuss his relationship with Kane?"

"Hey, Rose, you..." Kane started to protest but stopped at Rose's stern look.

As they stepped out of the elevator, Cicely, Rose, and Kane each carried the weight of their thoughts with them, the air charged with the tension of unsaid words and unexplored truths.

Kane clamped his mouth shut instinctively, then seemed to realize something and pressed his lips together even tighter.

Rose took Cicely by the hand and hurried out of the elevator.

Cicely's face was a bit pale, and Rose noticed.

"Are you okay?" Rose asked, furrowing her brows.

Cicely blinked, her lashes fluttering, then she lifted her lips in a weak smile. "Weren't you the one saying he was full of it? I think you've got a point." Her smile seemed carefree, almost heartless, but it wasn't hard to see the bravado behind it.

Rose was silent for a moment, then pulled Cicely towards the hotel's exit. "Let's not dwell on this for now," Rose said as they stepped outside, pausing to stand firm," have you ever thought about the future, that you two might actually break up?"

Cicely blinked and smiled, "Never thought about it."

Rose turned to look at her,"Well, you need to think about it."

Cicely watched as Kane drove up in his car. "When I started dating him, I was in it for the long haul. All I've ever pictured is the two of us together, never apart."

"But..." Cicely watched Kane pull up in his sleek blue sports car, the smile never leaving her face," whether it's the beginning or the end of our love, it seems like the decision was never really in my hands."

Rose looked at her and suddenly realized that this proud, arrogant, and seemingly frivolous princess of P City was just a myth. Everyone thought being born into the Ellis family made you a

winner in life, with everything at your beck and call, leaving no room for others' pity, but now, it was clear that wasn't the case. She was just like everyone else.

After a few seconds of silence, Cicely added, "It will definitely hurt, but that's just how it is, I guess. It's not like I'm going to die over it."

How deep the hurt would go, she didn't know. Just the thought made her heart feel as if it were being squeezed by a tightening wire mesh, pain closing in from all sides.

The casual way she spoke of her heartache was part of the pride and dignity of being the Ellis family's darling. She could be hurt, but she couldn't let others see the Ellis family scorned.

Raised in the lap of luxury, she was like a carefully tended flower, expected to bloom bright and beautiful, living up to her grandfather, her father, and the entire Ellis legacy.

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