The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1945

"Why are you docking points? My answer was right." Cicely frowned and pointed at the last problem on her test, for which Seth had slashed her score by more than half.

Seth flipped the test over and scrawled an 89 at the top.

"Seth, I should have gotten a 95."

"You didn't show the calculation process. Leaving you with four points is already being generous," he replied.

Cicely pouted, “The process isn’t important. Isn’t it the final result that counts?”

Seth glanced at her coolly, “Maybe you can take it up with the teacher who grades your exams. They might give you your points back.”d2

Seeing that Seth was not in a good mood, Cicely didn’t insist further. "Fine, I'll just write it out next time."

Seth stood up and tossed the test back to her. "Write out the process ten times. No lunch until it's done."

"Seth..."

"Try to haggle and it’s double."

Cicely glared at him, “Who’s haggling? I was just going to say I’m thirsty.”

Seth left the room without another word. He went downstairs to the dining room, poured a glass of juice, and instructed the maid to bring it upstairs. Then, he walked towards the kitchen and said indifferently, “Let’s have lunch in half an hour.”

The busy servants paused and then responded, “Mr. Seth, lunch is almost ready, and Ms. Patty is home today.”

“Then let her eat first.”

“I’m not particularly hungry myself. Waiting a bit is no big deal.” As soon as Seth finished speaking, Patty’s nonchalant voice came from behind him. “What about our little guest? It’s not nice to let her go hungry, is it?”

“It’s all thanks to her.”

Patty’s brow twitched, “So it’s because of her that I have to starve a bit? I’ll have to remember this. She’s brought her spoiled ways to our house.”

Seth’s brow furrowed slightly, “I never said you had to wait for her.”

Watching Seth walk past, Patty suddenly said, “Are you worried I’ll be prejudiced against her?”

He paused, “Not at all.”

Patty wrapped her shawl tighter and walked out, “I thought that having Danielle join the Ellis family would be easier for her if there was a child her age there. But it seems I was too optimistic. Cicely skipped a grade, and now there’s a gap. Danielle must be feeling quite upset.”

“She’s an Ellis. How she feels is none of our business. It’s not for you to worry about.”

Patty sat down on the sofa, straightened her clothes, and after a while, responded half-heartedly, "Well, that’s true."

Seth watched her for a second, “Make sure to eat lunch on time. Don’t wait for us.” With that, he went upstairs.

Cicely was sipping her juice, writing half-heartedly in her notebook. Sensing his foul mood, she set down her glass, “Are you hangry? You could have punished me after lunch, you know? How about joining me for a bite first?”

Seth gave her a frosty look.

Cicely pushed the remaining juice towards him with a smile, “You can have this to fill your stomach first. Give me ten minutes, and I'll join you for lunch.”

She handed him the juice without waiting for a reply and returned to her desk. “You’re torturing yourself by not letting me eat. You won’t feel good eating alone, right? Isn’t this self-torture?”

“Want me to bring lunch up here and eat in front of you?”

Cicely made a face, “Eating in the bedroom? That’s just gross.”

“I don’t see that stopping you.” Seth ignored her, glanced at the juice in his hand, and placed it beside her, “Finish it.”

She took it, sipping as she watched him, “Weren’t you supposed to drink it?”

He watched as she downed the juice and buried her head back in her work. He pursed his lips and sat on the bed, returning to his book. But within ten minutes, Cicely heaved a sigh and stood up. "Done!"

Seth looked at her, his eyes holding a trace of skepticism that made Cicely pout immediately, “What's with that look? I put in a Herculean effort so you wouldn’t go hungry, okay?”

He inspected her notebook. The work was passable. “Let’s eat.”

Cicely responded to his indifference with a slight pout and followed behind him.

They didn’t see Patty; the servants said she had already eaten. Patty’s appetite had always been small, and it hadn’t changed with age. It hadn’t done her any harm; she was the picture of health.

The lunch spread was rich and nutritious, as Cicely had come to expect from her visits here.

"School starts tomorrow. How about we go out this afternoon for a proper date?"

Seth glanced at her, "If you're not interested in studying, head home after lunch."

"You are so boring."

Seth’s lips tightened, and he gave her a chilly look. She quickly took a sip of her soup and looked away.