While Sebastian had a penchant for dredging up the past in any circumstance, Damien found himself


    unable to follow suit.


    Here, the assemblyprised entirely of journalists.


    Surrounded by journalists both inside and outside, each one acting as a potential megaphone, he


    refrained from delving into Charisa’s history.


    If Damien were to reveal the details of Charisa’s past troubles to Cherise, particrly how Charisa


    instructed Elvis to start a fire and cause harm, it would open a Pandora’s box of consequences.


    Such revtions would impact Cherise and implicate several families associated with those events.


    The Tanner, Miles, Lenoir, and Shaw families would all be thrust into the spotlight, facing scrutiny and.


    potential scandal.


    This was especially concerning considering Charisa’s tragic demise five years earlier.


    As Cherise’s husband, Damien couldn’t bear the thought of Charisa’s affairs being discussed and


    ridiculed.


    “Is it too difficult to exin? Or are you deliberately avoiding it?”


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    “Is it that you can’t exin or that you haven’t found a way to exin it?” Sebastian’s smile was


    taunting. his words cutting.


    With a furrowed brow, Sebastian’s hand moved to massage his temple, a troubled expression clouding


    his features. “This shouldn’t be happening,” he murmured.


    “Damien, it’s been nearly a week since you drugged Cherise to erase her memory, hasn’t it?”


    Sebastian’s tone was usatory, his words cutting through the tense atmosphere like a knife.


    “What’s the holdup? Still haven’t concocted a n to deceive her after all this time?” He pressed, his


    gaze unwavering as he awaited a response.


    “Or is it…”


    His slender eyes briefly flicked towards Cherise, a silent challenge shimmering within their depths. “Or


    do


    you dare to believe that Cherise will obediently adhere to yourmands, naively trusting that this web


    of deceit will never unravel? Have you yet to contrive a scheme to ensnare her with falsehoods?”


    Sebastian’s words ignited murmurs among the assembled onlookers, their whispers like a faint breeze


    through the room.


    Cherise remained motionless, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.


    Raising her gaze, her eyes now tinged with the crimson of raw emotion; she locked onto his.


    “Is what he said true?” she demanded, her voice quivering with vulnerability.


    “If…”


    She sniffed, tears tracing silent paths down her checks. “If any elucidation exists for past events, I


    implore you to disclose it to me now.”


    “If there’s no exnation,” she continued, her voice tinged with resignation, “then the truth remains:


    your sister’s actions at our wedding caused harm to my mother, and our union was nothing more than a


    transaction…”


    Cherise’s fingers trembled with the magnitude of this revtion. “Then… how could I love you?”


    A profound darkness shadowed Damien’s eyes, casting a somber hue upon his countenance.


    He pressed his lips together tightly, his voice carrying a restrained air of pride.


    “Return with me,” he implored, his voiceced with desperation. Tll rify everything. I’ll exin, but


    definitely not here.


    “You’re stalling, aren’t you?” Sebastian interjected, his sneer cutting through the tension.


    On the journey back, you’ll have ample time to craft your lies. Or perhaps you have no intention of


    exining at all. You could simply erase Cherise’s memory once again, using drugs to wipe away this


    inconvenient truth. Then, you’ll still be the man she loves, and she’ll continue to follow you blindly.”


    Sebastian’s words delivered the final blow, shattering Cherise’s fragile trust in Damien.


    Lost in the whirlwind of doubt, she found herself unable to grasp the true essence of Damien, let alone


    Sebastian.


    Confusion clouded her mind as she struggled to discern her own emotions and the reality of her


    situation.


    In the midst of the chaos, neither man’s words resonated with sincerity.


    “Cherise,” Damien pleaded, his gaze imploring her to see beyond the turmoil.


    He conceded, recognizing that in the span of thirty years, he had never stooped to such depths of


    compromise.


    Yet, in that pivotal moment, he clung to a flicker of hope, praying that the Cherise before him would


    recognize the enduring bond they had forged and choose to apany him back home.


    But hope was a fragile thing, easily shattered by the harsh realities.


    “Cherise,” Sebastian delicately curved his lips into a smile, his slender eyes unwaveringly locked onto


    Cherise’s visage. “Damien has been deceiving you.”