The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride novel Chapter 1995

Cicely looked up at him, her voice tinged with frustration and pain. "My feet are practically done for, and you're telling me I can't even cry about it?"

"So you knew they were done for? Usually, you make a fuss over a tiny blister, but here you are running around like a madwoman for three days, and suddenly you're having the time of your life."

Her gaze dropped, and her voice was muffled as she admitted, "Yeah, it was kinda fun."

Seth stared intensely at her.

Cicely clutched the quilt and slipped beneath it. "I'm fine for now. You can go."

But Seth didn’t move from her bed.d2

After watching her for a moment, his eyes landed on the smartphone on her nightstand. It’s the latest model, different from what he had seen her with before. He picked it up, noting that she hadn't bothered to set a passcode, and found only two contacts in her address book.

One was Issac. The other, Claud.

And there was a call history with the Ellis family's landline number.

Without a flicker of emotion, Seth blocked and deleted Claud's number. He wouldn't be able to call in, nor she out.

After doing this, he lowered his head to look at the woman peacefully observing him. He dialed his own number from her phone and then handed it to her.

"Add my number to your contacts."

"Why don't you do it yourself? You've got the phone," Cicely retorted, eyebrows knitting together.

"I don't know how," Seth stated firmly, leaving no room for argument. "Do it."

Cicely snatched the phone from him, a mix of irritation and challenge in her tone. "Are you looking for trouble?"

He simply watched her silently, his gaze fixed on the phone as she begrudgingly saved his number.

"Did you delete my contacts?" Cicely's voice was cold as ice.

"What's the point of me admitting it?" Seth's tone was equally chilly.

Cicely paused, a soft chuckle escaping her. "I guess I want to hear out loud why you'd delete my contacts."

She took a deep breath, resignation in her voice. "Never mind, I don't care to hear it. Can you leave now? These next few days, maybe even weeks, are going to be hell for me, so I don't want to see you. Even if you call, I won't answer. You seem to have your hands full with your victories, so I won't trouble you further, and I'd appreciate the same courtesy."

Seth watched her quietly as she finished speaking. Her pale, delicate face, though sickly, still held an undeniable beauty and life.

"So, you don't want to see me for a few weeks, and you won't answer my calls. Do you plan to stay home alone, or do you need someone else to keep you company?" His voice was devoid of emotion.

Lying in bed, Cicely stared at his stoic, handsome face. Her nose tingled, a prelude to the swell of emotion rising in her chest, threatening to spill from her eyes.

"After all these years, a few weeks shouldn't matter. Seth, you don't need to concern yourself with who I want to be with. As long as it's not you, it is fine. Right?"

The depth of Seth's gazes seemed to conceal untold thoughts, a flicker of emotion passing through them, subtle as the ripple of an unseen creature stirring in the deep sea.

"Do you want Claud to keep you company? You seemed to enjoy his company these past few days," he said flatly.

Cicely didn't deny it. "Can we not talk about this anymore?"

"Cicely," Seth's voice was suddenly sharp and cold, "are you trying to break up with me?"

Her lips twisted into a weary smile. "I don't want to talk about this right now."

"Even if you're thinking of breaking up, you can't get too close to other men. It's a matter of principle."

Silence stretched between them, heavy and prolonged.

Finally, Cicely clenched the quilt, looked Seth in the eyes, and after a moment of hesitation, she closed her eyes tightly. "Fine, I can get through a few weeks on my own without anyone's company."

A warm touch landed on her brow. Fluttering her lashes, she opened her eyes to find Seth's hand gently caressing her face, fingers tangled in her hair as he leaned in close. His voice was a low, husky whisper, "Did you hurt yourself just to avoid seeing me?"

Cicely's eyes flickered, trying to turn away from his intense gaze, but his hand brought her back, fingers gently stroking her hair. "If we broke up, would you be with another man?"

The words 'broke up' stung Cicely like needles to her heart. "Didn't you say some things should wait until I'm fully recovered? Or did you come here today determined to discuss this? If we broke up, of course, I'd be with other men. What, am I supposed to stay single forever?"