Elian returned home that night visibly frustrated.
The moment he walked through the door, Mrs. Anna noticed his expression.
"Elian?"
He dropped his keys onto the table.
"That Nicklaus is unbelievable."
Mrs. Anna looked at him carefully.
"What happened?"
Elian paced across the living room.
"He followed me outside after I spoke to Cherry."
Mrs. Anna sighed.
"And?"
"He threatened me."
Her eyebrows rose.
"Threatened you?"
"He told me to stay away from Cherry because she's his now."
Mrs. Anna shook her head.
"Elian..."
"I couldn't believe what I was hearing."
He ran a hand through his hair.
"He actually thinks because Cherry and I broke up, he can just claim her."
Mrs. Anna remained quiet.
Elian continued angrily.
"I told him Cherry doesn't see him that way. She sees him as family."
"Did Cherry say that?"
Elian paused.
"She hasn't said she sees him romantically."
Mrs. Anna gave him a knowing look.
"That's not exactly the same thing."
Elian's frustration grew.
"He's taking advantage of the situation. She's hurt, and he's already trying to get closer to her."
Mrs. Anna sighed.
"Elian, you can't control what Nicklaus does."
"I know."
"More importantly, you can't control what Cherry chooses."
Elian looked away.
"I know that too."
Mrs. Anna walked over and gently touched his arm.
"Then stop fighting Nicklaus and start accepting the consequences of your own choices."
Elian's anger faded slightly.
He lowered his head.
"I just don't want to lose her to him."
Mrs. Anna looked at him sadly.
"Then don't make this about Nicklaus."
Elian looked up.
"Make it about becoming someone Cherry can trust again."
He remained silent.
For once, he had no argument against her.
Elian slowly sat down on the couch, his anger fading into exhaustion.
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"It's all my fault in the first place."
Mrs. Anna sat quietly beside him.
Elian stared at the floor.
"I had everything, Lola. Cherry loved me. She trusted me completely."
His voice became heavy with regret.
"And I threw it away."
Mrs. Anna didn't interrupt.
Elian wiped his face.
"I can't change what happened."
He took a deep breath.
"But I'm going to make things right again."
Mrs. Anna looked at him.
"How?"
Elian lifted his eyes.
"I don't know yet."
A faint determination appeared in his expression.
"But I'll figure it out."
He clenched his hands together.
"I'm not going to force Cherry to come back to me. I'm not going to pressure her."
He paused.
"I'm going to prove that I can be someone she trusts again."
Mrs. Anna studied him carefully.
"And if she never comes back?"
Elian's expression faltered.
The thought clearly hurt.
But he answered honestly.
"Then I'll accept it."
He looked toward the window.
"But I'll still make things right."
Mrs. Anna gently squeezed his shoulder.
"That's the first sensible thing you've said tonight."
Elian gave a small, tired smile.
"I know."
Then he leaned back against the couch.
For the first time since losing Cherry, his determination wasn't about winning her back.
It was about becoming worthy of the trust he had destroyed.