Chapter 321 Unrelenting Agony
Back then, there was a stark contrast between Mandy and Cherise. Little did she know, the elegant Mandy, oozing confidence and aloofness, had been meticulously molded to perfection. Little did anyone know, deep down, that a vulnerable little girl was residing within her. After all, she was merely nineteen years old.
As for Cherise, who was also nineteen, had her thoughts occupied with books and exams. day in and day out. However, the nineteen-year-old Mandy had already gone through the most excruciating pain.
“I won’t let that happen,” Cherise sighed deeply gently patting Mandy’s back. “My husband… your brother-in-law, he’s remarkable; he’s capable of anything. You need to trust us, alright?”
Mandy smiled softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
She remained silent for a while before eventually locking eyes with Cherise. “I don’t believe in him-I believe in you.”
With those words, the young girl’s features underwent a sudden distortion. A sharp surge of pain washed over her, causing her to unconsciously convulse and grasp Cherise’s hand, unintentionally leaving it crimson.
“Cherry!” Jacob rapidly approached, but Mandy clamped down on Cherise’s hand, turning it bright red.
Her complexion paling from the pain, Cherise showed no inclination to withdraw her
hand.
If it hurt me this much, then Mandy must be experiencing something far worse.
Cherise had witnessed her grandmother suffer heart attacks, but it was never like this, never this agonizing.
She closed her eyes and, after a moment, fixed her gaze on Jacob. “Is our only option to plead with S to destroy that control terminal?”
Jacob furrowed his brow. “Not exactly. My team found that the chip controlling her was manufactured by the Tanner Family in Europe. Given their knowledge of chip production, they likely possess the means to deactivate it.”
“Dame has already established contact with the Tanner Family,” Jacob continued, “but….it seems they are unwilling to share the method of deactivating the chips.”
Cherise pressed her lips together. “What if Damien and I approach S?”
Considering she was Damien’s real sister, perhaps he could persuade her…
“No, you mustn’t…”
Amid her agony, Mandy lifted her head and shook it in response to Cherise’s proposal. “Absolutely not…”
“But…” Cherise said, then pursed her lips, her heart aching watching Mandy’s distressed expression.
“If possible, do everything you can to never cross paths with her in your lifetime…”
“She…” Mandy closed her eyes and left the sentence unfinished.
Fleeting recollections of S’ words floated hazily in her mind: “The fire that happened. thirteen years ago was actually related to the Shaws. That woman is utterly unworthy of marrying my younger brother.”
Cherise’s discomfort lingered as she traveled back to her villa from Jacob’s clinic. The haunting image of Mandy’s anguish was etched deep in her thoughts. She could vividly. picture Mandy, her hands tangled in her hair, ruthlessly banging her head against the ground and walls. The sheer intensity of her suffering was unmistakable. Even Cherise, who prided herself on her physical strength, knew that managing Mandy’s torment would have been impossible without Jacob’s assistance. Mandy was clearly enduring pain that would have driven anyone else to desire death.
Cherise clenched her hands tightly, the skin on her palms paling under the pressure. Before encountering Mandy’s suffering, each time Damien spoke of his sister, his words. had been imbued with admiration, describing her as beautiful and gentle. Cherise had never fathomed that Damien’s sister, who had rushed back from abroad to celebrate Damien’s birthday and discuss business, could harbor such cruelty.
It was becoming increasingly clear that those who had genuinely endured profound pain and harbored hatred were at risk of psychological turmoil.
Mandy’s words continued to echo in Cherise’s mind, still vivid in her memory.
Chapter 322 The Tanner Family
“Promise me, you won’t ever meet Damien’s sister,” Mandy implored, her eyes brimming with desperation. “We have no conflicts, but just because I was of some use to her, she cast me into hell.”
“And you…” Mandy’s voice trailed off, but Cherise could discern the unspoken words. It was highly likely that Maeve, Damien’s sister, strongly disapproved of her and Damien’s relationship.
Jacob had jokingly suggested that approaching Maeve and offering divorce from Damien. as a bargaining chip might lead to her agreeing to destroy the control terminal. Cherise had no doubts about the possibility, but she couldn’t take that path. She had made solemn vows during her marriage to Damien in front of Old Mr. Lenoir, promising that she would never pursue a divorce. Even in Old Mr. Lenoir’s absence, she was determined not. to part ways with Damien easily. Regardless of his sister’s opinion of her, her decision would remain resolute.
Thus, only one course of action remained: seeking out the members of the Tanner Family.
Upon her return to the villa, Cherise found Damien sitting on the couch, engrossed in his laptop screen.
She approached him. “Honey, what are you looking at?”
He lifted her gently and settled her onto his lap. “Jacob should have told you. The chip responsible for controlling brainwaves is manufactured by the Tanner Family in Europe.”
Cherise nodded in comprehension. “Have they responded?”
Damien nodded and directed her attention to the invitation on the laptop screen. “They’ve invited me for the birthday celebration of Beckham Tanner, the head of the Tanner Family.”
Cherise appeared surprised. “Are you closely acquainted with them?”
Damien shook his head. “Not particularly. But my European company has engaged in some business dealings with the Tanners. They’re likely aware that I’m the driving force behind these enterprises.”
He cradled her face and bestowed a tender kiss upon her lips. “Should I bring you with
me?”
Cherise appeared taken aback and hastily shook her head. “I better not… I’ve never attended formal events and am unfamiliar with upper-class etiquette. What if… I
embarrass you?”
Moreover, foreign locales were utterly foreign to her.
“As my wife, you must learn how to navigate such occasions.” He held her, soothing her gently.
“What if someone slips something in my drink, and I’m spirited away by another woman?
And you
weren’t there to protect me?” His voice, resonant and magnetic, held a hint of a smile. Cherise pursed her lips and playfully mimicked his cheek-pinching gesture by applying it to his face. “I can’t read minds. How could I possibly tell which drink is poisoned and which isn’t?”
Damien chuckled and planted a tender kiss on her cheek. “But you did promise to protect
me.”
“It’s my first time visiting that country, and it’s for your sister, Mandy. Don’t you think you should accompany me?” Damien suggested.
Cherise pouted but ultimately agreed. She understood that Damien simply wanted to take her out for a change of scenery and relaxation. Nonetheless, she genuinely needed a break to clear her mind.
“How is she doing now?” Upon receiving her assent, Damien tenderly kissed her on the cheek and inquired.
“She’s not in good shape.” Cherise pursed her lips and proceeded to describe Mandy’s condition to him. “Seeing her like that… it truly pains me.”
