Damien drew a deep breath and spoke with conviction. âWith the exception of a few jests, Iâve always been truthful with you, Cherise.â
His dark eyes met hers firmly, his expression unwavering. âIâve never deceived you, not in the the present.
He continued, gentle yet resolute. âEarlier, when you questioned me, I could have easily dismissed Sebastianâs claims as fabrications to earn your trust. With your trust in me, with the feelings you hold for me, you would believe me, wouldnât you?â
Cherise tensed visibly, grappling with conflicting emotions.
Yesâ¦
She would have readily believed him if Damien had qutright denied Sebastianâs accusations.
But he didnât.
Damien drew a deep breath, his steps deliberate as he approached Cherise, his voice gentle. âCherise, please consider this carefully.â
âEvery time youâve sought answers about your past, Iâve promised to disclose everything gradually once the timing was right.â
âIâve never lied to you.â
The way Iâve treated you, Iâve simply chosen not to reveal certain things rather than actively deceiving you.
Cheriseâs lips tightened, her hands slowly unclenching Despite this, she instinctively retreated, creating a considerable distance between herself and âExcessive secrecy,â Sebastian remarked nonchalantly from his wheelchair positioned behind be more detrimental than deception.â
Perhaps Cherise and Damienâs responses didnât align with his anticipations, prompting the man his trump card directly.
With a signal, the individual behind him presented evidence of Charisaâs demise and a photo depict Maeve stabbing Charisa at Cherise and Damienâs wedding.
âCherise,â Sebastianâs tone was firm, his words laden with implication. âHad I not revealed the truth today, he would have perpetually obscured it from you. Can you condone such secrecy?â
He paused, allowing the weight of his words to sink in. âYour motherâs life, the injustices she faced, and the marriage treated as a mere transaction-all hidden from you. Donât you see? If he had kept all of this from you, you would have willingly spent your life with him.â
At this moment, Damien and Sebastian found themselves at opposite ends of the library hall, their presence commanding attention.
Cherise stood between them, a pivotal figure caught in the tension between two opposing forces.
Despite the disbelief etched across her countenance, her body subtly gravitated towards Sebastian.
Damienâs eyes narrowed ever so slightly, a subtle indication of the turmoil within.
The bodyâs instinctive reactions are often telling and cannot deceive those attuned to them.
Despite Cheriseâs current hesitation to distance herself from him, there lies a logical belief in Sebastianâs words within her.
As for delving into the complexities of their shared past, Damien found himself at a loss, unsure of where to even begin unraveling the intricacies of their history.
The man could only close his eyes momentarily, collecting his thoughts before addressing Cherise.
âCherise,â he began, his voice tinged with a mixture of remorse and sincerity.
âThroughout our journey together, whether I treated you with kindness or failed you, you should understand by now.â He paused his words carrying a weight of emotion.
âI hold you in the highest esteem, cherishing your presence and valuing you deeply. For quite some time, Iâve regarded you as someone I want to share a lifetime with.â
Sebastian sneered contemptuously, his tone dripping with sarcasm. âHow delightful,â he remarked derisively.
âIâll concede, your affection for her is genuine, and I trust you wouldnât intentionally harm her.â He paused, his expression hardening.
âBut is it your genuine feelings that drive you to desire her to forget all the anguish, to 1 amnesiac and spend her life with you?â
âDamien,â Sebastian continued, unfazed by the venom in Damienâs glare, âYour love seems rather self-
centered, doesnât it?â
Damienâs icy gaze bore into Sebastian, silencing him with a sharp retort. âEnough!â
Sebastian was momentarily caught off guard, his composure shaken by the intensity of Damienâs hateful glare.
But the moment of vulnerability swiftly passed.
After that, with a placid smile, he persisted, reminding Damien of the weight of their shared past. âIf I hadnât spoken up, could you truly move beyond the shadows that linger from your history?â
Damienâs response was swift and cutting, his words laden with regret. âPerhaps I shouldnât have merely crippled your legs previously.â unravel, but this isnât the time nor place for me to explain properly.â