“Madam, wasn’t your trip to Europe meant to be a getaway? Why then…”
Why bring textbooks?
Homework, perhaps?
Cherise chuckled sheepishly, “The finals are approaching… I need to prepare for it…”
Moved, Frances quietly unpacked the books. “Madam, you are truly a hard worker…”
Head bowed, engrossed in her phone, Cherise silently nodded.
On the screen, a list was sent from Lucy.
“I want postcards from Europe!”
“Designer clothes from France!”
“British comestics!”
“And… Perfumes!”
Overwhelmed, Cherise retorted, “Sis, you never wear perfumes.”
“Right.”
Silence befell Lucy, but not for long.
“I don’t care, I want it! Consider it my alluring post-singlehood!”
“And don’t forget everything else I listed!”
Resigned, Cherise acquiesced helplessly. “Alright, I’ll buy them all.”
Post-chat, she took a screenshot of the list and forwarded it to Lennon. “Your move.”
Lennon was left with o
“Fine, I’ll get them.”
words.
Lying in bed, phone in her hands, Cherise could not contain her grin.
Damien entered the room and caught the sight of his wife giggling like a silly kid over her phone.
1/3
He approached her leisurely, sat on the bed, glimpsed at the phone, and affectionately ruffled her hair. “Little smarty.”
Embarra*sed, Cherise stuck out her tongue. “Anyway, I have no clue about the stuff she’d asked for.”
“Lennon’s lived here for years; surely he knows better.”
Damien smiled faintly. “We’ll see.”
With that, he picked up the phone and showed her the chat.
Seconds later, Lennon sent him Lucy’s wish list.
“Do me a favor at your convenience.”
Cherise was speechless.
Annoyed, she snatched Damien’s phone and replied in a voice message. “Lennon Belcourt, can you put in a little effort?”
A long silence was followed by Lennon’s innocent voice. “I’ve never courted a girl, and I don’t know what to buy…”
Fuming. Cherise shot back. “Neither has my husband! He’s clueless too!”
“He knows…”
A pitiful Lennon retorted. “He recently did a huge shopping for a woman…”
His words were cut off as Damien seized the phone.
Startled, Cherise gazed up at Damien. “What did he say you bought a lot of…?”
Damien, fist to his lips, coughed lightly. “Time to go.”
Cherise eyed him doubtfully, then turned her attention to Frances, who was still packing.
Unaware, Frances shook her head.
Damien became uncomfortable as he threw an awkward gaze at Frances, then muttered, “Let me get Mr. Hampson to help with the luggage.”
With that, his towering shadow whisked away into thin air.
Cherise was dumbfounded.
2/3
Is he hiding something!?
Before departing, Cherise meticulously calculated the distance between Adania and Italy on the map.
By her estimation, they would… Transit in Serenity Falls.
Yet, Damien led her through the VIP channel and straight onto a private jet.
Her first flight, a private one.
Aboard, excited and undisguised, she buckled up tightly and glanced around eagerly-she was the very picture of a child on her first flight.
