The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride
Chapter 2038

Seth gave a brief nod to the Erik and Creighton. Their minds were wrapped up in their concern for Cicely.

Erik couldn't mask his concern, which he channeled into anger towards Seth.

"That girl has never known a day of hardship in her life, and just a few days shy of the new year, this happens! Seth, you..." "Grandpa," Cicely suddenly interjected, "it's not his fault. I was the one who didn't listen and followed him."

Erik shot her a glare. "Am I not allowed to speak my mind?"

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Cicely sniffled, "It hurts now, and it'll still hurt if you scold him, but if scolding him would make the pain stop, then go ahead."d2

"Alright, I'll stop," he said, cutting himself off mid-sentence. She had to natter and natter until all his words were stuffed back down his throat. After living almost a lifetime, could he not see through her intentions?

Seth watched Cicely, her hair somewhat disheveled but still beautiful, and recalled the moment at the gala when she had unexpectedly run up from behind to shield him with her body. Totally unexpected.

His initial shock and anger now took on a new definition upon reflection.

Before he could process these swirling emotions, the doctor's instructions sounded. Seth listened intently to the doctor, then stepped beside Cicely. Bending over, he saw Cicely with red eyes and pursed lips, looking as pitiful and hurt as could be, then she lifted her arms and wrapped them around his neck.

His hands passed under her knees, lifting her from the chair.

This silent understanding brought a slight sense of peace to the two old men watching.

Charlie drove Cicely and Seth back to the Ellis residence.

Cicely needed care, and returning to the Ellis residence was the best choice. After all, she had never mentioned leaving the Ellis family.

During the rare holiday after the gala, Seth stayed at the Ellis residence to keep Cicely company.

Eating, using the restroom, washing up - any time Cicely needed to move, Seth was there to carry her, never leaving her side. Apart from the servants' routine care, Seth was impeccable in his attentiveness. His silent, complaint-free actions were bittersweet for Cicely.

Seth carried Cicely from the bathroom to the bed where the doctor was already waiting.

Throughout the bandaging process, despite the doctor's caution, some pain was inevitable. A slight shift in pressure and Cicely would wince. This was followed by a heavy silence from the man beside her, who seemed to make the simple bandaging feel as tense as a surgical operation.

At the Ellis residence, any sitting with Creighton that lasted more than five minutes inevitably turned to business matters.

Cicely, left alone and bored in her room, insisted Seth take her with him wherever he went, even if it was just to the living room or the study. So she was privy to most of their discussions.

She had heard them talk about the mechanical manufacturing issues of the Ellis family.

Creighton had postponed the deal which should have been settled before the new year to after it.

He had asked Seth if Diaz International was interested in taking the order.

Seth's response was the same as it had been initially with her. And Creighton's words mirrored Cicely's. However, Creighton didn't dwell on this topic, moving on to other matters.

Although Cicely wasn't interested in company affairs, she found comfort in just listening to Seth's voice and being able to look up and see him.

Patty arrived at the Ellis residence just before the new year. After all, as the future daughter-in-law who had been injured protecting Seth, Patty couldn't afford to put on airs at this time. But Patty's complexion seemed even more strained than on previous visits.

The Ellis family prepared a lavish dinner for her. She didn't decline.

At the dinner table, she brought up the topic of the New Year's Eve meal. She wanted Seth to bring Cicely back to the Diaz family for the celebration.

Cicely was surprised, as Patty's mood didn't match the generosity of her suggestion, but since they were legally married, spending New Year's at the Diaz residence was the most appropriate and normal thing to do.

Creighton paused for a moment, glanced at the young couple, and agreed somewhat absent-mindedly.

Cicely, noticing Creighton's reaction, suddenly felt a deep pang of sadness. On typical days when she was not at home, the vastness of the Ellis residence felt desolate. Just as she had returned to spend a few days, the New Year, a time meant for festive gatherings, would leave him alone again.

On the morning of the New Yearr's Eve, Seth took Cicely back to the Diaz residence.

Creighton left with them to pick up Danielle from the hospital.

