Marrying the Man in the Dark

“Cherise”

Mr. Tanner spoke with a furrowed brow during dinner. His voice was low and filled with concern, “Do you have something on your mind?”

Cherise quickly snapped back to reality. “No, nothing.”

“You’re telling me there’s nothing bothering you?”

Gwenn retorted with an eye-roll, her tone laced with annoyance. “You just reached for the food in my bowl, didn’t you?”

Cherise was taken aback.

She quickly realized she had indeed extended her fork into Gwenn’s bowl, even picking up a piece of vegetable from it.

She withdrew her hand at once, gave an embarrassed smile, and lowered her head to continue eating.

“Cherise, what did you do today?”

Mr. Tanner sighed softly and asked.

“Both your father and Damien are busy today. It’s just the three of us here at dinner tonight. If something’s troubling you, let me know.”

Cherise shook her head. “It’s… nothing.”

“What else could it be?”

an icy demeanor. “You must be reluctant

thought, she laughed lightly and looked at Mr. Tanner. “Grandpa, if she doesn’t want to change her name and return to her Tanner roots, then

name Shaw holds more weight than our renowned Tanner family.”

why are you belittling yourself like

to change her name, to never return

matter the truth, she would remain the only Miss Tanner in the family.

she would not be sharing this title with

“Silence!”

angry glare, then turned to

pursed her lips and looked earnestly at

I’ve made up my mind. I want

public and provide me with shelter, you may do it anytime. But please say I’ve taken my mother’s

not expected the once hesitant Cherise to have such a resolute

“Taking your mother’s surname isn’t out of the question.

the surname

and chuckled

only after her marriage that she

it should be Neller, right?”

bit of a mouthful.

still prefer

my

“Mother…”