Chapter 607 You’re Not The Same!
“Hey!” Cherise objected, “Show some respect to the person who saved your sister!”
“Alright, alright. I respect the person who saved my sister… who just fell on her bottom.”
Cherise’s anger simmered. Damien always knew how to provoke her.
Unable to restrain herself, she grabbed a throw pillow and threw it at him. He caught it with practiced grace, and a faint smile appeared on his lips. “You’re still the same silly, spirited gi I see.”
Cherise had transformed from a nineteen-year-old college student to a distinguished figure in academia.
But to him, she was still the same as before. Awkwardly charming. Witty with a touch of vulnerability.
Cherise wouldn’t realize that no matter how formidable or famous she was in the eyes of others, she would always be that silly girl to Damien.
“I’m not silly. You are!” she shot back, puffing up like a ruffled kitten. “It wasn’t even my problem to begin with! You suddenly started making suggestive remarks and tried to….”
He raised an eyebrow and replied with a laugh, “Me being suggestive about you? Goodness, no!”
Cherise scoffed. “Right. And who just wanted a ‘more substantial’ thank you? Who said I would know what he desired?”
“You were up to something!” she fumed. “I simply reacted to your obvious advances and ended up falling because I wasn’t paying attention. Silly? Not me!”
He chuckled. “Dr. Shaw, overthinking is your superpower. I thought you were intelligent, so I assumed you knew what I wanted. But you’re still a little silly in the most endearing way.”
Cherise glared. “So, no inappropriate thoughts earlier?”
“Not at all,” Damien replied, his voice steady.
“Then what kind of thanks did you mean?”
He looked
kids.”
up, his eyes holding a depth she hadn’t seen before. “I want to spend time with the
Cherise’s voice cracked as she promptly said, “No way!”
The room absorbed the sound like a black hole, leaving only the ticking clock for company.
After what felt like an eternity, Cherise blinked, turning her head away to hide the blush creeping up her neck. “When I say no, I mean no,” she muttered, her voice barely audible.
Soren and Serafina had just pleaded with her for an outing with their father. Cherise had gently explained that their daddy wasn’t available.
Now Damien wanted to take the children out? Under what pretense? Their father? A friendly neighbor? Or worse, a friend? With their uncanny resemblance, that could be a disaster, especially with Soren, who practically looked like Damien’s twin.
“Hey, Dr. Shaw,” Damien casually dropped his fork, leaned back on the sofa, crossed his legs, placed his hands on his knees, and assumed a negotiating pose. “Since you just said we’re only friends and not that close, I think I should receive some compensation for helping you.”
He continued, “I mean, instead of helping you for free, you’d probably prefer if I set some conditions so you don’t owe me too much.”
Cherise pursed her lips; Damien had a point. She didn’t want to accumulate too many favors owed to him, but the idea of him taking Soren and Serafina out…
“You’ve been living here for a while, and I bet Zachary often takes the kids out. He’s friend; he can do it, so why can’t I?”
your
Cherise was caught off guard and quickly replied, “You’re not the same as him!”
Damien’s eyes narrowed playfully. “Oh? How am I different from him? I thought you erased any lingering feelings for me from five years ago.”
had
He leaned back even further, a hint of challenge and mockery in his voice.
