Marrying the Man in the Dark

She smiled at him, her demeanor calm yet determined. “I have a gift for you, Ian,” she declared. She grabbed the objects on a
nearby table with swift precision and launched them towards him. Though he managed to evade the first cup she threw at him,
Otto quickly intervened, restraining lan. In the ensuing chaos, hot water, a kettle, teacups, plates, and fruits rained upon Ian.
After hurling everything within reach, Cherise regained her composure quickly, to everyone’s surprise. “Take him back to the
mental hospital,” she instructed, her voice steady. She took a moment to gather herself before continuing, “His presence is no
longer needed.”
“Mrs. Lenoir, are you absolutely sure?” Otto’s grip tightened on Ian as he posed the question, his concern evident on his wrinkled
brows. Damien had emphasized to Otto about Ian’s role in recovering Cherise’s memories. Hence, Otto hesitated to send Ian
away despite what Cherise had said.
Ian was an incredibly sly man. Should his current schemes fail, his future ploys upon potential release from the mental hospital
would undoubtedly escalate to more extreme measures.
“Yes,” Cherise affirmed, drawing a deep breath. “Even if my memories remain elusive, I no longer require his presence.” She felt
distressed for Damien. A man of his stature rarely gave in and was barely swayed easily. He had only set aside his dignity
because her memories focused on Ian. Cherise was Damien’s number one priority. Yet, she refused to allow Damien to be so
subservient or constrained, even if it was for her sake.
“Cherise!” Ian fought against Otto’s restraint, his voice teeming with desperation. “Cherise, what I said’ before were lies, I
swear... You might not recall Damien now, but you remember me. You know what sort of person I am.”
“What I said earlier-Damien made me say it... Really...” Ian’s gaze bore into Cherise, his expression fraught with pain and
anguish. “I never meant to address you in that manner... This whole situation is Damien’s doing. This is his and Otto’s scheme!”
“Is that so?” Cherise retorted with a scoff. “But it was my choice to be here. Having this conversation was also my idea.”
She gazed into Ian’s eyes. “Ian, you’re quite the performer. If it wasn’t for what you said, I wouldn’t have been aware that you
had initially intended to dispose of the study materials you gifted me back then. I was deeply touched at the time, believing you
genuinely cared for me, but it was all a façade. You’ve probably said the same to countless other girls.”
“Thank you,” Cherise added, offering lan an indifferent smile. “You’ve taught me a valuable lesson.”
lan was taken aback. “What is it?”

“It shows that what you witness might not always be the whole truth. Moreover, I can’t take others’ words at face value. Take him
away,” she commanded before briskly leaving the room.
As the swung the door open and stepped into the corridor, a frown creased Cherise’s brow, and she turned to glance at Otto. “By
the way, Otto, if I’m about to meet someone dangerous, can you ensure I May safe?”
keep you protected.” After a momentary pause, he locked eyes with Cherise. “But if you want to face a dangerous individual,
Mrs. Lenoir, it’d be best for Mr. Lenoir to be there with you.”
“Otherwise, Mr. Lenoir won’t rest easy. And I’d strongly suggest steering clear of any risky encounters without his knowledge,”
Otto advised. Despite his recent return to the country, Otto had already shown himself reliable, as others had attested.