Chapter 168 Cherise the Fool?
Why is this mall so deserted?
As if he could read her mind, Damien spoke softly. âThis mall belongs to the Lenoirs.â
Then, it made sense why the mall was open only for them. âBut the weekend is the time. when malls make the most profit. Closing abruptly like this would cause losses, wouldnât it?â Cherise asked.
Damien smiled gently. âThis mallâs in the Lenoir name, but itâs actually owned by Tristan. If it loses money, thatâs on him.â
Cherise pursed her lips. âThen so be it!â Her determined tone elicited a chuckle from Damien. âYou dislike him that much, huh?â
âOf course!â Just the mention of the name made Cherise feel disgusted.
âHeâs not inherently a bad person,â the man sighed. âsince you want him to suffer, we should take more of those expensive things.â
He continued, âWe donât need to pay for anything here.â
Cherise responded with an enthusiastic cheer. âOh yeah!â But what did he mean by âexpensive things? She didnât have a clue.
She pushed Damien around the mall for a while, buying a smart foot bath to relax her grandmaâs tired feet, a ma*sager and a phone for her uncle and aunt, and a bunch of health supplements to improve her familyâs overall health.
Finally, in the stationary section, she bought two college prep textbooks for Sky and Tay, her twin cousin brothers.
Seeing the gifts she chose for her cousin brothers, Damien couldnât help but laugh out loud. âTheyâre going to hate you.â
Cherise carefully wrapped the exercise books, her movements precise and efficient. âWhy would they hate me? Theyâre about to enter their senior year and need this!â
Damienâs faint smile softened his angular features, âNot everyone is as fond of studying as
you are.â
âBut for them, studying is their only way out of the mountain village.â
Cherise became serious, her eyes dark and bright. âThe children in the mountain village have to work very, very hard to have a better life than those in the city.â
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Looking at Cheriseâs glistening eyes, Damienâs heart twinged slightly. âAnd what about. you? How hard did you work back then?â
Cherise smiled. âIâm smart, so I only needed to study for twelve hours a day!â
He gestured for her to come over. She obediently approached.
The man pulled her into his arms. âStudying for twelve hours a day⊠isnât that tiring?â
âNot at all!â
The young girl shook her head and playfully pecked his face, leaving a mark. âBesides, I donât have any other skills. If studying harder can give my uncle, aunt, and grandmother a better life, even if I have to study for eighteen hours, Iâm willing to do it!â.
Damienâs grip on Cheriseâs arm tightened imperceptibly. âYou only need to live well for yourself.â
Cherise shook her head. âThat would be too selfish.â
âMy uncle, aunt, and grandmother raised me. And I must care for them and ensure they have a good life. Although I donât have much ability now, when I become a doctor, I can support them!â
Damien gazed into Cheriseâs delicate features and let out a faint sigh.
Damien had never met anyone like Cherise before, someone who strived to better herself, loved life, and cherished the world.
If it werenât for Cherise, he probably would never have realized how hard those born into poverty must work to secure a better life.
The past thirteen years had been a blur of loneliness and hatred.
He resented the Lenoir family for not valuing him, resented himself for not being able to exact revenge on his enemies, and resented the world for taking his loved ones away one by one.
Before, Damien always thought that people who loved life, like the ones in TV shows and novels, were fictional.
The world was so cold and indifferent that only a fool would genuinely treat others with kindness.
Until Cherise, the fool he had always despised, came into his life.
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