Marrying the Man in the Dark

Jacob emitted a quiet sound of acknowledgment, and his lips pressed together in a tight line as he nodded.
“Fair enough,” Lennon conceded. He took a deep breath, steeling himself before announcing. “I’ll gather my belongings and seek
refuge at Lenoir Manor.”
Surprise flickered across Jacob’s features, and Damien interjected, “There’s no vacancy.”
“I’ll crash on the couch,” Lennon retorted, determination lacing his words.
“I’d rather let a stray dog crash on my couch,” Damien countered.
Lennon fell into a tense silence, grappling with the turn of events. Frustration bubbled within him. “D*mn it!” He hurled the pen
from his grasp, watching it clatter against the floor. “Damien, are we even friends?” he seethed.
“It’s precisely because we’re friends that I can’t let you crash here,” Damien shot back, his brow wrinkling. Lucy’s warning echoed
in his mind, her words from her last visit haunting him. “Don’t breathe a word to Lennon that I’ve been here. If you do, I’ll never
return, even if Cherise is in a bind next time.”
Damien locked eyes with Lennon, his expression unwavering. “She’s made it clear she doesn’t want any encounters with you,”
he declared firmly. “Even if you can’t confront her here, you can still catch a glimpse of her from a distance outside. But if you do
show up, she won’t return to Adania again, not even for Jake or Cherise.”
A heavy silence hung in the air as Damien’s words settled in. After a beat, Lennon offered a bitter smile on the video call, his
voice tinged with desolation. “We love each other. Must I be reduced to observing her from afar?”
Jacob let out a deep sigh, his tone weighted with emotion. “Let me correct you. You don’t love each other, he began. She loved
you unconditionally, only to be left high and dry in the end. How could you subject her to such pain if your love for her was
genuine?”
Lennon’s eyes shot up, his eyes brimming with anguish. “What have I done to her?!” he exclaimed, his voice trembling with
emotion. “That’s not what I intended! I never meant to cause her any harm!”
“But that child is yours,” Jacob asserted, his eyes narrowing with skepticism. He adopted a scornful tone. “If you didn’t love her,
why stay with her? And if you were with her, why not implement any precautions?” As a physician, he comprehended the
sacrifices Lucy had made for Lennon. “If you didn’t love her, why pledge to marry her? If not for your promise back then, she
wouldn’t have...”

“Enough!” Damien interjected icily before Jacob could conclude. “You’re not privy to the whole story, so hold your tongue for
now.”
Lennon visibly slouched on the other end of the video call. “I’ve always... actually...” he began, trailing off. After a moment of
silence, Lennon mustered a bitter smile and shook his head. “Forget it,” he muttered, resigned. “Just catching a glimpse of her
from a distance will suffice.”
Cherise stirred from her sleep, finding her pillow damp with tears. She couldn’t quite grasp why she had been weeping, but
remnants of her dream lingered-a vision where Damien appeared kind, handsome, and attentive. He even had a blindfold
obscuring his eyes.
“Seems like you’re in fine spirits today, Mrs. Lenoir, Frances remarked cheerfully, tapping lightly on the door as she entered,
bearing a tray of breakfast delights. Tve whipped up your favorites. Have a peek and see if they tickle your fancy.”
“If it’s not to your liking, just say the word, Frances continued, swiftly arranging the dishes before Cherise. I’m here to cater to
your every whim. Whatever you desire. I’ll whip it up in a jiffy!” Frances suddenly thought of something. “Oh, Mr. Lenoir left a
message for you this morning.” Frances added. with a bright smile. “Ms. Staber will be paying you a visit today. With her
company, you certainly won’t be bored!”
“Ms. Staber?” Cherise’s brow furrowed in confusion. “Tacy?”
“Exactly!” Frances affirmed, passing a set of utensils to Cherise. “Please, dig in. I need to attend to some matters downstairs. If
you require anything, don’t hesitate to summon me.”