Marrying the Man in the Dark

After pronouncing those words, he firmly clasped Cherise’s shoulders, guiding her into the car with purpose, and followed suit,
enveloping her in his embrace as they settled inside the vehicle.
Throughout the journey, Cherise hurled curses at him, her anger simmering beneath the surface like a tempestuous sea.
Her ire stemmed from Damien’s confining of her freedom and his inexplicable failure to offer an explanation.
Why, she pondered, did he not clarify if he was facing difficulties?
Why did he remain silent if the situation did not align with Sebastian’s depiction?
Given her current feeling explanation he provided.
him, he should have known that she would unquestionably believe any
Yet, he uttered not a single word of clarification.
Did he truly lack an explanation, or did he feel absolved of the obligation to offer one?
What, she questioned, did he perceive her as?
An object?
A pet?
Or perhaps merely a plaything devoid of memories, past, or the capacity for independent thought?
In truth, she harbored doubt regarding Sebastian’s assertions concerning their relationship.
Her instinctual response to Sebastian was repulsive, while her innate connection lay with Damien.
Furthermore, she entertained the notion that the version of herself devoid of memories held affection. for Damien.
Yet, she struggled to reconcile how the former Cherise could have been entangled with Damien amidst an arranged union
resembling a transaction, compounded by her parents’ evident hostility.
Ultimately, wearied by the ceaseless internal conflict, she yearned for resolution.

With closed eyes, Cherise surrendered to the enigmatic warmth that radiated from Damien, a familiar and foreign warmth
enveloping her in its embrace. “Damien,” she breathed softly.
“I am not the same Cherise you once knew,” she confessed, her voice tinged with a newfound resolve.
“I aspire to embody a clarity that discerns between love and hatred,” she continued, her words trailing like delicate whispers in
the still air.
“But I cannot... after comprehending the depth of those emotions, I cannot remain by your side,” she
Summoning courage from the depths of her being, she exhaled a deep sigh. “Let us part ways, Damien,” she murmured, her
words weighted with finality.
“Promise me, we shall dissolve our union,” she implored.
But Damien, steadfast and unyielding, tightened his grip on her arm. “I refuse,” he declared firmly.
Cherise met his unwavering gaze as she reopened her eyes. “By what right do you oppose my decision?” she questioned, her
tone laced with a hint of defiance
“Our marriage may have begun as a transaction and later entangled with my mother’s life.”
“But that chapter has long been closed.”
Damien’s eyes narrowed, his voice carrying a steely determination. “I swore an oath never to let you slip away from me in this
lifetime,” he asserted, his words echoing with an unyielding resolve.
“What relevance does your vow hold for me?” Cherise challenged, her voice tinged with defiance.
“I am no longer the Cherise of yesteryears!” she declared, her words brimming with a newfound sense of self.
“I refuse to be the woman who would relinquish all for love! I possess reason and intellect,” she asserted boldly, her conviction
unwavering.
A furrow formed on Damien’s brow as he regarded her with an intensity that pierced through her defenses.
After a moment of tense silence, a faint smirk played on his lips. “Are you suggesting that the former Cherise was a woman
governed solely by her emotions, devoid of reason and intellect?” he inquired, his voice laced with a hint of amusement.

Cherise pursed her lips, nodding in affirmation. “Yes, she admitted.
A dangerous glint flickered in Damien’s eyes, his expression inscrutable as he considered her re
In an instant, he drew near, capturing her crimson lips in a fervent kiss that transcended mere affection.
But as the kiss reached its conclusion, he seized her with force, his teeth harshly sinking into her flesh.
An amalgam of sweetness and blood filled Cherise’s mouth, the sharp pain causing her brow to furrow deeply.
“You...” she began, her voice a mixture of surprise and reproach.
With a wicked grin, Damien released her, wiping the blood from his lips with cruel satisfaction.
“Consider this your retribution,” he declared, his gaze cold and unyielding.
“Given your current state of amnesia, I am displaying leniency,” he added icily.
“But should I hear you degrade yourself in such a manner again, my punishment will be far more severe than a mere nip.”
With those chilling words hanging in the air, the car arrived at the Lenoir Residence.
Damien wasted no time, swiftly opening the door and lifting the still-dazed Cherise, carrying her with purpose up the staircase
and into the confines of their bedroom.
“Guard her closely, he instructed the vigilant sentinel posted at the door, his tone commanding. “You all are not to leave this room
under any circumstance
With a furrowed brow, Cherise watched him depart, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
“Where are you going?” she inquired, her apprehension palpable.
Was he intending to confine her to this room indefinitely?