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?”

with an icy demeanor. “You must be reluctant to change your

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

last name Shaw holds more weight than our renowned Tanner

are you belittling yourself like

Cherise never to change her

the truth, she would remain

would not be sharing

“Silence!”

to Cherise. “Cherise, are

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

I want to take

the Tanner family wishes to announce my identity to the public and provide me with shelter, you

taken aback. He probably had not expected the

table. “Taking your mother’s surname isn’t out

to take the surname

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

hers to begin with. It was only after her marriage that she took her

it should be Neller,

is a bit of a mouthful. How

still

met with my mother today.”

“Mother…”