Marrying the Man in the Dark

“Struggling with words, huh?” Her gaze shifted to him, a glint of unfamiliar animosity flickering in her eyes. “We have an arranged
marriage. Why’d your sister plunge a knife into my mother at our wedding. leading to her untimely demise?” She couldn’t fathom
what he was hiding. “Can’t you just explain this to me?” Her words hung in the air, stark and unyielding.
“There are too many players in the game,” Damien responded, a bitter smile tugging at his lips as he shut his eyes momentarily.
“But if you’re up for it, I can explain everything in detail.”
“Are you stalling to conjure up a tale?” Cherise’s lips pursed, memories of Sebastian’s warning echoing in her mind. “You’ve had
ample time on the ride home to concoct a story to fool me.” As Cherise said these words, she couldn’t help but recall Sebastian’s
insinuations. With a sneer, she retorted, “You want to explain everything to me in detail? Are you simply putting it off, as
Sebastian implied?”
“If I were concocting a tale, would I go to such lengths?” Damien’s eyes narrowed slightly as he advanced towards her,
purposeful steps backing her into a corner against the wall. “Cherise, from this moment forward, I won’t tolerate that tone from
you again.”
“You’re disregarding my feelings, and you’ve never grasped how much you mean to me,” he continued. his gaze brimming with a
dangerous fervor. “Do you realize the magnitude of memories you’ve lost?”
“All of them,” he emphasized. “You’ve lost every memory from the past two decades. We’ve known each other for almost six
years. That’s nearly two thousand days. You expect me to untangle our memories in a matter of minutes and elucidate it to you
swiftly? This is utterly impossible!”
Cherise felt a jolt as Damien’s gaze bore into her. She nervously bit her lip, meeting his stare with silence.
“I know you’re stubborn,” Damien began, his voice measured yet firm. “Once you’ve set your mind to something, nothing sways
you. It doesn’t matter how you see me now-as a stranger, an adversary, or a lover. But Cherise, heed my warning. Until your
memory returns, take care of yourself. Eat your meals properly and wait for my explanations.”
“Don’t try my patience. You know me well enough,” he continued, rising abruptly. “I have plenty of tricks to ensure you eat your
meals.” With a cold finality, he instructed, “Frances, prepare another meal. for the lady. If she refuses, keep making food until she
complies.”
A chill crept down Cherise’s spine. She pouted, feeling a pang of betrayal. “You were so kind to me once... Is this who you truly
are?” Just days ago, she never would’ve imagined that Damien, who had shown her such kindness, would utter such harsh

words.
“Cherise, even if you regard me as your foe, Damien’s laughter cut through the air, icy and mocking. He turned away, dismissing
her with a cold chuckle. “It’s in your best interest to eat your meals. Otherwise, you’ll find yourself incapable of seeking justice for
your mother!” With that, he slammed the door shut, paying no heed to Cherise’s turmoil on the other side.
Alone in the room, Cherise stared at the closed door, her expression hollow. Tears silently flowed down. her cheeks as she sank
to the floor in despair. She had hoped that her assertiveness would elicit some semblance of understanding from him. Yet, his
resolve was unyielding. She finally realized that men were terrifying when they were being merciless.
““14 Cherise okay?” Marve, seated downstairs spotted Damien descending and rose from the sofa. “Should I explam the
situation back then to her?”
“What transpired back then was my fault...” Maeve’s face contorted with shame as she confessed. “I can’t forgive myself if my
actions continue to affect you and Cherise...
“It’s alright,” Damien murmured wearily, closing his eyes and slumping onto the sofa. “Her thoughts are utterly poisoned by
Sebastian. Even if you explain, it won’t make a difference.”
“What should we do then?” Maeve’s anxiety was palpable. She paced back and forth in the living room. “Why did you go up and
argue with her again? She’s already harboring misconceptions about you. Aren’t you thinking clearly?”
“There’s no alternative. We’ll have to apologize to Cherise later.” Damien admitted with a helpless smile. “Right now, she sees
me as an adversary. Even if I treat her kindly, she’ll perceive it as deception. It’s better to provoke her and position myself against
her. She’ll take better care of herself despite her animosity towards me.”
As Damien finished speaking, Frances hurried down the stairs, excitement evident in her voice. “Mr. Lenoir, Mrs. Lenoir has
eaten! She even asked for seconds!”
It seems she was truly famished, Damien remarked with a faint smile. Prepare more delicacies tailored to her preferences.”
“Alright!” Frances nodded eagerly. She had just turned away before she hesitated as if remembering something. “Mr. Lenoir, Mrs.
Lenoir... was just... cursing you.”
“It’s a positive sign that she has the energy to curse me, Damien remarked, a slightly amused smile on his lips. “Let her vent.”

“I believe the priority now is to expedite the investigation on Jacob’s end,” Maeve interjected, her lips pressed into a thin line as
she glanced at Damien. “Cherise’s hostility towards you is concerning. She’s bound to get into trouble sooner or later.”
Damien nodded confidently. “I have a plan to address it.”
As night descended, Cherise paced her room restlessly after eating. Opening the door, she found two bodyguards stationed
outside. Peering out the window, Cherise spotted another pair stationed below. Frustration mounting, she reached for her phone,
only to discover that the internet had been disconnected. Cherise felt a sense of helplessness wash over her. It appeared
Damien was resolute-in confining her.
Taking a deep breath, she urged herself to remain calm as she reclined on the bed. Damien’s expectation for her to yield
loomed, but she couldn’t bring herself to comply. She refused to believe that Damien could confine her indefinitely or surveil her
every move for the rest of her days.
With a sigh, she closed her eyes, attempting to quell the fluctuating emotions that had plagued her throughout the day.
Exhaustion weighed heavily upon her, exacerbated by the day’s events and the hearty dinner she had consumed. Succumbing
to weariness, she yawned, allowing herself to sink into the softness of the mattress, unknowingly drifting into slumber.
In her dreams, she sensed the door creaking open slowly. Someone settled on the edge of her bed,