The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1965

Gasps rippled through the crowd.

Seth's eyes narrowed in an instant. He stood still, his back arching under Cicely's teasing grip, immobilized, momentarily without action.

Cicely lingered on his lips for a while, then began to press and rub on them, their lips touching softly, devoid of any real passion.

The kiss was so clumsy that even Cicely thought it was embarrassingly inept. Looking up at Seth's nearly unresponsive expression, she bit his lip in frustration.

It wasn't until she saw his brow furrow that she let go. Her ears were burning red. Yet, she held her head high, her expression arrogant. "Get it now?"

Seth slowly straightened up, studying her feigned composure. His well-defined fingers gently touched the spot where Cicely had bitten. There was a clear pain, a faint moisture.d2

Noticing the trace of red on his fingertip, he smiled. "I did promise you a wish. If that's what you want, I can oblige."

Cicely smirked.

"But Cicely…" Seth continued, "Do you really believe in a man's promises? Especially those lifelong commitments? How many of those grand declarations made in the name of true love remain unswayed? Besides, I may not love you, and you may not always like me. Don't be so sure of yourself. Always leave yourself a way out."

Seth indeed spoke quite a bit. However, Cicely only took that "I may not love you" quite seriously. She paused briefly, her breathing halted for a moment, her heart aching from lack of oxygen. His blunt honesty was infuriating.

She had forced him into a public commitment, leaving him no easy way out, and he spared her no dignity in return.

Taking a deep breath, she finally smiled faintly, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, you're right. Maybe my interest in you is just a fleeting affair. So be it, be my boyfriend, and when I've had enough, we'll talk."

Seth looked at her with a hint of displeasure in his expression.

Cicely then flashed another carefree smile, "Don't feel wronged. Even though you're fulfilling your promise, I'm genuinely sincere about this relationship from the start. Don't act like I'm forcing you. Apart from me deciding when to break up, in every other aspect, you're not the one at a disadvantage, right?"

Seth found her smile somewhat blinding.

There was almost no sound around them. He pressed his lips together, suppressing the irritation inside, and slightly lifted his eyes towards the two figures still standing on the stair landing.

Creighton looked at him and gently shook his head.

Looking back at Cicely, Seth's jaw clenched tightly. After a while, he forced a smile, "Fine."

Cicely beamed, linking her arm with Seth's, "This is the best adult birthday present I've ever received. Come on, I'll take you out for a bite."

Ah, the best adult birthday present, Creighton's years of building Cicely's Mansion couldn't compare to a romance that might not even involve love. Erik was genuinely upset, "Is that boy too out of line? He doesn't even like my precious granddaughter. Who else could he possibly like? To embarrass Cicely in front of so many people..."

"Dad," Creighton interrupted Erik calmly, "Let the kids handle their own affairs. We can't interfere too much. Forcing things won't necessarily lead to good results. It's better to be honest than to lie. Besides..."

He paused, looking at the retreating figures, slowly adding, "Seth might not be as indifferent to Cicely as he claims."

Erik fell silent for a while, then exhaled deeply, "I just worry she'll end up like you, willing to turn her back on her family for someone, to the point of obsession."

Creighton smiled, "It's a million times better than living with regret."

Erik said no more.

--

Cicely ordered several dishes from the kitchen, all tailored to Seth's taste.

Despite everything Seth had said in the living room, Cicely acted like she didn't care. She sat down with Seth, her joy apparent. She didn't seem to be pretending.

Her nonchalance made Seth feel like he was reading too much into her behavior, but he knew Cicely wasn't foolish. She saw things clearer than anyone.

Seth didn’t eat much, Cicely's eyes never leaving him from across the table. Putting down his utensils, he met her gaze, "Are you planning to get sick of me as quickly as possible so you can make a clean break?"

Cicely blinked, "I haven't gotten sick of you in over two years. Maybe you're under some misconception about yourself?"