Erik and Creighton agreed that leaving Danielle alone in the hospital over the New Year was too heartless. After negotiating with the doctor, they finally got permission to bring her home.

Cicely didn't comment. However, the image of two old people spending New Year at home, staring at each other, feels sad just thinking about it. . The presence of Danielle might liven things up, serving as company for the elderly.

But then again, the thought of Danielle's haughty, perpetually stern face made Cicely feel that it might be better off without her.

The staff had been bustling since yesterday, and though they were unaccustomed to Cicely not being home for the New Year's Eve dinner, they still prepared a sumptuous feast knowing Miss Danielle would be there.

However, Creighton didn't find anyone at the hospital. And Cicely, arriving at the Diaz residence, encountered Danielle, who should have been picked up by Creighton. Her face immediately darkened. Patty was chatting happily with Danielle. When she saw Seth carrying Cicely into the room, her expression paused for a moment, but then she resumed smiling.

Danielle, seated in her wheelchair, also had a momentary freeze upon seeing the two. A shadow crossed her face, but she brushed it aside. "Seth, you guys are back." The way she said that made it sound like Cicely was invisible.

"What are you doing here?" Seth asked, ignoring her question and gently lowering Cicely onto the couch. His voice was as flat as the calm before a storm.

Danielle bit her lip, hands clasped tightly, not saying a word.

"I brought her here. We couldn't leave her all alone in the hospital over the holidays, could we?"

Cicely felt a surge of anger rising in her chest, but she fought to keep it in check, trying her best not to let her emotions flare out of control.

"It was my dad who applied for her discharge. If anyone was going to take her in, it should've been the Ellis family. You stay here for the holidays..." Cicely's cool gaze landed on Danielle. "Patty is being polite, but don't you even feel ashamed?"

Danielle, already embarrassed, turned even more mortified after that brief, rigid moment.

The atmosphere suddenly stiffened.

Patty's face was barely able to contain her fury. "The guest I invite is the guest who should be here. Danielle got herself injured saving Seth's life. We owe her a debt we can never repay. What's wrong with inviting her over for dinner? I'd be justified in taking care of her every single day of the year."

Cicely's lips curled into a sneer. "By that logic, any woman who fancies Seth should just stage an accident and play the damsel in distress. Wouldn't that make the Ellis family's dinners even more lively?" Patty's face turned pale with anger, and she whirled to glare at Seth, her trembling finger pointed at Cicely. "This is the Ellis family's dear daughter? Are you so desperate for a mother figure that you have to bring home a woman like her?"

Cicely furrowed her brows. "Patty, don't take your dissatisfaction out on Seth. Isn't it you who's making him feel uncomfortable?"

"You..."

"Cicely," Seth's deep voice cut through the tension.

Cicely's gaze, which had been light and smiling, settled on a glass on the coffee table as she quietly awaited Seth's next words.

"I brought you here to celebrate, not to start a scene and make everyone uncomfortable. Let's put an end to this."

Patty, who had been on the verge of slamming her hand on the table in anger, felt her rage doused by Seth's clear bias toward her.

Patty withdrew her hand, a cold laugh escaping her lips. "Considering your youth and ignorance, I really shouldn't be arguing with you, especially not today. You've been pampered by the Ellis family since you were little, and it's always been about what you want. But you have to get married someday, and you need to realize that not everyone is part of the Ellis family. You're still young, and there's time to curb that temper. Otherwise, whoever ends up living with you is going to have a hard time. I'm an old friend of your parents, and although my words may sound harsh, they're for your own good."

Cicely kept her eyes on the coffee table, her smile faint.

She looked up only after Patty had finished speaking and turned her gaze to Danielle, who had remained silent throughout the exchange.

"Either you get yourself back to the hospital right now, or I'll have someone take you back to the Ellis family. It's your choice."

Patty's words received no response whatsoever. Cicely's words to Danielle seemed to completely ignore anything Patty had said.

The feeling of being blatantly ignored made Patty feel embarrassed and angry. "I said it! Danielle is my guest." Patty's voice spiked with anger.

"Danielle is part of the Ellis family, and they don't agree with her spending the holidays here." Compared to Patty's near-hysterical tone, Cicely's was far too calm.

