Marrying the Man in the Dark

Chapter 1050 Steve's Bittersweet Gamble

After those words, he casually glanced at Cherise, a faint hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "You knew about my feelings for her all

along, didn't you?"

Cherise's eyes widened in surprise. "l did?"

Steve remained silent, his expression speaking volumes.

The tension in the room thickened as the past unfolded before them.

"You always had a knack for forgetting the important stuff."

He smiled ruefully, "But con, you remember, right? You were the one pushingto chase after her, tellingto aim for the

stars and apply to her dream college."

"You were the one who told me, 'Even if it's a long shot, just being at her university for four years would be a gift," he reminisced

with a tender smile.

"I followed your guidance, put my faith in it, and worked tirelessly, shadowing your every move to absorb your class notes. My

grades climbed steadily..."

"And when the college entrance exams caround, I achieved my goal and secured admission to her university."

Cherise's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. "But she never made it to campus..."

"Yes."

Steve's sigh resonated with the ache of unrequited love. "She gave up her own dreams to make Trent's ctrue," he murmured.

"In that fleeting moment, I realized she'd never be mine in this lifetime."

"Still, I feel compelled to show my gratitude," he confessed.

With a heartfelt gaze, gratitude reflecting in his eyes like shimmering stars, he uttered, "Had it not been for you, I wouldn't have

earned my place in such a prestigious university, nor would I have becthe person I am today."

Cherise waved off his gratitude with a modest smile. "It was all you, Steve. Your hard work and determination paid off," she assured

him.

As Cherise's words trailed into the abyss of silence, a heavy weight descended upon the living room, thickening the air like an

impenetrable fog, suffocating in its intensity.

After silence, Steve raised the teacup to his lips and took a sip. "Just last month, Savannah's mother was in a car accident. She's in

a vegetative state now, and the driver didn't make it," he revealed solemnly.

"Stella reached out towhen Savannah's family couldn't handle her mother's medical bills," Steve explained.

"Of course, I stepped in, covering all the expenses and even securing funds for the next ten years."

"Fortunately, my business has been booming, so while the amount was significant, I could handle it," Steve reassured them.

"Savannah felt guilty, but Stella assured her of my longstanding affection, which persuaded her to accept my proposal," he added,

a hint of vulnerability in his tone.

"I know deep down she still cares for Trent," Steve confessed with a heavy heart. "She doesn't love me, so even if she agrees to

marry me, she'll never truly find happiness," he admitted, his voice tinged with resignation.

He chuckled softly, a touch of self-deprecation in his tone. "But I can't help but hold onto a sliver of hope," he mused aloud. "What

if, just what if, she starts to feel something for me?"

"What if she puts her own feelings aside and decides to be without of gratitude?" Steve pondered aloud, his voice laced with

longing.

"I don't ask for much," he continued, a hint of vulnerability in his tone. "As long as she stands by my side with her whole heart,

even if her love is not mine, I'll accept it."

"As long as..."

His words tapered off, yet the echo of his hopeful sentiment lingered in the room, weaving through the air like a fragile whisper.

His hand trembled slightly as he clasped the teacup, his voice soft but persistent. "As long as she lets go of Trent from her heart,

whether her love is mine or not, it doesn't matter," Steve confessed, his words carrying the weight of his inner turmoil.

"So, I took a gamble," he continued with remorse.

"And unfortunately, I lost," he admitted, his gaze drifting downward as the reality of his situation sank in.

Breaking his silence, Damien lifted the teacup to his lips, his eyes piercing as he spoke. "Bringing Trent here was your way of

seeking reassurance," he observed, his voice conveying insight.

"You were trying to convince yourself that Savannah would never leave your side," he added.

"Yet, she still left."

"Hmm."

"lI had made peace with letting her go a long tago," Steve admitted with a bittersweet smile.

"Turns out, I becthe butt of the joke," he quipped lightly, masking his pain with humor.

Steve smiled, "I just ended up being the subject of ridicule."

"But believe me, I never meant to ridicule you," he reassured.

Damien gracefully placed his teacup down and reminisced, "Back then, I was like you."

"But," he continued, his gaze tenderly fixed on Cherise, "Cherry and Savannah, they're in a league of their own."

Bewildered, Cherise couldn't grasp why the conversation had suddenly turned to her.

"So Cherry too..." Steve's brow furrowed as he spoke softly, seeking clarification.

"It was for her grandmother," Damien explained simply.

Damien's smile carried a hint of reminiscence. "I've also wondered before, if she had feelings for someone else..."

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