The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride
Chapter 2048

Seth caught the fear in her eyes, his breath hitched for a moment before he looked up at the four figures before him. "The situation hasn't been fully investigated."

"Seth!" Patty suddenly shouted, her angry voice piercing through the ears of everyone present, "The evidence is irrefutable, what's there to be unclear about?! Don't go soft just because this woman's put on a meek act. Do you realize she's practically driven Diaz International into the ground? You don't want Diaz International or me anymore, is that it?!"

Patty clutched her chest, glaring at Seth, "I've already alerted the press. By now, everyone probably knows just how cruel and shameless she is."

Seth's brows knitted together fiercely.

"Mr. Diaz," the lead agent from the Department of Justice said with a stern expression, "Since you mentioned that the matter hasn't been fully investigated, our department can assist in the inquiry to ensure absolute fairness and justice. If Ms. Cicely is indeed innocent, we will ensure she is returned to you unharmed."

"No need. I'm filing a lawsuit against her immediately!" The malice in Patty's eyes spread unchecked, her emotions and words spiraling out of control.d2

Seth's gaze turned, deep and tranquil as he looked at Cicely.

Cicely shook her head, tears swirling in her eyes. "I don't want to go there. I've done nothing wrong, Seth. Only the tainted are taken there. I can't bear to be stained. I wouldn't hurt you, and I wouldn't do anything to bring shame to the Ellis family."

Her words were fearful and helpless, laden with desperate pleading. No one had ever seen her so terrified. Not Seth, not Issac.

Seth watched her for a long moment, taking in every facet of her expression, and then he spoke slowly, his voice deep and chillingly calm, "You're saying there's been a misunderstanding. Is that it?" Cicely nodded, tears spilling over with the motion. "I wouldn't harm you, Seth, you have to believe me."

Her tear-streaked face was alien to him; he had never seen her cry so bitterly. His fists clenched, Seth's face tight with tension. Finally, when another tear slid down her pale cheek, he paused, turning his head away from her.

When he spoke again, his voice was like a sword cleaving through leaves, smooth yet exceedingly sharp. "Take her away."

Cicely's body stiffened on the spot. Her wide eyes stared blankly at Seth. Had it not been for the tears that suddenly fell from her eyes, everyone might have thought she was a statue, rigid and lifeless. Cicely never imagined that one day these words would pierce her heart.

"Ms. Cicely, let's go," the two Justice Department agents said, positioning themselves on either side of her, ready to escort her away.

Cicely's tear-filled eyes were now utterly still, her gaze desolate except for the teardrops on her face. She looked at Seth silently for two seconds before turning away, seemingly in a daze.

Issac suddenly stepped forward, blocking their path. "You can't take her away."

A flicker of hope glinted in Cicely's eyes.

"Sir, we're just asking Ms. Cicely to cooperate with the investigation."

Just as Issac was about to speak, a deep and resonant voice boomed from behind him, "Cooperating with an investigation doesn't necessarily require taking someone away. Try taking her today, I dare you." Cicely's gaze trembled sharply as she lifted her head to see Creighton standing firm in front of her, his expression stern and commanding, exuding an air of indomitable authority.

"Mr. Ellis."

Creighton's face was a mask of fury, "What in the world has happened to escalate things this far? They're a married couple. Since when does the Justice Department intervene in marital disputes?"

The agents knew the chairman of the Ellis family, of course, and naturally, they had to show some respect. But now that they had been assigned this case and both parties were exerting pressure, they couldn't leave empty-handed.

As they hesitated, Charlie walked in. "Mr. Diaz, we've caught Ray."

"Perfect, bring him up here. Let him personally testify whether they conspired together." Patty demanded, unfazed by Creighton's icy gaze.

The agents, feeling like they'd been granted a reprieve, quickly asked Charlie to bring the accused.

Upon seeing Cicely, Ray burst into laughter. "Ms. Cicely, we meet again. Seems like neither of us could escape, huh? And to think, you were so confident last night. I almost believed Seth trusted you." Without needing further explanation, his words were a death sentence for Cicely.

Cicely watched Ray, and suddenly realized how naively she had overestimated Seth's trust in her. "Trying to win over Danielle by fighting for everything she wants, even a man? Should I say you're devoted or just pathetic?"

