The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride
Chapter 2086

Charlie approached the woman with a mixture of concern and reverence, "Ms. Cicely."

His heart was still pounding with unease. Except for that one hysterical breakdown he'd witnessed in the courtroom three years ago, Charlie had never seen Cicely lose her composure like this.

The Cicely he knew was always in control. Even when slapping someone, it was done with a nonchalant grace, her anger always tinged with a dignified elegance.

But now, Cicely was like a cornered leopardess, completely dominated by her rage, as if she wanted to tear to pieces anyone who dared to provoke her.

Danielle, though looking a complete mess, seemed oddly pleased to see Cicely this enraged and out of control. "I told you not to gloat in my presence, Cicely. What you have, I'll make sure you can't enjoy in peace. Are you angry? Do you want to kill me? That's right, because I felt the same way back then. I despised you, because you were an Ellis, beloved by the Ellis family. Because of the Ellis family, I lost my dear parents, and because of you, I lost the man I loved. How could I not hate you?"

With Seth's arrival, Cicely's emotions had settled somewhat, but Danielle's words brought a cold fury to her eyes. "Danielle, you're insane."d2

"And you drove me to it!" Danielle retorted, her eyes bloodshot with intense hatred, staring directly at Cicely. "Why is it always you? Favored and deeply loved... What's so special about you? Why didn't you jus die in that explosio..."

Slap!

The air was thick with silence. No one dared to breathe.

Danielle sat on the floor, clutching her cheek, her disheveled hair hiding her expression.

Seth pulled Cicely behind him, his handsome face etched with icy anger as he towered over Danielle.

"Take her away."

His somber voice fell, and the petrified assistant and nurses by the door hurriedly helped Danielle up.

Seth turned to Cicely, who looked somewhat dazed. There was a heavy silence. Finally, he looked away, "Take her to rest."

Cicely came back to her senses, lifting her eyes to Seth, "I'll donate blood to Grandpa tomorrow."

"It's not necessary."

"Seth."

"Didn't you hear me? Take her to rest," Seth's icy gaze fell on Charlie.

Charlie didn't dare delay, stepping forward to the stubborn Cicely, unsure of what to do.

In the end, Seth, with a stern face, picked her up and carried her out.

"Seth, I can't let anything happen to Grandpa."

"Neither can I."

Cicely's eyes flickered, looking at the man's handsome profile, her lips pressed tight, and her gaze lowered. "If she doesn't want to..."

"You can't."

He hadn't kept the secret this long to have her scrambling to be a donor.

After placing Cicely in the car and fastening her seatbelt, Seth looked at her defiant and angry eyes in the dim car light and said softly, "Just go to sleep, and by morning, everything will be alright." Cicely's expression was icy as she retorted, "Is sleep some kind of panacea for you? I didn't know before, but now that I do. There's no reason for me not to be there tomorrow. If something goes wrong, Seth, can you handle the consequences?"

Seth paused, a sudden heavy beat in his calm heart, his voice strained with tension. "I'm okay with everything except you dumping me and leaving me."

Her fingers curled slightly. After a moment, she said softly, "That's a consequence you can't bear. So, are you sure you want to send me away?"

Seth's dark eyes stirred slightly, and after a long silence, he hoarsely said, "What if I let you stay?"

Cicely looked at him coolly, "Seth, this isn't a negotiation."

His expression dimmed, and after a pause, he lifted her from the car again. "Find a resting room."

Charlie quickly stepped into the hospital.

The hospital had top-tier rooms, usually vacant, and Charlie secured one swiftly. Seth carried Cicely inside. "Rest here tonight."

"I want to get tested. If Danielle backs out tomorrow, I'll do it."

Seth's expression darkened slightly, "No need for tests."

Cicely frowned, "Are you going to stop me, no matter what?"

He didn't respond.

Charlie, anxious on the sidelines, intervened, "It's not like that, Ms. Cicely. The marrow compatibility registry already has your information. You and Mr. Ellis are a match; there's no need for another physical examination."

Cicely glanced at Seth, frustrated by his reticent nature. "Leave, I don't want to see you."

Seth's lips tightened as he looked down at her, and Charlie felt an awkward pity for him, so different from his usual untouchable demeanor. After a moment, Seth said, "I'll leave." He turned to go, and Charlie hurried after him, but Seth told him to stay and care for her.

Cicely smirked. What kind of care did she need? Was he afraid she'd run away?

It was herself who just had to stay. How could she possibly leave when her grandfather was having surgery tomorrow?

Charlie didn't enter, probably at the door.

Cicely stood alone near the window, her silhouette a testament to the exhaustion that shrouded her both physically and emotionally. The turmoil stirred up by Danielle's speech replayed in her mind like a broken record. She could hardly fathom that the chaos of years past was a result of Danielle's manipulations, exploiting Ray's affections to turn the Ellis and Diaz families upside down.

The memories of those harrowing days three years ago still pressed heavily upon Cicely's heart, a weight that refused to lift.

