Marrying the Man in the Dark

Mrs. Lydia hesitated, glancing at Cherise. “But... Mrs. Lenoir hasn’t donated yet...”
Cherise squinted her eyes, realizing once again that Mrs. Lydia was no simple woman; she was keenly observing her all along,
which explained her hesitation.
Her impression of Mrs. Lydia had already soured with the matter outside of the auditorium.
Now, she was convinced that Mrs. Lydia was benefiting from these children.
This only fueled her determination to adopt Alexis..
So, Cherise stood up with a smile. “Mrs. Lydia, if you are asking for a donation, I am willing to contribute.
“You see, I have my eye on a child named Alexis.”
“I would like to know, if I donate one million to the orphanage, would I be able to adopt this child?”
Cherise believed that one million was a substantial amount in Mrs. Lydia’s eyes.
Yolanda laughed in a mocking manner, sending her fiery gaze at Cherise.
“One million?”
“Cherise, aren’t you being stingy?”
She took out a check for ten million from her pocket and handed it to Mrs. Lydia. “The previous ten million I gave you was for the
welfare of the children in the orphanage.”
“This additional ten million is a token of appreciation for taking care of Alexis.”
After that, she looked at Cherise with satisfaction. “Mrs. Lenoir, do you really think you can compete with me?”
“I acknowledge that I may not be as wealthy as your husband.”
“But I am willing to spend money.”
Yolanda sneered, “Would Mrs. Lenoir be willing to spend thirty million to adopt a little boy without any relatives?”
“Don’t claim you cannot afford it.”

“Even if you can afford it... I will always offer a price that is one million higher than yours.”
Cherise narrowed her eyes at her. “Is that so?”
“Absolutely!”
Cherise took a deep breath, then she announced, “Thirty million.”
When Cherise mentioned the figure thirty million, she distinctly heard Mr. Hampson gasp in shock on the other end of the
earpiece.
The woman’s nails dug into her palms.
She knew that her décision was impulsive.
After all, thirty million is a significant sum.
“Forty million.”
Yolanda produced another twenty million in check.
It was evident that she had come prepared.
Cherise breathed out through her nose; she was about to raise the bid but was interrupted by Damien’s cold and indifferent voice
coming through the earpiece. “That’s enough, Cherry.”
“There’s no need to engage in a monetary competition with her.”
Cherise bit down her lower lip in frustration, but she also understood that forty million was truly a substantial amount.
Reluctant as she was, she coldly snorted and turned away helplessly.
Behind her, Yolanda’s triumphant laughter echoed. “I knew it. People who come from doubtful origins just can’t bear to part with
money...
Cherise left the hall disheartened, her head lowered and her face bearing a forlorn disposition.
The moment she stepped out, Mr. Hampson brought out the car to the entrance.

The window rolled down, and Mr. Hampson smiled at Cherise. “Madam, please get in the car.”
Cherise took a deep breath to compose herself before entering the car.
Upon getting in, she met the gaze of a child with clear eyes.
“Hey!”
Her eyes widened in alarm at the figure in front of her. The little boy from earlier, Alexis, then rolled his eyes and complained,
“Didn’t you guys promise to release me once she got in the car? Why haven’t you let me go yet?”
It took her a few seconds to realize that Alexis was actually tied up with a rope.
“Oops, I forgot!”.
Sitting beside Alexis, Blake slapped his forehead and then swiftly untied him.
The boy puffed out his cheeks and massaged his sore wrists, then he glanced casually at Cherise. “Are you going to adopt me?”