With Creighton there, Cicely's composure returned. The chaos in her mind began to settle. Still, the pain was immense.

"Pathetic," that word hit Ray right where it hurt. He glared at Cicely, but it wasn't long before he laughed again. "It's thanks to you I got this chance. Last night was a pleasure, Ms. Cicely, truly. Without you, I couldn't have caused Seth such a loss. I have no regrets in this life. I really should thank you, so feel free to curse at me, or even hit me."

Cicely let out a cold laugh. How wonderful. Even now, he was willing to throw away the rest of his life for Danielle. Even if Danielle's role in their relationship was that of a third woman who shamelessly clawed her way into their lives, Ray still supported her.

As far as Ray was concerned, everything Danielle did or wanted was right and deserved.

"Take him away."

Those words, like a curse, exploded again within her. It felt as though something inside her heart had been blown to pieces, leaving her bleeding and broken. Her lips danced into a smile, her expression transitioning from desolation to cold detachment.

Standing motionless, she stared at the grain of the gray wooden floor, her gaze serene yet distant. "Ray's unwavering trust and support for Danielle is something I envy. In this, I'm clearly outmatched," she said. Her voice was calm, undisturbed by emotion, resigned to being the loser.

Seth's heart skipped a beat. So many people around, yet her words seemed intended for him alone.

She was blaming him for not believing in her. What good was his trust when so many eyes were watching, so many people waiting? Could his lone trust erase the prejudice against her?

The heiress of the Ellis family, Cicely-was she to be content with being whispered about in the shadows?

In the span of a heartbeat, his eyes darkened, his jaw clenched, and he stared at Cicely's retreating back with a chill in his gaze.

The officials from the Department of Justice glanced awkwardly at Creighton, "Mr. Ellis, perhaps we should escort everyone out and investigate this matter thoroughly. Would that be alright?" "What's there to say?" Patty strode over, snatched back the phone she had just handed over, and hit play again, specifically for Creighton to hear.

Cicely's words hit Creighton's ears, filling his eyes with shock and pain. "I don't believe it! I refuse to believe Cicely would do such a thing. Investigate! We must investigate thoroughly."

Patty reveled in Creighton's dismay, eager to twist the knife deeper. "Look at your precious daughter, doing such things for a man. Creighton, how did you raise your child? Is this fair to Millie?" Creighton paused for a moment. His eyes trembled and anger washed over his face. His and Millie's beloved daughter would never do such a thing.

"Shut up. My daughter would never do this. The investigation isn't over."

"Creighton, when will you stop deceiving yourself? Can't you recognize your own daughter's voice? The evidence is there, and the testimony is there. What's left to argue? You can dote on your daughter all you want, but you need to be reasonable. The facts are in front of you are you blind, or do you think everyone else is an idiot?"

"You... you..." Creighton's suppressed rage twisted his face, his body swayed, and his chest seared with pain.

Issac stood before the officials, his voice cold and stern. "What we hear isn't always the truth, and Mr. Ray's words aren't necessarily reliable either. His affection for Ms. Danielle is clear, risking himself to make this recording and entrusting it to her. It proves his feelings for Ms. Danielle are far from ordinary, so it's not out of the question that he's framing our Miss out of bias."

Danielle, who had been quietly observing, suddenly looked up and glared at Issac. "What nonsense are you spouting!"

Issac ignored her and continued, "Moreover, we can prove that the words in the recording were Ms. Cicely deceiving Mr. Ray."

Seth's gaze landed on Issac's composed face, fighting back the turmoil within. "How does she plan to deceive him?"

Issac was about to speak but was interrupted by a light voice.

"Issac." Cicely spoke slowly, "There's no need to discuss this here. I don't have to prove my innocence to them. Their opinion of me is worthless and meaningless."

Seth's gaze stabbed at Cicely, his words grinding through clenched teeth. "Cicely. Is this really the time for your temper?"

Seth's words fell on deaf ears as Cicely continued. "I'll go to the Justice Department. I'll prove my innocence myself. Everyone is waiting for the truth, and I won't let the Ellis family carry this burden."

