One Month Later
A month had passed since Cherry ended things with Elian.
Cindy was now staying at the Haynes house, supposedly to help her and Nicklaus become more comfortable with the upcoming marriage.
But Cindy had another reason for staying.
She wanted to get under Cherry's skin.
Whenever they were alone, Cindy would deliberately bring up Elian.
One afternoon, they were in the kitchen when Cindy leaned against the counter and smiled.
"You know, Cherry, you really don't know what you're missing."
Cherry continued what she was doing, refusing to react.
Cindy continued anyway.
"Elian was always so affectionate with me. He made me feel wanted."
Cherry's hands paused for a second.
Cindy noticed.
She smiled.
"Sometimes I wonder if he ever even wanted you that way."
Cherry finally looked at her.
"What are you talking about?"
Cindy shrugged.
"Maybe he stayed with you because he felt indebted to you."
Cherry's expression hardened.
"You gave him that diamond. You helped him leave Manila. Maybe he felt like he owed you a relationship."
Cherry stared at her silently.
Cindy stepped closer.
"Honestly, I'm not even sure he ever truly loved you."
She smiled coldly.
"Maybe you were just convenient."
Cherry's jaw tightened.
But she refused to give Cindy the reaction she wanted.
Cindy's smile faded slightly when she realized her words weren't breaking Cherry.
Still, she wasn't finished.
"I'm sure he had feelings for me long before he came back to you."
Cherry calmly set down what she was holding.
"Are you finished?"
Cindy blinked.
Cherry looked directly at her.
"Because if you're trying to make me jealous, you're wasting your time."
She walked past her.
Cindy watched her leave, irritation flashing across her face.
She had expected Cherry to cry.
Instead, Cherry was becoming harder and harder to provoke.
Nicklaus walked into the kitchen just as Cherry was leaving.
His eyes immediately went to Cindy.
"Stop bringing Elian up."
Cindy turned around slowly.
"What?"
"You heard me."
Nicklaus's voice was cold.
"Every time you're alone with Cherry, you find a reason to talk about him. Stop it."
Cindy stared at him for a moment before letting out a quiet laugh.
"Why do you care so much?"
Nicklaus's expression hardened.
"Because she's already been through enough."
Cindy folded her arms.
"Or maybe because you like her."
Nicklaus went still.
Cindy smiled knowingly.
"I've noticed."
She stepped closer.
"The way you look at her. The way you follow her around. The way you always seem to appear whenever she's upset."
Nicklaus said nothing.
Cindy's smile widened.
"You have feelings for Cherry."
"That's none of your business."
"Oh, it absolutely is."
Cindy tilted her head.
"Especially now that Elian is out of the picture."
Nicklaus glared at her.
"Don't drag Cherry into whatever game you're playing."
Cindy laughed again.
"Relax. I'm not judging you."
She walked past him, then stopped beside him.
"But I wonder..."
She glanced toward the doorway where Cherry had disappeared.
"Does Cherry know that her beloved 'family' member is waiting for his chance?"
Nicklaus's jaw clenched.
"Stay away from her."
Cindy smiled.
"Looks like we both want the same thing."
Nicklaus turned sharply toward her.
"No."
His voice was firm.
"We're nothing alike."
Cindy simply smiled as she walked away.
Nicklaus remained in the kitchen, irritated.
But one thing bothered him most.
Cindy had seen through him.
And now she knew exactly how he felt about Cherry.
Meanwhile, Elian refused to give up completely.
Every day, he found some small way to remind Cherry that he was sorry.
He texted her in the mornings.
Elian: Good morning. I hope you slept well.
Sometimes she didn't respond.
Sometimes she only replied with a short:
Cherry: Thank you.
He never complained.
Whenever he had the opportunity, he visited the Haynes house.
He never forced his way inside or demanded to see her. If Cherry didn't want to meet him, he simply left.
He also began sending her small gifts.
Flowers.
Books she liked.
Her favorite snacks.
Little things that reminded him of her.
Each gift came with a handwritten letter.
I'm sorry.
I know an apology can't erase what I did.
I'm not asking you to forgive me before you're ready.
I just want you to know that I'm trying to become someone who deserves your trust again.
Cherry kept the letters.
She didn't throw them away.
But she didn't answer them either.
One evening, another envelope arrived.
Cherry opened it slowly.
Elian's handwriting filled the page.
I used to think losing you would be the worst thing that could happen to me.
Now I understand that I was the one who pushed you away.
I can't ask you to forget what I did.
I can only promise that I'll never stop being sorry for hurting you.
Cherry lowered the letter.
Her eyes became glossy.
She folded it carefully and placed it with the others.
She still loved him.
That was the part she hated admitting to herself.
But love wasn't enough to erase what had happened.
So she kept her distance.
And Elian kept trying—not because he expected her to return immediately, but because for the first time, he understood that earning back someone's trust could take much longer than losing it.
Later that afternoon, Elian arrived at the Haynes house to see Cherry.
The maid had barely opened the door when Cindy appeared from the hallway.
Her expression immediately changed when she saw him.
"Elian."
He nodded politely.
