Chapter 403 Apart From My Family, You’re 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.
“Feeling better now?”
“Mm.” 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. “Let me guess why our lovely and gentle Mrs. Lenoir was crying.
“Probably because she believes that if she hadn’t made that impulsive decision and fallen ill back then, her uncle wouldn’t have resorted to such wicked acts to gather the money needed for her treatment. That way, my sister and I wouldn’t be in this mess, right?”
Cherise’s 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 Damien’s side, enjoying his kindness and affection, when his tragic life was primarily her fault?
“But…”
He nestled closer, resting his chin on her head, savoring the scent of her hair. “You know, those who aimed to harm Maeve and me were lurking around, with or without you in the picture.
“Do you really think that if you hadn’t fallen ill and your uncle hadn’t done what he did, my sister and I would’ve had an easy, worry-free life?”
Cherise’s entire body 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 Maeve…
How could she ever come to terms with this painful truth?
She couldn’t 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, “Damien… My
dear…”
Cherise sniffled, her thoughts veering toward a topic she couldn’t quite articulate. Divorce seemed impossible to broach, even though it was on her mind. Her nose and eyes stung as tears flowed uncontrollably.
She didn’t want to leave Damien; he was her source of joy and the cornerstone of her life. But her guilt weighed heavily, rendering her speechless.
“Why did you stop using those endearing names?” 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. “It’s okay. You don’t have to call me ‘my dear’ if you don’t want to.”
“I’ll call you ‘my dear’ whenever I want.”
He held her close and gazed at the distant sky. “Listen, my dear.
“In my life, I won’t marry anyone else besides you. If you decide to leave. I won’t stop you. I promise you that.”
“But if you choose to leave, I’ll be all alone until the day I die.”
Cherise’s heart ached deeply. She sniffled, biting her lip and wrestling with her tears.
“No, you won’t. You have Blake, Mr. Kolson, Frances, and Mr. Hampson. And there’s Lennon, and…
“But they’re not you, my dear.”
He gently nibbled on her earlobe and whispered, “When you went inside with Mandy and the others, I was contemplating what I’d do if you wanted to leave me.”
Cherise pressed her lips together, her breath catching in her throat. “So… Have you… thought it through?”
“I have.”
He smiled. “In this world, apart from my parents and sister, you’ve been the kindest to me.”
