The Enticing CEO’s Chosen Bride

Chapter 2105

Obsidian Enterprises had been brewing new endeavors recently.

Chloe was meticulously packing Damon's suitcase for his business trip. "I've squared away the essentials with Nate already. Here's the medicine pouch. If you feel a cold coming on, remember to take a couple of these powdered mixes. I've also packed antacids and hangover pills. I included three sets of clothes for you, and I've ordered some outfits to be delivered directly to you over there in a couple of days."

As Chloe bent over the suitcase, sorting through items with great attention to detail, familiar garments suddenly appeared on the surface of the luggage. Upon closer inspection, she realized they were her own clothes. Lifting her eyes, she watched as the tall, broad-shouldered man knelt before her, his defined fingers carefully folding her clothes and placing them atop his own. "What are you doing?"

"Coming with me on the trip," he said, his voice firm and unyielding.

Chloe sighed with a hint of resignation and began removing the clothes from the suitcase, "I can't go with you. I need to stay home and take care of the kids."

Damon's expression darkened a shade, "They have grandparents, nannies, and housekeepers."d2

"But I'll miss them. I need to see them every day to feel at peace."

Damon took the clothes back from Chloe's hands, pressed them into the suitcase, and then silently stood up and left the dressing room. She was sure of it – he was upset.

Chloe pondered how to soothe him later, but before she could act on it, Damon re-entered, one child in his arms and another dangling from his hand, both as beautiful and delicate as dolls.

Chloe was clearly familiar with Damon’s way of holding the babies, especially when she saw the little babies being lifted and kicking his tiny legs, giggling happily. She couldn't help but feel a sense of helplessness. She remembered vividly how her heart had leaped the first time she saw her precious son treated in such a cavalier fashion.

Over time, she'd come to question what exactly constituted a man's idea of "romance."

"What are you—"

Before Chloe could finish, Damon bent down and placed the little one inside the suitcase. Chloe stared in astonishment.

With a grunt, Damon glanced at the little creature reaching out cheerfully for Chloe from within the suitcase and said, "Pack him up and bring him along."

Startled, Chloe quickly scooped her son out of the suitcase. She knew Damon wasn't serious about shipping their son off in a suitcase, but seeing him now, doting on his soft, sweet daughter with nose rubs and kisses, Chloe couldn't help but feel even more protective of her son.

The disparity in affection was striking.

She had once discussed this favoritism with Damon quite seriously, but in the end, she somewhat agreed with his conclusion: Their son would also have to spoil his sister unconditionally.

With a silent apology in her heart, Chloe held her son close and kissed him again and again.

In spite of this tender moment, Chloe didn't agree to join Damon on his trip.

Soon after, Nathan's boisterous voice echoed from downstairs. "I'm here to see you!"

Sometimes Chloe thought Damon was so lucky to have a brother like Nathan – despite taking his fair share of beatings, Nathan's uncanny timing often rescued her from tricky situations.

His reasons for showing up were seldom what one might call "normal" though.

Descending the stairs with a face like a thundercloud, Damon saw Nathan had arrived with his entire family in tow. The butler had already directed the staff to serve tea and refreshments in an orderly fashion.

Nathan's bright smile was hard to miss as he admired the family coming down from the upstairs.

He had learned a thing or two about sweet-talking, and without making a fuss, he glanced at Damon's sour expression before turning his attention to the baby girl in his arms. "Wow, isn't my niece Little Moon becoming more beautiful by the day? She's starting to look so much like her mommy."

Damon was a known doting father, especially when it came to his daughter. His preferential treatment was no secret in the household.

Nathan's comment was strategic, flattering both Damon's treasured daughter and his beloved wife, Chloe. Though Nathan often came off as unreliable at home, this time he had made the right bet.

Damon's face remained stoic, but his slight nod was a grand concession to Nathan. Clearly, he was susceptible to flattery.

Yulia hid her amused smile behind her hand, while the staff lowered their heads to conceal their grins.

Anya, somewhat intimidated by Damon, glanced at the beautiful girl in Damon's arms and scurried to Chloe's side, resting her chin on Chloe's knee and gazing at her handsome cousin with sparkling eyes. "Chloe, Little Sun is so handsome."

Chloe smiled and watched as Anya gently touched Little Sun's cheek, "Anya, you're beautiful too."

Little Sun's chubby hands grasped Anya's, and he tried to bring them to his mouth. Anya's laughter made her eyes crease into happy crescents.

"No, although I'm very clean, Little Sun, you still need to pay attention to hygiene." Anya chided, taking on the role of a caring older sister.

Chloe stroked Anya's hair, her eyes filled with warmth. "Anya is such a good big sister."

Anya beamed even brighter. "I'll always protect Little Sun and Little Moon."

Every visit, Anya made the same earnest promise, and each time, Chloe felt a deep sense of warmth and joy. The pure, unblemished affection Chloe had once envied now surrounded her completely.

