âStruggling with words, huh?â Her gaze shifted to him, a glint of unfamiliar animosity flickering in her eyes. âWe have an arranged marriage. Whyâd your sister plunge a knife into my mother at our wedding.
leading to her untimely demise?â She couldnât fathom what he was hiding. âCanât you just explain this to me?â Her words hung in the air, stark and unyielding.
âThere are too many players in the game,â Damien responded, a bitter smile tugging at his lips as he shut his eyes momentarily. âBut if youâre up for it, I can explain everything in detail.â
âAre you stalling to conjure up a tale?â Cheriseâs lips pursed, memories of Sebastianâs warning echoing in her mind. âYouâve had ample time on the ride home to concoct a story to fool me.â As Cherise said these words, she couldnât help but recall Sebastianâs insinuations. With a sneer, she retorted, âYou want to explain everything to me in detail? Are you simply putting it off, as Sebastian implied?â
âIf I were concocting a tale, would I go to such lengths?â Damienâs eyes narrowed slightly as he advanced towards her, purposeful steps backing her into a corner against the wall. âCherise, from this moment forward, I wonât tolerate that tone from you again.â
âYouâre disregarding my feelings, and youâve never grasped how much you mean to me,â he continued.
his gaze brimming with a dangerous fervor. âDo you realize the magnitude of memories youâve lost?â
âAll of them,â he emphasized. âYouâve lost every memory from the past two decades. Weâve known each other for almost six years. Thatâs nearly two thousand days. You expect me to untangle our memories in a matter of minutes and elucidate it to you swiftly? This is utterly impossible!â
Cherise felt a jolt as Damienâs gaze bore into her. She nervously bit her lip, meeting his stare with silence.
âI know youâre stubborn,â Damien began, his voice measured yet firm. âOnce youâve set your mind to something, nothing sways you. It doesnât matter how you see me now-as a stranger, an adversary, or a lover. But Cherise, heed my warning. Until your memory returns, take care of yourself. Eat your meals properly and wait for my explanations.â
âDonât try my patience. You know me well enough,â he continued, rising abruptly. âI have plenty of tricks to ensure you eat your meals.â With a cold finality, he instructed, âFrances, prepare another meal. for the lady. If she refuses, keep making food until she complies.â
A chill crept down Cheriseâs spine. She pouted, feeling a pang of betrayal. âYou were so kind to me once⦠Is this who you truly are?â Just days ago, she never wouldâve imagined that Damien, who had shown her such kindness, would utter such harsh words.
âCherise, even if you regard me as your foe, Damienâs laughter cut through the air, icy and mocking. He turned away, dismissing her with a cold chuckle. âItâs in your best interest to eat your meals. Otherwise, youâll find yourself incapable of seeking justice for your mother!â With that, he slammed the door shut, paying no heed to Cheriseâs turmoil on the other side.
Alone in the room, Cherise stared at the closed door, her expression hollow. Tears silently flowed down.
her cheeks as she sank to the floor in despair. She had hoped that her assertiveness would elicit some semblance of understanding from him. Yet, his resolve was unyielding. She finally realized that men were terrifying when they were being merciless.
ââ14 Cherise okay?â Marve, seated downstairs spotted Damien descending and rose from the sofa.
âShould I explam the situation back then to her?â
âWhat transpired back then was my faultâ¦â Maeveâs face contorted with shame as she confessed. âI canât forgive myself if my actions continue to affect you and Cheriseâ¦
âItâs alright,â Damien murmured wearily, closing his eyes and slumping onto the sofa. âHer thoughts are utterly poisoned by Sebastian. Even if you explain, it wonât make a difference.â
âWhat should we do then?â Maeveâs anxiety was palpable. She paced back and forth in the living room.
âWhy did you go up and argue with her again? Sheâs already harboring misconceptions about you.
Arenât you thinking clearly?â
âThereâs no alternative. Weâll have to apologize to Cherise later.â Damien admitted with a helpless smile. âRight now, she sees me as an adversary. Even if I treat her kindly, sheâll perceive it as deception. Itâs better to provoke her and position myself against her. Sheâll take better care of herself despite her animosity towards me.â
As Damien finished speaking, Frances hurried down the stairs, excitement evident in her voice. âMr.
Lenoir, Mrs. Lenoir has eaten! She even asked for seconds!â
It seems she was truly famished, Damien remarked with a faint smile. Prepare more delicacies tailored to her preferences.â
âAlright!â Frances nodded eagerly. She had just turned away before she hesitated as if remembering something. âMr. Lenoir, Mrs. Lenoir⦠was just⦠cursing you.â
âItâs a positive sign that she has the energy to curse me, Damien remarked, a slightly amused smile on his lips. âLet her vent.â
âI believe the priority now is to expedite the investigation on Jacobâs end,â Maeve interjected, her lips pressed into a thin line as she glanced at Damien. âCheriseâs hostility towards you is concerning. Sheâs bound to get into trouble sooner or later.â
Damien nodded confidently. âI have a plan to address it.â
As night descended, Cherise paced her room restlessly after eating. Opening the door, she found two bodyguards stationed outside. Peering out the window, Cherise spotted another pair stationed below.
Frustration mounting, she reached for her phone, only to discover that the internet had been disconnected. Cherise felt a sense of helplessness wash over her. It appeared Damien was resolute-in confining her.
Taking a deep breath, she urged herself to remain calm as she reclined on the bed. Damienâs expectation for her to yield loomed, but she couldnât bring herself to comply. She refused to believe that Damien could confine her indefinitely or surveil her every move for the rest of her days.
With a sigh, she closed her eyes, attempting to quell the fluctuating emotions that had plagued her throughout the day. Exhaustion weighed heavily upon her, exacerbated by the dayâs events and the hearty dinner she had consumed. Succumbing to weariness, she yawned, allowing herself to sink into the softness of the mattress, unknowingly drifting into slumber.
In her dreams, she sensed the door creaking open slowly. Someone settled on the edge of her bed,