She smiled at him, her demeanor calm yet determined. âI have a gift for you, Ian,â 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 everyoneâs surprise.
âTake him back to the mental hospital,â she instructed, her voice steady. She took a moment to gather herself before continuing, âHis presence is no longer needed.â
âMrs. Lenoir, are you absolutely sure?â Ottoâs grip tightened on Ian as he posed the question, his concern evident on his wrinkled brows. Damien had emphasized to Otto about Ianâs role in recovering Cheriseâs 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.
âYes,â Cherise affirmed, drawing a deep breath. âEven if my memories remain elusive, I no longer require his presence.â 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 Damienâs number one priority. Yet, she refused to allow Damien to be so subservient or constrained, even if it was for her sake.
âCherise!â Ian fought against Ottoâs restraint, his voice teeming with desperation. âCherise, what I saidâ
before were lies, I swear⦠You might not recall Damien now, but you remember me. You know what sort of person I am.â
âWhat I said earlier-Damien made me say it⦠Reallyâ¦â Ianâs gaze bore into Cherise, his expression fraught with pain and anguish. âI never meant to address you in that manner⦠This whole situation is Damienâs doing. This is his and Ottoâs scheme!â
âIs that so?â Cherise retorted with a scoff. âBut it was my choice to be here. Having this conversation was also my idea.â
She gazed into Ianâs eyes. âIan, youâre quite the performer. If it wasnât for what you said, I wouldnât 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.
Youâve probably said the same to countless other girls.â
âThank you,â Cherise added, offering lan an indifferent smile. âYouâve taught me a valuable lesson.â
lan was taken aback. âWhat is it?â
âIt shows that what you witness might not always be the whole truth. Moreover, I canât take othersâ
words at face value. Take him away,â she commanded before briskly leaving the room.
As the swung the door open and stepped into the corridor, a frown creased Cheriseâs brow, and she turned to glance at Otto. âBy the way, Otto, if Iâm about to meet someone dangerous, can you ensure I May safe?â
keep you protected.â After a momentary pause, he locked eyes with Cherise. âBut if you want to face a dangerous individual, Mrs. Lenoir, itâd be best for Mr. Lenoir to be there with you.â
âOtherwise, Mr. Lenoir wonât rest easy. And Iâd strongly suggest steering clear of any risky encounters without his knowledge,â Otto advised. Despite his recent return to the country, Otto had already shown himself reliable, as others had attested.