She spoke confidently and assertively, yet Damien sensed a tenderness within her. He offered Cherise a rueful smile. âBut Iâve already arranged so muchâ¦â The fatigue in Damienâs eyes was evident, his voice barely above a whisper.
âI donât care about your plans. Today, you need to rest in bed!â Cherise insisted gently, casing him back onto the bed. âDelay the tasks that can wait. As for the urgent tasksâ¦â She paused, chewing on her lip.
âTll handle them!â
He managed a faint smile, his eyes betraying his exhaustion as he looked up at her in exasperation.
You may not be able to manage it all.
âHow dare you say that?â Cherise countered, tucking his arms back under the covers. Iâll prove it to you today! Even if Iâve lost my memory. Iâm still your steadfast ally, fully capable of supporting you!â
Damien glanced at her, a touch of surprise flickering in his eyes. He remembered when Cherise had expressed her eagerness to assist at the company, mentioning her aspiration to become his right-hand woman. âAlright,â he agreed after a brief pause, a smile forming on his lips. âToday, Iâll lean on you, Mrs.
Lenoir.
âOkay!â Cherise nodded confidently. âYou get some rest!â
âMm. Only then did Damien exhale a sigh of relief, sinking into the covers and finally closing his eyes in peace. Cherise lingered by Damienâs side until his breathing steadied, then quietly slipped away.
Upon her departure. Cherise seized Damienâs phone. She had left explicit instructions for Mr. Hampson to keep a vigilant eye on Damien. âIf Damien stirs, make him go back to bed. And if he makes a fuss, donât hesitate to contact me! she commanded. Mr. Hampson settled into a chair beside Damien dutifully, his gaze unwavering as he observed the sleeping figure.
Meanwhile, in the quiet of the study. Cherise unlocked Damienâs phone to discover a message awaiting her. Janâs requests have been sent to your email. Please check it promptly and respond. A frown creased her forehead as she mulled over the name. Jan⦠The single person she had recollections of lan emerged as a paragon of virtue in the corridors of Cheriseâs memories. He was gentle, kind, and intellectually astute. He was Shawbury Highâs shining star, revered by all.
Ianâs support was a beacon during Cheriseâs academic journey. He had provided her with study materials for her SATs and encouraged her to strive for excellence. In those moments, she had harbored aspirations of emulating his path, envisioning herself attending a prestigious university to pursue à medical career.
The events that followed remained shrouded in the mist of Cheriseâs memory. Yet, Damien had hinted at her exceptional prowess as a surgeon. Thus, her past self must have been driven by ambition, scaling heights of accomplishment. With these musings swirling in her mind, Cherise turned her attention to Damienâs computer.
An obstacle presented itself in the form of a password-protected email account. Cheriseâs brow furrowed in concentration as she attempted various combinations-birthdates, personal details-all to no avail. Even their wedding anniversary date failed to grant her access.
Frustration tinged her efforts. She was reluctant to disturb Damienâs slumber and aware that the household staff wouldnât know their bossâ password. Eventually, she surrendered to defeat, casually inputting a password she frequently employed. To her astonishment, it worked.
Cheriseâs eyes widened in disbelief. This⦠this password wasnât a significant date or a unique symbol.
It was simply⦠a password she often used. Could it be that Damien had set his email password to match my frequently utilized password? Was he concerned I might face difficulty accessing his email?
A wry smile tugged at Cheriseâs lips. This man⦠he must certainly love me deeply