The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1978

Seth's eyes held an emotion that Cicely had never seen before. They were dark and brooding, yet seemed to harbor a fire that could turn her to ash at any moment. It took Cicely a moment to regain her composure, her gaze shifting away, too ashamed to look Seth in the eye.

"Does this count as one?" Seth murmured.

Cicely’s face flushed with embarrassment, her body language screaming discomfort. She naturally wouldn't dare answer that question outright.

Seth let out a low chuckle at her demeanor. "Weren't you quite the spitfire just a moment ago? Now you can't even find the words?"

Cicely wasn't about to let him have the last laugh at her expense. She turned her head, her cheeks still painted with shyness, her feigned anger lacking any real punch. "I thought you didn't waste time comforting people?" she retorted weakly.

"I'm not comforting you," Seth replied bluntly. "I'm simply taking advantage of an opportunity you gave me."d2

His fingers grazed his lips, catching a droplet of moisture. His gaze fell on Cicely, who was looking up at him from the hospital bed, her face turning several shades redder as their eyes unexpectedly met. She quickly looked away, her ears now as red as cherries.

Seth watched her, a half-smile playing on his lips as he readjusted his shirt cuffs.

Cicely's heart thudded wildly, the spot on her waist where Seth had touched her still felt like it was burning. Her lips were swollen, pulsing with each heartbeat.

This was their most intimate moment yet. His kiss had been fierce, pressing her into the mattress, his touch igniting her.

All these thoughts swirled in her mind, and she felt her face could ignite from the heat. She bit her lip, recalling how casually he had wiped his mouth after their kiss. He was doing such passionate things with such nonchalance, which was so very like him.

The room fell into silence for a moment before she noticed Seth taking a seat beside the bed. She glanced at him, realizing he had completely steered the course of events. Her brow furrowed as she brought her gaze back to him.

"Did you really hit Joel?" she asked, her tone serious.

Seth gave her a fleeting look.

Cicely said sternly. "How you see Joel is your business, but I can't be indifferent to him. At least in this matter, his intentions were good. My hospitalization was purely accidental, and you even hit him because of it."

"The simple outcome should have been an apology from him and a 'no worries' from me, and that would have been the end of it. But you hit him, and now it feels like I owe him an apology. Seth, you've complicated things."

Seth's expression turned icy, his face etched with a sarcastic sneer. "So, you think the proper response to you landing in the hospital is for me to do nothing?"

Cicely smiled, her face a mixture of conflict and hidden joy. "Seth," she called out softly, her voice soft. He watched her, unmoving.

She took a deep breath and attempted to sit up.

Seth's voice dropped to a frosty tone, "Cicely."

She paused, her eyes looking up at him, filled with a playful helplessness. Despite his cold demeanor, he moved forward and picked her up. Cicely wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Seth hesitated, then turned to look at her. "Is this to please me so you can see other men?"

"Does it look like I'm trying to please you?" Cicely asked with a sly grin.

Seth's face remained stoic. "What are you planning?"

She didn't let go, and he found himself sitting beside her on the bed.

"I'm actually quite pleased," she admitted, burying her face in his chest, her voice muffled. "But feeling happy because you hit Joel feels a bit immoral."

She looked up at him, her gaze innocent. "Don't you think? I'll just share this with you in secret. I'm so torn."

Seth's lips twitched, unamused. "That must be tough for you."

Cicely nodded, "It's the first time life's felt so difficult."

"Let go," he said, the position uncomfortable.

It was an obvious act, but Seth eventually carried her out of the hospital.

*

In truth, Cicely's stomach did hurt. Although she had exaggerated earlier, it wasn't by much.

On the way back to the city center, she looked pale, her forehead creased in discomfort, a thin sheen of sweat on her forehead. Lying there with her eyes closed on Seth's lap, she initially managed to exchange a few words with him, but soon she fell silent.

Seth watched her still and docile form, his brow furrowing as he reached out and touched her forehead, feeling an unsettling cool dampness. His face tensed instantly.

Lifting her up, he had just noticed her pinched, pale face when Cicely wrapped her arms around his waist, her head nuzzling into his chest.

"I think I'm a bit carsick," she mumbled. "I just want to sleep, and I don't want to go to the hospital."

Seth's hand rested on her stomach, and hearing her words, he glanced up at the driver in front, his voice icy, "Drive smoother."

The driver gripped the steering wheel tighter, "Yes, sir."

The driver felt really helpless. After years of driving experience, especially as an executive chauffeur, he prided himself on his smooth driving above all else.

*

When the car finally stopped, Cicely opened her eyes and found the unfamiliar scenery outside disorienting. Before she could gather her thoughts, Seth had already scooped her out of the vehicle.

Leaning against Seth, her eyes were half-open as she noticed a closed door in front of her. After a series of password input beeps, a faint electronic unlocking sound followed.

Seth carried her in, and as she lifted her head to take in the minimalist decor of the room, she asked in a feeble voice, "Where are we?"

Seth uttered two simple words, "My place."