The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1994

"It's the least I can do," Claude replied.

Seth's long gaze narrowing slightly at the scene before him. "There's nothing here that you're obliged to do."

Raising an eyebrow, Claud withdrew his hand and turned to Cicely. "Do you need me to stick around?"

Cicely shot him a sidelong glance, her tone laced with impatience. "Aren't you feeling worse than I am right now? Just go, you're making me uneasy just standing there."

The look in Claud's eyes changed as they rested on her, a sure sign of his concern.

Seth, witnessing the exchange, felt a shadow pass over his features, his face darkening with a mixture of anger and something else—something territorial.d2

Sensing the thick hostility rolling off Seth, Claud averted his gaze. "Since you're so worried about me, I can't have you fretting any longer. I'll head out. You've got my number. Call me anytime."

"Hmm," Cicely murmured absently, her mind clearly elsewhere, coping with the throbbing pain in her foot that threatened to knock her unconscious. To Seth, however, her response seemed to carry a different weight.

As Claud left, Seth pursed his lips tightly, silently sitting on the edge of the bed. He glanced at Cicely and then shifted his gaze to her feet.

Cicely flinched.

Seth first reached for her leg, his grip firm despite her attempt to withdraw. She felt his hand tighten and eventually allowed him to remove her shoe, peel back the cuff of her pants, and slide off her sock.

Removing just one sock revealed a foot that was starkly pale against the crimson of her heel, with blood matted and flesh raw. The fabric sticking to the wound made Cicely's eyes well up with tears from the sheer pain.

Creighton inhaled sharply. "How on earth did you manage to do this to yourself? Didn't you feel the pain at the start?!"

Seth lifted his gaze, looking at her with a detached calm.

Sniffling, Cicely's voice was tinged with a cry, "Dad, my foot hurts, and you're yelling at me. Soon my whole body will hurt."

"Apply the medicine." Seth insisted.

"Dad!" She looked to Creighton for help, but he knew coddling her wouldn't solve anything.

"Just bear it for a moment," he said before stepping out of the bedroom.

"Dad! It hurts!"

After the ordeal of dressing the wound, the doctor, his hair in disarray, looked down at the sobbing girl on the bed and shook his head hopelessly. "Make sure not to get it wet; otherwise, the infection will be more painful. Just one painkiller for today. You can't take any more." he advised before quickly making his exit.

Seth stood up and lifted her in his arms, supporting her with bent legs. With one hand, he lifted the blanket and gently placed her back down. Her face, already ghostly pale, glistened with sweat on her forehead and the tip of her nose; her eyes swollen red, and her hair damp at the temples.

"Now you are crying?" Seth's cold demeanor softened somewhat at the sight of her distress.