Chapter 403 Apart From My Family, Youâre The Kindest To Me
After finishing vomiting and regaining her composure, Cherise slumped against the car door. She accepted the water Damien handed her and began rinsing her mouth.
âFeeling better now?â
âMm.â She looked at him, still slightly annoyed.
Damien nodded and settled her down on a rocky patch by the seaside. Cherise observed the sea at noon for the first time.
The distant coastline stood out against the clear sky, and the sea and sky blended seamlessly in various shades of blue, creating a tranquil panorama. By the sea, the gentle breeze offered a sense of comfort.
He embraced her from behind, allowing her to rest against his chest. âLet me guess why our lovely and gentle Mrs. Lenoir was crying.
âProbably because she believes that if she hadnât made that impulsive decision and fallen ill back then, her uncle wouldnât have resorted to such wicked acts to gather the money needed for her treatment. That way, my sister and I wouldnât be in this mess, right?â
Cheriseâs heart sank, and she bit her lip, nodding in silence. In the end, she felt responsible for everything.
What right or entitlement did she have to be by Damienâs side, enjoying his kindness and affection, when his tragic life was primarily her fault?
âButâŠâ
He nestled closer, resting his chin on her head, savoring the scent of her hair. âYou know, those who aimed to harm Maeve and me were lurking around, with or without you in the picture.
âDo you really think that if you hadnât fallen ill and your uncle hadnât done what he did, my sister and I wouldâve had an easy, worry-free life?â
Cheriseâs entire b*dy tensed up. It was so obvious that even a child could see it. But if her Uncle Elvis really did those things to Damien and MaeveâŠ
How could she ever come to terms with this painful truth?
She couldnât bring herself to blame her uncle for what he did for her sake.
And as for comforting Damien? Cherise felt she had lost that right after what her uncle had done to him and his family.
Her thoughts were all tangled up. With a deep breath, her voice shook as she said, âDamien⊠My
dearâŠâ
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Cherise sniffled, her thoughts veering toward a topic she couldnât quite articulate. Divorce seemed impossible to broach, even though it was on her mind. Her nose and eyes stung as tears flowed uncontrollably.
She didnât want to leave Damien; he was her source of joy and the cornerstone of her life. But her guilt weighed heavily, rendering her speechless.
âWhy did you stop using those endearing names?â Damien retorted with a hint of bitterness in his voice.
He chuckled softly, wiping away the tears that clung to the corners of her eyes. âItâs okay. You donât have to call me âmy dearâ if you donât want to.â
âIâll call you âmy dearâ whenever I want.â
He held her close and gazed at the distant sky. âListen, my dear.
âIn my life, I wonât marry anyone else besides you. If you decide to leave. I wonât stop you. I promise you that.â
âBut if you choose to leave, Iâll be all alone until the day I die.â
Cheriseâs heart ached deeply. She sniffled, biting her lip and wrestling with her tears.
âNo, you wonât. You have Blake, Mr. Kolson, Frances, and Mr. Hampson. And thereâs Lennon, andâŠ
âBut theyâre not you, my dear.â
He gently nibbled on her earlobe and whispered, âWhen you went inside with Mandy and the others, I was contemplating what Iâd do if you wanted to leave me.â
Cherise pressed her lips together, her breath catching in her throat. âSo⊠Have you⊠thought it through?â
âI have.â
He smiled. âIn this world, apart from my parents and sister, youâve been the kindest to me.â
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