Marrying the Man in the Dark

“Brilliant!” Beckham exclaimed, his excitement palpable as he tightened his grip on Cherise’s hand. “Do I look alright? First impressions are important, especially when meeting your aunt, your mom’s sister.”

“You look fantastic. Absolutely dashing,” Cherise assured him, a warm smile spreading across her face.

Seeing Beckham like this, any flicker of resentment that Gwenn had ignited in Cherise’s heart sputtered and died.

No matter how he treated her, Cherise knew deep down that Beckham still held her mother dear. Her mother had passed away years ago, yet her father’s anxiety about meeting her family was evident. Perhaps his awkward attentiveness was just another layer of grief.

Beckham had barely taken a few steps when he abruptly stopped, spinning around as if he had remembered something. Gwenn remained rooted to the spot, her face unreadable.

his brow, a hint of annoyance flashing across his eyes. “Gwenn, come on. Let’s meet

voice monotone. “She was your

that, she shrugged nonchalantly. “I won’t intrude on your family reunion. I

reached for the doorknob, Beckham’s voice cut through the air.

a glittering, barely-there ensemble, with distaste. “Cherry said her aunt has

color. “No way! I’ll

sense was a ticking time bomb. What if she showed up

not known for being a party animal, Beckham

to Priscilla’s closet seemed like a strategic move for damage control. With her

was just

Gwenn and Cherise were his daughters, deserving a place at

since Cherise’s return, Gwenn had been a distant presence. Beckham longed to bridge the gap, hoping this reunion would mend their fractured bond. He didn’t realize that the divide ran deeper than any