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?”

“You

doesn’t want to change

name Shaw holds more weight than

you belittling yourself

change her name, to never return to

this way, no matter the truth, she would remain the

sharing this title with

“Silence!”

shot her an angry glare, then turned to Cherise. “Cherise, are you still considering changing your name?”

lips and looked earnestly at Mr. Tanner. “No.”

made up my mind. I want to take my

identity to the public and provide me with shelter, you may do

was taken aback. He probably had not expected the once hesitant Cherise

your mother’s surname

you intend to take the

patted his head and chuckled in realization. “How foolish of

never hers to begin with. It was only after

should be

name Cherise Neller is a bit

replied, “I’d still

with my mother

“Mother…”