"Cicely, don't be reckless." Seeing a glimmer of hope, Creighton also tried to stop her. "Just clear things up. There's no need for that place. You hate those places the most, don't you? We'll avoid them if we can."

Cicely feared those places. She detested hospitals, loathed disorder, dreaded institutions that imprisoned people in broad daylight, like the Justice Department, police stations, security bureaus, and prisons. They symbolized justice and caged darkness. As a child, she feared the monsters within. As an adult, she feared not the monsters but that the innocent could be trapped inside, tainted and turned into monsters in the end.

Cicely shook her head slowly, "Only by walking out of there with my head held high can I truly prove my innocence. Dad, with you and Issac, I'm not afraid." Throughout, she did not mention Seth.

A sudden, hard-to-conceal panic welled up in Seth's mind, and he felt as if he was being abandoned. Creighton, too, could hear the implication.

Patty sneered, "You'd better prove your innocence, or I'll genuinely feel sorry for Millie. To have a daughter like you, she won't rest in peace even in death."

Creighton's eyes suddenly showed red veins. "Shut up, you..." As the pain in his chest grew, the façade he had been maintaining contorted with agony; he clutched at his heart, bending over in pain. Issac, alarmed, cried out, "Mr. Creighton!"

Creighton collapsed into Issac's arms, his pale lips quivering as he pointed at Patty. "You..."

Patty's face turned pale, her mind went blank, and she stumbled to his side, kneeling in confusion, her tears falling as she looked helplessly at Creighton. "Creighton, what happened?"

Creighton couldn't grasp Patty's sudden change and didn't bother to look at her again. His fading eyes fixed on Cicely, whose expression shifted from calm to alarm. "Cicely, don't be afraid. I am fine." With every ounce of strength he could muster, he gasped out a few words, battling the excruciating pain, before consciousness slipped away from him.

Cicely was frozen in shock for what felt like an eternity. When reality finally pierced through her stupor, she broke down, her cry tearing through the silence, "Dad!"

Her scream sent shivers down everyone's spine. Seth was at her side in an instant, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "Get a grip, Cicely!"

She struggled to reach Creighton, but Seth's embrace was unyielding, and she couldn't even brush against her father's body.

Issac immediately dialed 911.

Everyone around was flustered, trying to help, but Issac's stern voice put a stop to it. "Don't touch him. He has a history of heart disease. Don't just move him." The others stepped back immediately.

Cicely, stunned by Issac's words, turned mechanically to look at him. Her pale face was eerily calm - a facade that was terrifying in its stillness. "What did you say?" Issac's lips were pressed tight, but he said nothing more.

"Issac, did you just say my dad has a history of heart disease? I've been to every checkup with him. I've never heard of any heart condition. You never mentioned it..." She'd realized she'd been deceived during her initial pause. She didn't know when the lies had started, and when they began to keep secrets from her.

"I'm sorry, Miss. It was Mr. Creighton's orders."

Tears began to fall silently from her eyes, their quiet journey down her cheeks speaking volumes of her sorrow. "You lied to me." She suddenly felt utterly drained, as if her strength had been siphoned away, leaving her on the verge of collapse.

Seth held her tightly, immobilizing her, his own shock evident as he looked at her lifeless pallor. "Cicely..."

"Let me go."

Her voice was detached, her gaze hollow as she stared at Creighton, lying on the ground.

Seth didn't budge.

The distant sound of an ambulance echoed from below; Cicely closed her eyes, her body trembling violently. "I told you to let go. Can't you hear me?!"

"Slap!"

She mustered all her strength to break free, and with a fierce swing, her palm connected with Seth's cheek.

Seth was stunned. Everyone in the room was nearly breathless from the shock.

Cicely broke free from Seth, staggering over to Creighton. She knelt before him, her shaking hands cradling his, pressing them to her lips as she crouched there, her sobs suppressed, restrained, and helpless. "Dad... dad... It's my fault. Please... please don't leave me."

"I'll behave from now on. I'm about to get married. You haven't walked me down the aisle yet. You haven't seen me in my wedding dress. Dad, please. I swear I'll never be headstrong again."

The office was filled with an overwhelming sadness, punctuated only by Cicely's muffled cries.

Issac, fighting back his own emotions, moved forward and placed a hand on Cicely's shoulder. "Miss, we need to get your father to the hospital."

