Marrying the Man in the Dark

Jacob emitted a quiet sound of acknowledgment, and his lips pressed together in a tight line as he nodded.

“Fair enough,” Lennon conceded. He took a deep breath, steeling himself before announcing. “I’ll gather my belongings and seek refuge at Lenoir Manor.”

Surprise flickered across Jacob’s features, and Damien interjected, “There’s no vacancy.”

“I’ll crash on the couch,” Lennon retorted, determination lacing his words.

“I’d rather let a stray dog crash on my couch,” Damien countered.

Lennon fell into a tense silence, grappling with the turn of events. Frustration bubbled within him. “D*mn it!” He hurled the pen from his grasp, watching it clatter against the floor. “Damien, are we even friends?” he seethed.

crash here,” Damien shot back, his brow wrinkling. Lucy’s warning echoed in his mind, her words from her last visit haunting him. “Don’t breathe a word to Lennon that I’ve been here. If you do, I’ll never return, even if Cherise is in

confront her here, you can still catch a glimpse of her from a distance outside. But if you do show up, she won’t return to Adania

words settled in. After a beat, Lennon offered a bitter smile on the video call, his voice

out a deep sigh, his tone weighted with emotion. “Let me correct you. You don’t love each other, he began. She loved you unconditionally, only to be left

have I done to her?!” he exclaimed, his voice trembling with emotion. “That’s not what I intended! I never meant to cause her any

you were with her, why not implement any precautions?” As a

icily before Jacob could conclude. “You’re not privy

call. “I’ve always… actually…” he began, trailing off. After a moment of silence, Lennon mustered a bitter smile and shook his head. “Forget it,”