Danielle's intertwined fingers tightened, her chest heaving with emotion. Finally, she looked at Cicely with a forceful glare.

Cicely nodded, pulling out her phone from her coat.

"Hospital or the Ellis family - I'll take you." Seth's cold, indifferent voice made Cicely pause, her finger hovering over the phone's screen. "Seth!" Patty exclaimed in frustration.

Danielle looked up, her lips quivering and eyes welling with tears, a mix of humiliation and defiance in her gaze.

Cicely glanced down at the phone call she was about to make. She gave a soft chuckle, and chose to lock the screen instead.

Cicely's laugh deepened Danielle's sense of humiliation, and tears began to fall. Seth said little, but his stance left no room for negotiation.

With her head lowered, Danielle saw tears drop onto her clasped, cold hands. Her voice was stiff as she said, "I'll go back to the hospital."

Seth glanced at Cicely, sitting on the couch with her phone in hand, her expression unchanged, and nodded. "Alright."

He approached Danielle, took hold of her wheelchair, turned it around, and then looked back at Cicely. "I'll take her back to the hospital. Wait for me here." Cicely's lips twitched, but she said nothing.

Seth's eyes then met Patty's. "Enough is enough."

With her face taut, Patty stared back at him. "Are you really set on taking Danielle back to the hospital?"

"It's Danielle's choice."

"She wanted to stay here. Did you give her that choice?!"

"It's unreasonable."

With that, Seth pushed Danielle out the door.

The living room was left with Patty and Cicely alone, the silence thick with tension and deadlock.

Outside, through the large bay window, Seth's car was clearly visible.

The driver opened the door, and Seth, with practiced ease, lifted Danielle into the vehicle. Cicely's eyes flickered for a moment, then she looked away.

Patty watched her coldly, eventually breaking the silence first.

"Honestly, I was surprised you ended up with Seth," Patty said, sipping her coffee across from Cicely in the cozy living room, "but everyone has their reasons. How much of his feelings for you are genuine, I can't be certain, but I do know it's not the lion's share."

"He lost his father early, and I raised him on my own. I've devoted the better part of my life to him. There's no doubt I'm the most important person in his world, irreplaceable to him. No matter who comes along, I will always be his first choice."

Cicely had always had a way of keeping her cool, "I know, you're his mother. No one would think he doesn't care about you. But the real question is, do you care about him?"

Patty's brow furrowed at the question, "He's my son, and I'm his mother. Are you suggesting I don't care about him?"

"Caring." Cicely let out a soft chuckle, "Haven't you always imposed your own thoughts and decisions on him? Because he cares about you, you're convinced he wouldn't dare cross you, and you expect him to live the life you've planned for him? Patty, your son isn't a puppet to be controlled."

"I wouldn't harm him." Patty didn't seem to want to deny Cicely's accusation, "In this world, I am the one who hopes for his well-being the most, the one who is completely devoted to him, and the most trustworthy. In this world, besides himself, there's only me. No one else is worth trusting, even if they share the same bed with him."

Was that a jab at her? Cicely's smile was faint as she pondered. But had Patty ever really considered letting Seth actually marry her?

What would her reaction be if she knew that Seth and she were already legally wed?

"You speak as though you're not giving Seth's father his due fairness."

Patty's face contorted briefly, and it took a good ten seconds before her expression smoothed over.

"Everyone makes mistakes, his father included." She clearly didn't want to dwell on the topic and said with some impatience, "The point is, I want you to understand that in this world, I am the most important person to Seth. And another thing, you'd better keep your hands off Diaz International."

Cicely's fingers traced the screen of her phone, looking at the patterns her touch left, "That all depends on whether Seth is still worth my while."

Patty's frown deepened, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Cicely's smile widened, "Nothing, we're family after all. Why would I harm him? What good would it do me?"

The maid came in to refresh the coffee, and Patty sat back on the sofa, elegantly sipping from her cup.

"But you are patient, I'll give you that. Knowing your temperament, I would have thought you wouldn't choose to stay today."

"It's New Year's Eve," was Cicely's simple reply, offering no further explanation.

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