Sorry Sir I Don’t Want You Back by Little Angelic Devil

Cherise was stunned for a few seconds, trying to digest Hudson's words until she laughed out loud as if she had just heard the biggest joke in her entire life.

“You, Hudson?” she asked, nearly doubling over in laughter. “You regret everything and want me back?” Hudson tightened his hold on her wrist, showing her how serious he was. “I am. I want you back, Cherise.” Cherise straightened up and dabbed the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingertips before smirking. “And you think, after everything you and your family put me through, I'll willingly jump back into your arms?"

“I'm...” Hudson stopped his words. Of course, he would be lying if he thought he didn't want Cherise to jump straight into his arms now, but he knew she wouldn't, and he couldn't tell her, “Yes, I want you to jump back into my arms right this moment. He would be slapped if he said those words to her now.

“You know the answer to that, don't you?” Cherise asked, her smirk turned mocking. “So don't waste my time...and yours.” Cherise turned around, but Hudson tugged her wrist and stepped forward, causing her to tumble against his strong body.

He wrapped his arms around Cherise's waist, burying his face at the crook of her neck, inhaling her scent that he had longed to smell for some time now.

“I'm serious, Cherise," he mumbled against her skin. “I want you. I need your help.”

Cherise was so annoyed with Hudson that she was ready to throw him over her shoulder, but suddenly they heard Julian's voice.

“Cherise? Are you here? Grandpa is gone now."

Hudson knew he had overstepped and took advantage by pulling her flush against his front. He didn’t want to push his luck further, so he let go of Cherise and stepped back, albeit with great reluctance.

“I'm here, Julian!” Cherise raised her voice enough for her brother to hear. “Just give me a second!”

She was relieved that Hudson had decided to let her go, but from his words, he didn’t seem to want to really let her go, so she turned to face him to make sure he understood what she wanted from him.

“Hudson, I'l say this loud and clear so you'll understand,” she said. “No matter how many times you ask me to get back together, no matter what you do to repent, nothing will make me change my mind about getting back together with you.”

“So my answer to your... declaration or what it is was is...” she smirked for dramatic effect. “Sorry, Sir. I don’t want you back”

Then she turned around, and the wind swept against her long hair, leaving behind a lingering fragrance unique to Cherise that could always calm him down last time.

Hudson watched her retreating back, not realizing that he had clenched his hands tightly, balling them into fists, but when he thought of Julian's words, his whole body relaxed.

Julian didn’t seem like he was ready to introduce Cherise to his grandpa. He only fetched her when Charles had gone.

Maybe Hudson still had hope of getting Cherise back.

With that glimmer of hope, his determination to get his ex-wife back hardened. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but he wouldn't give up.

“Julian,” Cherise called her brother and hugged his waist.

Julian wrapped his arms around Cherise’s shoulders and frowned. “You are cold.” He moved his hands along her arms to try to warm her up.

“A bit,” Cherise replied. “There was a blanket, though, so I wasn't as cold as the weather would permit.’

Julian took off his suit jacket and draped it on Cherise's shoulder. “Let's get you inside,” he said and ushered her back into the ballroom, where it was warmer.

“Cherise, where have you been?" Paula and Katherine hugged her the moment Julian brought her back to their group.

“Oh, I was just out in the garden,” Cherise said casually.

“It's freezing outside,” Logan said and frowned.

Cherise laughed at how much alike her brothers were, even though one was adopted.

“There was a blanket, and Julian gave me his suit jacket as soon as he found me,” she said. “Gosh, you should hear how Grandpa Alster humiliated the Amerys and that slutty Emely,’ Tristan laughed.

“And Agatha let him!” Paula exclaimed with joy.

Cherise wasn't really surprised that her grandpa would admonish the Amerys, but she didn’t think he would do it that night and in Agatha's house.

She looked around and asked, “Has Agatha retired to her bedroom?”

“Yes, she has," Julian replied. “Do you want to say goodbye to her before we go?"