"Hello, Cindy."
She walked closer, deliberately standing in his way.
"You're here to see Cherry again?"
"Yes."
Cindy smiled.
"You've been coming here quite often lately."
"I'm here for Cherry."
She ignored the answer and moved closer.
"You know, you don't have to keep pretending you don't miss me."
Elian's expression hardened.
"Cindy, don't start."
She reached out and lightly touched his arm.
"I know you still think about what we had."
Elian immediately stepped back.
"Don't touch me."
Cindy smiled as if his reaction amused her.
"You've changed."
Before Elian could respond, footsteps sounded from the staircase.
He looked up.
Cherry was walking downstairs.
She stopped when she saw them.
Cindy's hand was still near Elian's arm.
Elian's heart immediately dropped.
"Cherry..."
Cherry's expression remained calm, but her eyes had already become distant.
Elian quickly stepped away from Cindy.
"Wait. It's not what you think."
Cherry looked between them.
"I didn't say anything."
"I know, but—"
Elian's voice became anxious.
He knew how sensitive Cherry had become after everything that happened between them.
He didn't want her thinking he had gone back to Cindy.
Cindy simply stood there with a faint smile.
Cherry slowly walked down the remaining steps.
"Why are you here, Elian?"
"I came to see you."
He looked at Cindy.
"She came over and started talking to me. Nothing happened."
Cherry remained silent.
Elian took a cautious step toward her.
"Please believe me."
Cherry looked at him for a long moment.
Then she quietly said,
"I didn't accuse you of anything."
But Elian could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
And somehow, that frightened him more than anger would have.
Elian walked toward her slowly.
He stopped in front of Cherry and gently took her hand.
Cherry looked down at their hands, then back at him.
"I know you're upset," Elian said quietly.
"I'm not upset."
He gave her a small, sad smile.
"You don't have to admit it."
Cherry sighed.
"Elian..."
"I know you."
He gently squeezed her hand.
"Even when you don't say anything, I can tell when something is bothering you."
Cherry looked away.
Elian continued softly.
"I panicked when I saw you coming downstairs because I knew what it might look like."
He glanced briefly toward Cindy before looking back at Cherry.
"But I wasn't talking to her because I wanted her."
His voice was sincere.
"I came here for you."
Cherry remained quiet.
Elian lifted her hand gently and pressed a soft kiss against the back of it.
"I'm sorry."
Cherry's eyes flickered with emotion.
"I know I don't have the right to ask you to trust me yet."
He lowered her hand carefully.
"But I'll keep proving myself until you believe me again."
Cindy watched them from a short distance away, her expression slowly darkening.
Cindy turned away and walked upstairs without saying another word.
Cherry's eyes followed her until she disappeared from sight.
Then she looked back at Elian.
"You're not going after her?"
Elian looked at Cherry, confused.
"Why would I?"
Cherry shrugged.
"I don't know."
She released his hand.
"Maybe she expects you to."
Elian immediately shook his head.
"No."
He looked toward the staircase for a moment, then back at Cherry.
"I'm not here for Cindy."
Cherry didn't respond.
Elian stepped closer.
"Whatever happened between Cindy and me is something I regret. I'm not going upstairs after her."
Cherry sighed.
"You don't have to explain yourself to me anymore."
"I want to."
He gently reached for her hand again.
"Because I don't want there to be another misunderstanding between us."
Cherry looked at him.
Elian smiled faintly.
"If Cindy wants to talk to me, she can do it another time. Right now, I came here because I wanted to see you."
Cherry remained silent for a moment.
Then she quietly said,
"You're different lately."
Elian nodded.
"I'm trying to be."
She looked at him carefully.
"Why?"
He gave her a soft smile.
"Because losing you finally made me realize how much I took you for granted."
Cherry gently pulled her hand away.
"Elian, we're exes now. Whatever we had belongs in the past."
Elian looked at her, his expression serious.
"To you, maybe."
Cherry frowned.
"What does that mean?"
He took a breath.
"I know you ended our relationship. I respect that. I'm not going to force you to take me back."
He paused.
"But in my heart, you're still my girlfriend."
Cherry shook her head.
"Elian, you can't decide that by yourself."
"I know."
His voice softened.
"I'm not saying you have to accept it. I'm just telling you how I feel."
Cherry looked away.
"We're not together."
"I understand."
He smiled sadly.
"You're my ex-girlfriend."
Then he looked directly into her eyes.
"But I'm still hoping that one day, you'll let me call you my girlfriend again."
Cherry sighed.
"You really don't give up, do you?"
Elian gave a faint smile.
"Not when it comes to you."
Cherry sighed, shaking her head.
"You're impossible."
Elian smiled softly.
"Maybe."
He stepped closer and gently kissed her forehead.
Cherry went still for a moment.
Elian pulled back, looking at her with quiet affection.
"I'll see you later."
Cherry sighed again.
"Goodbye, Elian."
He smiled and turned toward the door.
Cherry watched him leave, her expression unreadable.
She touched her forehead where his lips had been.
Despite everything, her heart still reacted to him.
And that was exactly what frightened her.