That Evening
The sun had already set when a car pulled up outside the Haynes house.
Elian stepped out.
He stood by the gate for a moment, gathering his thoughts before walking to the door.
The maid opened it.
"Mr. Elian."
"Good evening. Is Cherry home?"
"Yes, sir. She's upstairs."
Elian nodded.
"I'd like to see her."
The maid hesitated.
"I'll let her know."
She walked upstairs and found Cherry sitting quietly in her room.
"Miss Cherry?"
Cherry looked up.
"Yes?"
"Mr. Elian is downstairs. He said he would like to speak with you."
Cherry's expression immediately changed.
She looked down at her hands.
For a few seconds, she didn't respond.
Then she quietly said,
"Tell him I'm not available."
The maid nodded.
"Yes, miss."
She turned to leave.
Cherry stopped her.
"Actually..."
The maid looked back.
Cherry took a slow breath.
"Tell him I'll come down."
"Yes, miss."
The maid left.
Cherry remained seated for another moment.
She wasn't sure why she had agreed to see him.
Perhaps because some part of her still wanted answers.
Or perhaps because saying goodbye properly was harder than she had expected.
She finally stood and walked toward the door.
Cherry slowly walked downstairs.
The moment Elian saw her, he rushed toward her.
"Cherry..."
He pulled her into a tight embrace.
She froze in his arms.
Elian's shoulders began shaking as tears slipped down his face.
"I'm sorry."
His voice broke.
"I'm so sorry, Cherry."
He held her tighter.
"Please forgive me."
Cherry gently placed her hands against his chest.
"Elian..."
"I know I hurt you. I know I betrayed your trust. I know there's no excuse for what I did."
He pulled back enough to look at her.
"But please don't leave me."
Cherry's eyes were filled with sadness.
"I don't hate you."
Elian shook his head desperately.
"And I don't hold a grudge against you."
"Then come back to me."
She slowly shook her head.
"But we're over."
Elian stared at her.
"No."
"Elian—"
"No. I don't accept that."
He leaned forward and kissed her.
Cherry immediately turned her face away and stepped back.
"Don't."
Elian stopped.
His eyes filled with tears again.
Then, without hesitation, he dropped to his knees in front of her.
Cherry's eyes widened.
"Elian, get up."
He shook his head.
"Please."
He clasped his hands together.
"Please, Cherry. I'm begging you."
She looked down at him, stunned.
"I'll change. I'll do whatever you want. I'll spend the rest of my life proving that I can be better."
"Elian..."
"I can't lose you."
His voice cracked.
"I don't know how to live without you."
Cherry's eyes filled with tears.
"Don't say that."
"I mean it."
He looked up at her desperately.
"You've been part of my life for so long. You're the person I come home thinking about. You're the person I want beside me."
He wiped his tears.
"I made the worst mistake of my life, but please don't make me pay for it by disappearing from my life completely."
Cherry stood silently.
Her heart hurt seeing him like this.
But she couldn't forget what she had seen.
She gently shook her head.
"I'm sorry, Elian."
Her voice was soft.
"But loving you doesn't mean I have to accept being betrayed."
Elian lowered his head, tears falling onto the floor.
And Cherry stood before him, fighting the urge to cry with him.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Nicklaus stood near the railing.
He had seen everything.
His hands curled into tight fists as he watched Elian kneeling in front of Cherry, desperately begging her to take him back.
His jaw tightened.
Then Elian glanced up and noticed him.
Their eyes met.
For a moment, neither man moved.
Elian knew exactly what Nicklaus was thinking.
But he looked away.
He wasn't interested in Nicklaus right now.
His attention remained entirely on Cherry.
"Please," Elian whispered. "Just give me another chance."
Cherry shook her head.
"Elian, listen to me."
He looked up at her.
"I'm not interested in being in a relationship right now."
His expression fell.
"Not with me?"
"Not with you."
She paused.
"Not with anyone."
Elian stared at her.
"I just need time to myself. I need to heal and figure out what I want without someone else deciding my future for me."
Elian slowly lowered his gaze.
Cherry continued gently.
"This isn't because I hate you."
She took a breath.
"And it isn't because I want to punish you."
She looked into his eyes.
"I simply don't want a relationship anymore."
Elian swallowed hard.
"But what if I wait?"
Cherry's expression softened.
"You can wait if that's your choice."
She shook her head.
"But don't wait expecting me to promise I'll come back."
Elian closed his eyes, tears slipping down his cheeks.
Cherry reached down and gently helped him to his feet.
"Please go home, Elian."
He looked at her for a long moment.
Then nodded reluctantly.
"Okay."
But even as he turned toward the door, his eyes remained fixed on her.
Upstairs, Nicklaus watched silently.
His fists were still clenched.
But beneath his anger was something else.
Hope.
Cherry went upstairs, leaving Elian alone in the foyer.
Nicklaus waited until he heard her bedroom door close.
Then he walked downstairs.
Elian was already heading toward the front door when Nicklaus stepped outside behind him.
"Elian."
Elian stopped and turned.
Nicklaus walked closer, his expression hard.
"Stay away from Cherry."
Elian gave him a tired look.
"You don't get to tell me that."
"I do now."
Nicklaus stepped closer.
"She's hurt because of you. You had your chance, and you destroyed it. So leave her alone."
Elian let out a short, humorless laugh.
"You're serious?"
"Very."
Nicklaus's fists tightened.
"Cherry is mine now."
Elian stared at him for a moment before laughing again.
"Yours?"
Nicklaus didn't back down.
"Yes."
Elian shook his head.
"Cherry is my girlfriend."
Nicklaus's expression darkened.
"Not anymore."
"She may have ended our relationship, but that doesn't mean you suddenly become her boyfriend."
Elian stepped closer.
"And you know damn well how she sees you."
Nicklaus said nothing.
"You're her family."
Elian's voice became firm.
"That's all you've ever been to her."
Nicklaus clenched his jaw.
"You don't know what she feels."
"I know her better than you do."
Elian pointed toward the house.
"She told me herself she doesn't want another relationship. Not with me. Not with anyone."
Nicklaus stared at him.
Elian continued.
"So don't twist her pain into an opportunity for yourself."
Nicklaus's eyes hardened.
"You lost the right to speak for her."
Elian looked him directly in the eyes.
"Maybe I lost the right to call myself her boyfriend."
He paused.
"But I'll never stop caring about her."
Nicklaus stepped closer.
"Then prove it by leaving her alone."
Elian gave him one final look.
"I'll respect whatever Cherry chooses."
He turned toward his car.
"But that choice belongs to Cherry."
Nicklaus watched him leave, his expression darkening.
He hated that Elian was right about one thing.
No matter how badly he wanted Cherry, she hadn't chosen him.