Cherise nodded. “I think I should if she hasn't slept yet."

“Alright, we'll wait for you here,” Julian said as he took his suit jacket when Cherise handed it back to him.

Cherise easily found Agatha’s bedroom and knocked. “Agatha?”

A moment later, the door was opened by Agatha’s personal maid. “Please come in, Miss Cherise,” she smiled and moved sideways, giving room for Cherise to enter. “Madam has been waiting for you.”

Cherise stepped into the bedroom and saw Agatha was sitting on one of the couches.

“Agatha, I'm sorry to keep you up” Cherise felt guilty for making the old lady wait for her and not in bed already.

“Oh, you don't have to worry about it, dear” Agatha extended her hands, and Cherise took them, sinking into the couch beside the old lady.

“Agatha, I heard about what happened...” she bit her lips, feeling like she should apologize for her grandpa.

It wasn't that she was unhappy he decided to humiliate the Amerys, but to do it during Agatha's birthday and in front of her guests...

If it was the other way round, she has a feeling her grandpa would throw the guests out.

But how was she going to apologize without telling Agatha that Charles was her grandpa? Should she just tell her now? Agatha had been so kind to her, and maybe it would have been best if she had known about her identity as the heiress of the Alster family before anyone else. Cherise opened her mouth, ready to confess, but Agatha squeezed her hands and said, “You don't have to thank me, Cherise. It would be best to thank Charles Alster when you meet him next time. I'm sure Julian will bring you to meet his grandpa next month. He informed me he's going to hold a banquet to find a wife for Julian."

Cherise couldn't keep the surprise from her face. Did her grandpa really say that? The corners of her lips quivered into a smile that threatened to turn into a bellyful of laughter. She could already imagine Julian being surrounded by ladies looking for opportunities to throw themselves at him.

“He hasn't introduced the two of you yet, hasn't he?” Agatha asked, but Cherise could not answer her question.

Agatha patted her hand and comforted her as she saw the conflict in Cherise’s eyes. “Don’t worry, Cherise, Charles is a good man. He will not mind about your background, and I'm sure he will kick Julian's a*s if he ever mistreats you."

“Agatha!” Cherise gasped.

“I can say the word ass all I want, Cherise,” Agatha laughed. “But back to the serious business, yes, Charles scolded Hudson, Dahlia, Polly, and even that scheming woman."

“I'm sorry,’ Cherise apologized guiltily again. “It's because of me."

Agatha sighed and patted Cherise’s hand again. “It's not your fault, Cherise. If it was anyone's fault, it was mine. I should have known what Dahlia, Polly, and the staff at the Moonlight Villa did to you. When I learned about it, it was already too late.”

“Don’t blame yourself, Agatha,” Cherise quickly said. “Please. It wasn't your fault, either. I didn't tell you about what they did to me.”

“I wasn't being strict with Dahlia when I should have, and now she has corrupted Polly." Agatha sighed with regret.

“Agatha, you did the best you could under the situation,” Cherise tried to comfort the old lady. “I hope so, Cherise,” Agatha replied. “But I was still too soft, which is why I let Charles scold them. As you know, Dahlia never respected me, and since Polly is so close to her, she becomes just like her mother - arrogant and selfish. Hudson had prejudiced against those from the lower class also because of Dahlia. He thought everyone was like his gold-digging mother”

“I still want to thank you, though," Cherise said and smiled warmly at the old lady who had loved her ever since they met. “You let Charles Alster scold them in front of your guests. It must not have been easy for you.”

Agatha laughed. “Trust me when I say they deserved it. And you never have to thank me for anything, Cherise. I failed you during your marriage with Hudson.”

Cherise shook her head. “You didn't fail me. Hudson did. You were the only one who loved me, and I am very grateful for it” “You are such a sweet child,” Agatha sighed. “Hudson was really stupid to let you go."

“It's all in the past, Agatha," Cherise smiled, trying to comfort her. “I'm much better now without him, the evil mother-in-law and sister-in-law.”