As Creighton was rushed away on a stretcher, Cicely hurriedly followed. No one had the heart to delve into the incident anymore; Seth watched Cicely's breakdown and followed her out. The officers took Ray away, trailing behind.

Danielle, recovering from the chaos, noticed Patty, who sat on the ground, dazed and confused, as if she had lost her senses. Danielle helped Patty to a chair. "Are you alright, Patty?" Patty's gaze was unfocused, still not fully present.

"Creighton. What happened to him?"

"He had a heart attack."

"How? Why would he have a heart attack?"

"He didn't look old at all, not one bit. How could he have heart disease?"

Danielle frowned at Patty's murmuring. This side of Patty was foreign to her. Didn't she despise the Ellis family? Why did she show such concern for Creighton just now?

Below Diaz International, the press had already gathered in droves. The arrival of the ambulance had caused a stir. When they saw someone being rushed out, cameras clicked frantically.

"Is that the chairman of the Ellis family?"

"Why did he suddenly collapse? Has he been hiding his illness?"

"After all, it's the Ellis family. If the sitting chairman's health is compromised, the company will surely be in chaos. With such a large enterprise, stock prices, shares, and the other directors... It's time to see who's the wolf and who's the lamb."

"Yeah, with him out of the picture, no one can take over Diaz International. His daughter seems out of sorts right now."

As Creighton was loaded into the ambulance, Seth's phone rang. "Mr. Diaz, the chairman is critical. The Ellis Group is in a bad state. Can you come over?"

Seth's expression darkened, scanning the crowd of jostling reporters before his gaze settled on Cicely, who leaned against Issac.

"Mr. Diaz?"

"Alright, I'll be right there."

"Thank you!"

After hanging up, Seth approached Issac and Cicely. Staring at her ashen face, he reached out to touch her cheek, but she deftly avoided him. Then there was the flash in her eyes, red-rimmed and bloodshot with a rare fury. The coldness and hatred in those eyes made Seth's heart tremble.

Withdrawing his hand, he said to Issac, "There's an unexpected situation at the Ellis Group."

He paused as he saw a flicker in Cicely's eyes upon hearing this. "I need to go handle it. Take good care of her."

After a moment's glance at Cicely, who turned her head away indifferently, Seth managed to get a faint glimmer of hope and comfort from the icy gaze. With a slightly eased heart, he walked to his car and slid into the driver's seat.

The ambulance had Creighton settled in securely as Issac quickly lifted Cicely in beside him, taking a seat next to her father.

Creighton was now under an oxygen mask. The nurse stood to close the door, but was suddenly interrupted by the hysterical shouting of Ray, who was being escorted by four law enforcement officers. "Where's Danielle? Why isn't she out? Go save her. There's a bomb in the building! I planted a time bomb! It's about to go off. It's going to explode any minute!"

A sharp pang throbbed at Cicely's brow.

A bomb.

Not content with just destroying Seth's data, was he really going to take down the entire Diaz International building too?

The nurse, of course, had no time to attend to such matters. With lives at stake, she decisively closed the ambulance door.

Creighton, thanks to Issac's emergency first aid and subsequent medical care, was slowly regaining consciousness. When he showed signs of waking, Cicely moved closer, holding his hands, tears and laughter mingling on her face. "Dad... Dad... You're awake."

Creighton had just come to and didn't have the strength to speak, but he managed to blink his eyes gently. The nurse beside them cautioned Cicely, "The patient is still not out of danger. Please don't talk to him yet."

But before the nurse could finish her sentence, a thunderous "boom" erupted, shattering the silence.

Cicely's body tensed fiercely as she suddenly turned and lunged toward the window.

The ambulance hadn't even left the Diaz Tower premises when the explosion sounded. Every few floors, from the lower to the upper levels, blasts rang out. The eighteen-story building endured seven or eight explosions, thick smoke billowing from the shattered glass.

Even as the ambulance siren wailed desperately, Cicely could still hear the surrounding cries of shock and screams.

Ray was kneeling, crying out in despair.

Cicely remembered his words. Danielle was still upstairs. And if Danielle was up there, that meant Patty hadn't come down either.

Diaz International was gone, and if something happened to Patty, then...

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