Marrying the Man in the Dark

Cherise observed Ian’s smug portrait from her vantage point across the screen. She subtly tightened her grip on the microphone
as she listened to his haughty tone. She asserted confidently, “I’m pretty sure Cherise won’t buy into your story.”
“Why not?” Ian retorted. “You don’t know that country bumpkin well enough,” he chuckled. “Back in high school, she was always
buried in her books while the rest of us slacked off. Thus, she was constantly ostracized by others. Whenever I showed her the
slightest attention or gifted her anything, she’d be so moved that she practically fell in love with me on the spot.”
“Damien, I acknowledge that you facilitated my release from the mental hospital, apologized, and even provided financial
support. From your perspective, that’s a monumental gesture. But let’s not overlook the fact that it was your actions that landed
me in the mental hospital in the first place, shaping me into who I am today!”
Cherise’s heart raced at Ian’s revelation. Damien was the reason Ian ended up in the mental hospital? She pressed her lips
together. “Is that so? I almost forgot if you hadn’t brought it up. Were you admitted. because of me?”
“Obviously! You saw fit to confine me to a mental hospital for the past six years because of that minor incident. And your sister
even shattered both my legs back then. If it weren’t for my resilience, I’d be a cripple by now!”
“Don’t you comprehend the magnitude of your actions?” Cherise gripped the voice-altering microphone tightly. “If it were merely
trivial, I wouldn’t have resorted to locking you away.”
“Yes, I concede!” Ian’s jaw clenched. “It was my fault for spreading rumors about Cherise being pregnant with Lennon’s child,
and I was also wrong to drug her and terminate her pregnancy. But at the time, your child wasn’t even two months old. It was
merely the size of a fingernail. Its loss wouldn’t have made a difference.”
“And didn’t I assist you in testing Cherise’s loyalty to you?” After uttering those words, lan seemed to wrestle with guilt, seemingly
realizing he was wrong. “Regardless of my past rights and wrongs, you need my help now. You’ve chosen to release me and
even offered me financial assistance for your beloved Cherise...”
“Since you’ve done so much, an extra three million and a house should be like spare change to you...” On the other side of the
screen, lan grew more excited, oblivious to “Damien’s” prolonged silence.
Cherise clenched the voice-altering microphone, her complexion pale. If lan hadn’t spilled the beans, she wouldn’t have
fathomed what had transpired back then... The high school senior she had once revered deeply was actually such scum... At
this moment, she was both furious and distressed.

Damien was someone who desired children greatly. Given how lan had caused them to lose their first child, Damien must have
harbored such hatred for him. Flow could Damien have put his animosity aside?
However because she could only remember lan and recall memories related to him, Damien had swallowed his bitterness. Not
only did Damien release lan... but Damien was also willing to provide with financial assistance and even extended an apology...
seized a pair of scissors at her side, and strode forth resolutely to slice through the screen,
On the other end of the screen, Ian’s face appeared. Sporting a thick beard, he continued spewing vile, repugnant remarks. It
took him a moment to register that something was amiss, and he turned around. “C-Cherise?”
“Yes, it’s me,” Cherise retorted coldly, advancing toward him and locking gazes. “Hello, Ian. It’s been a while.”
Ian gawked at her blankly. “Y-yes... It’s been a while.”