Marrying the Man in the Dark

“When you went to the countryside with your classmates...” Damien began; his voice was soft and gentle.
“The two with you: This is Lucy and Mandy.”
“I know Lucy, but who is Mandy?” Cherise inquired, her curiosity piqued.
“She is also one of your closest friends...” Damien explained.
Within the halls of Adania Hospital, Sebastian lay upon the sterile sheets of his hospital bed, his expression etched with concern.
“What’s that you’re telling me? Alexis has vanished?” His voice held a note of urgency.
Yolanda, standing by his bedside, pressed her lips together in a tight line, her gaze dropping to the floor before she softly
confirmed, “Yes, he’s gone.”
“I had a disagreement with Cherise in the auditorium She stormed off afterward. When Mrs. Lydia escorted me to locate Alexis,
he was nowhere to be found.”
.
“I instructed Mrs. Lydia to review the surveillance footage, but the person who took Alexis remained elusive. All we discerned
was a figure clad in navy attire...”
Yolanda cast a pained glance toward Sebastian, her voice conveying remorse. “Truly, it wasn’t my doing. I never imagined
someone would dare to venture to the orphanage and snatch away a defenseless child.”
“Heh, but he’s no ordinary orphan,” Sebastian interjected, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
“And when does the old man intend to release you?” he inquired further.
“Tomorrow,” Yolanda replied with resignation.
“Very well,” Sebastian conceded.
Sebastian drew in a deep breath, his resolve evident in the steely glint of his eyes. “Join me this afternoon at the Lenoir
Residence.”
“The Lenoir Residence?” Yolanda echoed, her voice tinged with disbelief

“Yes, Damien and Cherise’s home precisely,” Sebastian affirmed without hesitation.
Yolanda’s eyes widened in alarm. “Sebastian, are you truly considering this? They hold such animosity toward you. Venturing
there seems like inviting trouble.”
“Even if their hatred runs deep,” Sebastian retorted with a hint of icy amusement, “do you truly believe they’d dare to murder me
within the confines of their own abode in broad daylight?”
Yolanda’s lips tightened into a thin line as her gaze flickered to Sebastian’s tightly bandaged thigh.
The memory of Damien’s callous act, firing a bullet into Sebastian’s leg at the bar under the Weiss Group, lingered in her mind
like a haunting specter.
Here was Sebastian, willingly putting himself in harm’s way by personally confronting Damien at his own residence. What if
Damien’s rage once again spiraled out of control, leading to irreversible consequences this time?
Anxiety gnawed at her, and she hesitated. “Could I... perhaps opt out of this?”
Sebastian’s cold stare pierced through her hesitation. Nothing untoward will occur. Don’t succumb to fear so easily.”
He paused, a wry smile on his lips as he regarded Yolanda. “Furthermore,” he continued, his voice carrying a hint of intrigue,
“don’t you wish to see Damien, the man you once admired, within the confines of his own domain?”
Yolanda was rendered speechless.
In truth, her fascination with Damien had waned over time.
Alain’s admonition, likening her desire to a toad aspiring to dine on a swan’s flesh, had prompted introspection.
Perhaps she realized that her attraction to Damien had been manipulated by Gwenn and Sebastian all along.
Deep down, she acknowledged that Damien’s character wasn’t indeed to her liking.
The figure beside him, fair and noble in demeanor, seemed far more appealing in comparison.
“Then it’s settled,” Sebastian declared, his gaze piercing as he locked eyes with Yolanda. “Join me at the Lenoir residence this
afternoon.”

“I’m determined to discover who’s behind Alexis’s disappearance,” Sebastian affirmed, his resolve unwavering.
Yolanda’s brow furrowed with concern, her long-held doubts spilling forth. “What exactly is the significance of this Alexis?
Considering he’s just a child, is he truly worth all this effort?”
Moreover, he’s an unwanted orphan!
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed, a faintly sinister smile dancing on his lips. “His identity holds significance; otherwise, my concern
wouldn’t be so pronounced.”
A moment of silence passed as Sebastian contemplated the situation. “Fortunately, Cherise suffers from amnesia now,” he
mused aloud. “Otherwise...”
The implication hung heavy in the air. If Cherise retained her memories, any hope of adopting Alexis would be dashed.
Yolanda pressed further, her skepticism evident. “And what of your intentions once you’ve adopted this child? Will you truly be a
nurturing father figure to him?”
“Yes.”
Sebastian’s laughter rang out, cold and calculated. “Rest assured, I will mold this child into my own son and, in time, utilize him
as a tool to settle scores with Damien and Lennon. It will be just right.”