“Don't forget to add that scheming woman,” Agatha smirked playfully, making Cherise laugh. “Alright, then, I'll let you sleep now," Cherise said and hugged the old lady. “Julian and everyone else are waiting for me."

“Thank you for coming, Cherise,” Agatha patted her back.

“I plan to visit you more often until you get sick of me’ Cherise laughed.

“You can try. Most probably, I will be the one chaining you to the basement, so you won't be able to do anything else other than accompany me every day," Agatha laughed as well. “Maybe I shouldn't visit you at all then,” Cherise said, and the two of them laughed together. “Well, Agatha, you need your sleep now,” Cherise said and stood up. “I'll see you next month." Agatha nodded, and Cherise turned to return to the ballroom to find it almost empty. She felt Dahlia and Polly staring daggers at her, but she ignored them and went to rejoin her brothers and friends.

“Ready to go?" Julian asked and helped her into her coat.

“Ready,” Cherise replied. She said bye to Logan and Tristan, who had asked their drivers to pick them up, while Paula and Katherine would spend the night at Julian's villa.

Once inside the car, Paula complained, “Cherise was going to let that gold-digging snake throw me out.”

Cherise laughed as she remembered what happened earlier. “Come on, Paula. You know, it was just a challenge. You wanted it to be dramatic when they learned you were Paula Laurent, the designer. I helped to make it come true."

“But it would be humiliating if I really was thrown out,” Paula grumbled.

“Tristan and Katherine wouldn't let it happen,” Cherise smiled.

“I so wouldn't let it happen, darlin," Katherine agreed and then laughed. “Be prepared to receive gifts from the snake. She will try to apologize and everything”

“Did you not throw away her gifts?" Paula asked, disgusted by the mere thought of eating or drinking or even wearing something Dahlia would send to her.

“Why would I?" Katherine gasped. “They were all expensive items. I sold them and bought what I wanted using the money."

Paula laughed. “I would've thrown them away, but you just gave me an idea of what to do." Julian heard what Katherine said and smiled. It was a great move for her to do. She was Katherine Sterling, so it wasn't a wonder she had an excellent mind for business.

Ever since he saw how efficient she was in directing and managing the “True Love’ campaign, he could see the determined businesswoman beneath her seductive layer.

When they reached Julian's villa, Paula helped Cherise out of her gown while Cherise helped Katherine. Then, the three women took a bath in their respective rooms before they gathered in Cherise’s room.

Cherise’s bed was custom-made and big enough for five to six people, so the girls decided to sleep on her bed while gossiping before going to sleep.

“Hudson seems to have changed," Paula said out of nowhere.

“I think so, too," Katherine agreed with her. “He agreed with Grandpa Alster to employ new staff for the evil mother- daughter duo, and the staff would be strict.”

“You guys believed him?” Cherise raised an eyebrow at her two best friends. “It's going to be difficult to find staff who can be strict with their employers.”

“It's doable as long as we have money,” Katherine said.

“Hmm...” Cherise finally agreed, though she didn’t know if anyone would be brave enough to put Dahlia in her place. “Paula, please don't dress me in another tight-fitting mermaid dress again,” she said without thinking.

“Why?” Paula said with surprise. Cherise had never complained or had any specific request ever.

“It's impractical. I can't fight when wearing such a tight dress,” Cherise shrugged.

“Why would you need to fight when wearing a dress?” Katherine asked curiously.

Cherise looked at her two best friends and told them what happened between her and Hudson in the garden.

“Wow...” Paula breathed out once Cherise finished her story. “Hudson found out what his mother and sister did to you and regretted it. Now he's trying to make amends to get you back.”

“No wonder he agreed with the staff thing” Katherine added.

“So, did you say yes, Cherise?” Paula asked. “Are you getting back together with him?"

Cherise scoffed and said, “I'm not that foolish to want to live in that hell all over again.”

“Are you sure, Cherise?” Now, it was Katherine's turn to ask her.