Marrying the Man in the Dark

“Mom hid her illness from us…”

Beckham lifted his gaze, his eyes drawn to the woman behind the glass isolation door.

It was the first time he’d seen her since their painful separation nineteen years ago.

He had yearned for her return for nearly two decades, clinging to the belief that she still loved. him, but he couldn’t understand why she’d leave him.

Beckham had always believed Charisa was under duress, forced to leave by some unspeakable circumstance, and that she would one day return.

But…

When he learned about Charisa from his father, a wave of guilt, helplessness, and regret washed over him.

Beckham ached for a reunion with Charisa, to make amends for the sacrifices she’d made over the past nineteen years, to embrace the daughter they’d created together.

His father mentioned her tarnished reputation, hinting that Charisa wouldn’t be accepted and regarded as Mrs. Tanner again, even if they reconciled.

It was no secret that Charisa had been involved with several men in the past, back when she was still a Miles.

Beckham didn’t care

been

of it was her

love for her was an unyielding force, resilient

had painted countless reunion scenarios, envisioning them

imagined that their reunion would be under such dire circumstances, with Charisa lying unconscious behind a glass

face as he gazed upon the woman imprisoned within the sterile chamber.

memories from their shared past and youthful days washed over him, back to their innocent childhood and wedding after college

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expressed her preference for successful

aspirations of becoming an independent musician and devoted himself to

But she….

had ever expressed

had failed in the past, and now, what of the

be any future for them?

father’s devastated form, Cherise’s hands clenched

her pulled her into a

the unexpected gesture, but Damien’s familiar scent soon calmed