Marrying the Man in the Dark

The man shook his head in mild bemusement, a faint smile playing on his lips. “It’s not particularly urgent.”

Cherise’s response was quick and relentless. “Still, let’s give it a listen. What if it’s truly significant?”

“Mr. Whitlock emphasized its importance when he contacted me…”

Unable to dissuade her, Damien closed the bedroom door with a resigned sigh, then proceeded to remove his coat before reclining on the bed, drawing Cherise close into his embrace.

“How about this: we listen together, and afterward, you can get some rest?”

Cherise nodded in agreement, her lips slightly pursed. “Alright.”

As Damien inhaled the scent of her hair, he pressed play on the voice recorder—

The night enveloped them in quietude as they lay intertwined.

Cherise’s expression oscillated between shock and embarrassment, while Damien’s eyes held a hint of amusement.

The room was filled with the voices emanating from the recorder.

“Your husband isn’t aware of our rendezvous, correct?”

“No, he’s oblivious, and he’ll remain so… Does your wife suspect anything?”

“That old hag, ugh!”

closer, my love, come

“Embrace me…”

found herself speechless.

Whitlock had stressed the significance of the

the clandestine affair of unfamiliar

volume escalating and

woman’s

the sounds persisted, relentlessly

beneath the blanket. “Um… dear, perhaps you should

tease her a bit. “But isn’t this what you wanted me to hear?”

mischievous grin, he lifted the blanket. “Shall

Gritting her teeth, she began to voice her frustration about Mr. Whitlock. “I thought… I

everything he said… but I never

her to

so good about listening

How mortifying!

no harm, Cherise.”

a hint of amusement. “Didn’t you

silently. “He

“Mm.”