Charlie came in carrying dinner and sighed slightly at the sight of the slender back standing by the window. "Ms. Cicely, Mr. Diaz asked me to make sure you had something to eat," Charlie said, setting the tray on the table.

Seth's recent meal plans for her were consistently light and bland. Cicely wasn't one for rich foods, but she didn't mind a bit of indulgence now and then, and Seth knew it. Charlie could tell that the dinner wasn't quite to her liking. He handed her a fork, breaking the silence about the earlier spat between Danielle and Mr. Diaz over the meal.

With a wry smile, Cicely downplayed the importance of the food choices. Charlie hesitated before revealing, "The food that Ms. Danielle is having are all the best foods for rebuilding strength." Hearing this, Cicely's grip on her fork tightened for a moment.

"But they're also inflammatory. Anyone with wounds should avoid these foods since they can delay healing and may leave scars."

Cicely's eyes fell back to the light dinner in front of her, and for a moment she found it difficult to move her fork.

"Three years ago on Thanksgiving, Erik was critically ill, and Ms. Danielle had just undergone a skin transplant before she was forcibly taken to the ward by Mr. Diaz... Over these three years, no matter how good Mr. Diaz has been to Ms. Danielle, it's all based on his unwillingness to let you hate him even more.

"Because no one knows that if grandpa also passes away during your imprisonment, whether you will blame Mr. Diaz.

"He has been slowly nursing your body back to health, but your body might not be able to bear it if we add a blood transfusion for grandpa."

Cicely dropped her eyelids and started eating without saying a word.

Charlie couldn't understand her meaning, and the atmosphere made him feel he might say something inappropriate if he continued.

Downstairs, the doctor lowered the temperature first, then performed a series of checks, ruled out viral infection, and inserted a fever reducer.

"Didn't the child cry? It's 38.8 degrees. This temperature didn't rise in an instant."

Chloe shook her head, ".....he's very obedient."

The doctor shook his head helplessly, "Children will always give us a hint when they're sick. He himself feels uncomfortable, and he's so small. How could he endure it all the time?"

Chloe pursed her lips, listening silently to the doctor's words, like an unqualified mother being criticized.

She had a gentle and humble attitude, but to Damon, it seemed like she was being bullied. He frowned, his face cold, and his voice even lower. "He just endures it. Do you have a problem with that?" The doctor was immediately taken aback, his body stiffened, and he shook his head, stepping aside.

"No... no complaints."

"Damon..."

Damon's eyes were still cold. "He was bullying you."

"We should heed to the doctor's advice."

Damon didn't listen, "Tired? I'll take you home to rest."

Chloe shook her head, "Hugo is still asleep. Let's wait a little longer. When his fever is over, we'll go back."

"Call Cicely!"

"She didn't answer. As long as Hugo's fever goes down, there's no need to inform her. Erik is having a surgery tomorrow, and if she comes to the hospital and hears something... isn't Seth trying to keep it from her?"

Damon couldn't win the argument over Chloe. "I'll have someone prepare a ward for you to rest with him."

Chloe nodded, "Ok."

Not long afterward, Damon came out with his phone calling someone. He saw a familiar tall figure not far away from him, and his dark eyes slowly narrowed. Upon getting a response on the phone, he calmly asked, "Ok, prepare a ward."

At the end of the corridor leading to the hospital garden, Seth paused, his fist clenched against the wall. "Do you mind if I bum a smoke?" he asked, his voice strained. The man by the wall, taking a quick smoke break, looked up and offered a cigarette, lighting it for Seth.

"Thanks," Seth muttered, his voice low and hoarse.

"Take it easy, man," the smoker said, trying to offer some consolation. "We all have our paths and burdens. Just do your best and don't be too hard on yourself."

Seth listened, the smoke curling up from his hand. The advice echoed in his mind - to honor his family, to be responsible, loyal, and supportive. It seemed simple, yet so complex in his current state.

He chuckled dryly at the man's optimistic outlook, who had just lost his father but celebrated the birth of his son. Life had to move forward; there was no time to dwell on the past.

Leaving Seth with an extra cigarette, the man departed. Half an hour had passed since Seth had leaned against the wall and silently finished his cigarette.

Chloe had been a constant bedside sentinel for Hugo, her gentle hand brushing his forehead from time to time, checking for any signs of fever.

Meanwhile, Damon stood aloof, his face soured.

"Chloe."

"Hmm?"

"You skipped dinner tonight."

Chloe's expression faltered for a moment, and her lips pressed together in silence.

"Don't starve yourself for someone else's kid, yeah? Let's grab a bite."

"But Hugo..."

"I'll have someone look after him."

Chloe wasn't about to argue with Damon about missing dinner.

But no sooner had they stepped out of the room, they spotted a man leaning against the corridor wall. He was the embodiment of tall, dark, and handsome, an air of detached sophistication about him. Damon and Chloe halted in their tracks. Seth slowly straightened up, then turned to face them with a calm demeanor, his presence icy and detached.

Chloe's expression shifted, but Damon remained unfazed. "What brings you here?"

Seth's gaze shifted past them to the door they had just exited, his voice tight and grave. "Just checking on the kid."

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