Chapter 411
Message To Cherise
The sturdy padlock on the entrance filled Cherise with a sense of unease. In broad daylight, the locked gates and the eerie absence of any signs of life puzzled her. Had her Uncle returned and wanted to remain unnoticed?
“Uncle! Aunt! Grandma!” She stood at the door, desperately pounding on the iron gates of Shaw Manor.
As the sky began to drizzle, Cherise remained at the gate, her voice now hoarse from shouting.
However, there was no response, and a feeling of unease washed over her, causing tears to well up in Cherise’s eyes.
“Uncle, Aunt, Grandma! Open the gate! It’s me, Cherry! I’m back!… Uncle, Aunt, Grandma!” Cherise’s voice, tinged with a sob, echoed in the rain.
Damien stood by her side, holding an umbrella, and remained silent. He knew she would have to face the truth sooner or later.
“Cherry?” The rain was coming down harder, and a man with an umbrella rushed over from a distance. “Stop knocking. Your Uncle’s family has already moved out.”
Jack was growing increasingly concerned and reached out to guide Cherise. “Let’s go to my place; we can talk there.”
Cherise looked up, her gaze distant. “Jack, do you think my uncle doesn’t want me anymore?”
“Of course not!” Jack took a deep breath and turned to Damien. “Come on, Mr. Lenoir, even if Cherry’s acting a bit out of sorts and doing things impulsively, why haven’t you stopped her? Instead, you’re going along with all this craziness!”
Damien furrowed his brow and then walked over, gently lifting Cherise and following Jack back to their home.
“Auntie Sarah, Sky, Tay, and Mrs. Shaw left several days ago,” Jack explained as they sat on the doorstep, looking at Cherise, who remained lost in thought. “Elvis mentioned that they wanted to find refuge.
“I tried to convince him and told him our village would protect them, and the people here have the utmost respect for your family. But he insisted on not involving the villagers and chose to move away
Cherise sat in the chair, allowing Jack’s wife to gently dry the rain from her head. “What else did my uncle say?”
“He mentioned that you should live your life to the fullest.”
Jack lit a cigarette, took a deep drag, and let out a heavy sigh. “He knows you’re a sensitive soul,
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“He also said…. Wait, I have something to show you.” He retrieved his phone. “Elvis mentioned that this video is for you.”
Cherise accepted the phone in a daze. On the screen, her Uncle’s face appeared.
He sat by the stream near the village entrance, looking serious. “Cherry, I had Jack show you this video. I believe that by the time you watch this, I’ll either be behind bars or no longer around. But don’t let sorrow consume you; we all have our own journeys.”
“The truth is, I haven’t done a whole lot of good in my life. The one thing I don’t regret is not. sending you away thirteen years ago.”
“You’re a kind-hearted kid, maybe a bit naive, but that’s okay.”
“I couldn’t bear the thought of you being dragged into a life filled with hidden agendas and criminal activities.”
“But Damien, he’s a good man. Live a happy life with him. He’ll take care of you and keep you
safe.”
“And if you ever find out the truth about what I arranged for you thirteen years ago, please don’t lose heart and think of divorce, okay?”
“When I discussed marrying you to Damien with Old Mr. Lenoir, I aimed for reconciliation.
“We’ve made his grandson unhappy for too long. It’s time we made amends.”
“Stay with Damien, and don’t worry about my affairs.”
“Your aunt and grandmother, they’re all innocent people. Don’t go looking for them. I’ve provided enough financial support for your aunt to start fresh with Sky and Tay.”
**
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