Marrying the Man in the Dark

“This too shall pass.”

Lucy gently patted her back and sighed deeply, “Everything always does.”

“Cherry, it’s up to you whether the grudges from previous generations should affect your feelings. for Damien, Lucy said.

In the days that followed, Damien respectfully kept his distance from Cherise.

She underwent surgery, faced nightmares alone, and visited Charisa – all alone.

“Cherry,” Charisa said, leaning against her bed’s headboard and smiling. “Don’t let my issues affect your life.”

“Mom…”

Cherise’s mind wandered as she gazed out the window. “I have been absent from your life for nineteen years.”

“In your future, too, I’ll remain absent.”

“Your dad is no different – he’s not one to take care of others.”

“Acknowledging him requires dividing your attention, and it’s not glamorous.”

at Cherise, and

this period of your life

Damien must stay away from Maeve.”

hand and was at a loss for words.

made great sacrifices for

genuinely willing to sever ties with Maeve.

a glimmer of hope for them.

after leaving the

want to meet?”

“Okay,”

and Damien agreed to meet at her favorite coffee

with lan the last time she was

drink a cup of coffee that broke her heart that

an eerie sense of familiarity upon returning

had finished her coffee, Damien

him for a week.

weight and looked

familiar black suit neatly while his face was adorned with

with obsidian eyes and croaked out her name, “Cherry,”

was the first time Cherise heard him call her with such a strained voice.

“Hmm.”

raised her head a little, trying to muster her radiant smile.