Sometimes, she questioned it all. Even the Summers family was only considered a minor aristocracy, the cutthroat struggles for power and profit seemed to strip them of their humanity. They measured kinship in dollars and cents, turning affection into something as transactional as a business deal. If this was the case in the Summers household, she could only imagine the emotional void in the grander Harper family, where any genuine sentiment must have felt like a burden, something to be disregarded and lacking. Yet, clearly, she had been wildly mistaken.

The Harpers, for all their conflicts, had proven to be an exception to her cynical expectations. They trusted her, acknowledged her, loved her, and respected her.

She thought her life was complete with Damon, but he gave her so much more.

"Anya is such a great sister," someone noted, warming Anya's heart further.

Damon settled Little Moon onto his lap, encircling her tiny frame with his arm, his fingers toying with her small hand. He watched contentedly as the little hand grasped his finger before he cheerfully asked, "What brings you here?"

Nathan, draping an arm around Yulia as they sat opposite on the couch, grinned, "We're about to go on a business trip, so I asked Yulia and Anya to keep Chloe company."

Chloe smiled demurely, her lips barely parting. Clearly, fatherhood was doing wonders for Nathan's communication skills.

Damon barely glanced at him, unimpressed. "Another babysitting job for us?"

Nathan touched his nose, his embarrassment fleeting before he leaned back with a defiant air of resignation. "Just thought they'd keep her company, bro. Besides, Yulia's carrying your nephew in there. Can you really leave them alone at home?"

Damon was silent. What was there to worry about? Were the housekeepers merely ornaments? And their mother... Well, best not to go there.

As long as their mother didn't stir up trouble, she would be doing him a favor.

-

The Diaz residence.

In the dimly lit bedroom, a mess of sheets lay on the large double bed.

A cascade of dark hair spread over the pillow, and faint marks dotted the smooth shoulders. Strands of hair partly concealed a tired and languid face.

The bedroom door swung open, and the light from the hallway spilled in.

Seth, dressed in a simple loungewear, approached the bed, bending down to place a glass of water on the bedside table, then sat down beside the sleeping woman, watching her in silence.

Minutes later, Cicely turned away from him, grabbing the blanket in a huff.

Seth's lips curled into a slight smile as he slipped under the covers, planting a gentle kiss on her exposed shoulder before wrapping an arm around her.

"Don't touch..." Her voice trailed off, hoarse from discomfort, and she pinched the hand wrapped around her waist fiercely.

Her resistance was met with a low chuckle from the man behind her. "Sorry," he whispered, his breath warm against her ear.

Cicely yanked the blanket over her head, muttering, "Get lost."

Seth stopped her, sitting up and scooping her into his lap with a fluid motion. She could feel every bone in her body soften, too lazy to resist as he wrapped them both in the blanket.

His hands kneaded her sore back, the tension slowly easing until Cicely sighed in relaxation. After a while, Seth handed her the water. "Honey lemon," he offered.

She drank quietly, his hands continuing to massage her back as she rested lethargically in his embrace, her scent filling his nostrils as his kisses peppered her cheek and neck.

"Are you ever going to stop?"

Cicely felt more spirited after the rest. Pushing his face away, she murmured, "You always look so polished and gentlemanly, but it's all an act, isn't it? Your recent beavior makes me doubt that you've ever abstained from women."

Seth's brow twitched slightly as he replied, "I've saved it all for you."

Cicely's confusion was evident, but as understanding dawned, her cheeks flushed, and she found herself speechless. After a moment, she whispered accusingly, "You're shameless."

Seth brushed her hair aside, his gaze intense. "I have to travel soon. You'll wait for me at home, won't you?" His tone was serious, his expression unreadable.

Cicely's heart fluttered slightly as she could clearly sense his unease. No, his unease was just too obvious to ignore. © 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

She watched him silently, her pride preventing her from reciprocating with sweet nothings. "Are you not leaving a bodyguard or a maid to watch over me, then?"

His lips formed a tight line. "The bodyguards will protect you, and the maids will care for you."

He seemed to avoid the topic, carrying Cicely into the bathroom without another word.

He hadn't received the answer he wanted, and pressing the issue might have led Cicely to dredge up old grievances. He knew he was at fault for the past.

All he wished was for her to stay with him willingly, out of love, but what if she was only compromising?

Her ability to be with him now was simply a result of her unilateral decision to let go and compromise. It wasn't him forcing her; it was her insisting on it for herself.

He could only pretend to be oblivious, keeping her by his side. Some truths are better left unsaid. Even if she wanted to leave, he wouldn't let her go. He wasn't a noble man, and he was fine with being the villain.

The conversation ended without resolution. He dared not, and she did not wish to revisit the past. After all, who says that crossing a hurdle erases it?

Life moves forward, and no one desires to tread the same path twice.

After Cicely drifted off to sleep, Seth made his way downstairs where he gathered his security team, the house staff, and the chauffeur. He meticulously laid out instructions to ensure Cicely and Hugo were protected and cared for.

"Give her whatever she wants, and let her do whatever she pleases," he started, his voice steady but firm. Seth paused for a moment, his gaze drifting towards the staircase as he wrestled with his thoughts. When he spoke again, his voice was tinged with a somber resolve. "Just make sure she's safe and always within your sight."

"Understood," came the collective response.

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