Elian's vision blurred.
He slowly touched the back of his head, then looked at the blood on his fingers.
Mrs. Jennie's face went pale.
"Elian..."
Nicholas immediately got off the floor.
"Jennie, what did you do?"
"I—I was trying to stop you two!"
Nicklaus stood near the bed, breathing heavily.
Cindy remained by the doorway, watching everything silently.
Then Elian suddenly remembered Cherry.
He turned toward the bed.
"Cherry..."
He stumbled to his feet and moved toward her.
"Cherry, wake up."
He gently touched her cheek.
Nothing.
His panic returned.
"Someone call a doctor!"
Nicholas looked at the unconscious Cherry, then at Elian.
"What happened to her?"
"I don't know!"
Elian's voice was strained.
"I came here because I was told she wasn't feeling well. When I walked in, I found Nicklaus over her!"
Nicklaus immediately interrupted.
"That's not what happened."
Elian turned sharply.
"Then tell them what you did!"
Nicklaus said nothing.
Mrs. Jennie looked between the two men, confused and frightened.
"Enough."
Her voice trembled.
"Someone needs to check Cherry first."
Elian nodded.
"Yes."
He carefully picked up Cherry and held her close.
"She's going to the hospital."
Nicklaus stepped forward.
"I'll take her."
Elian glared at him.
"No."
His voice was cold.
"You're not touching her."
Nicklaus clenched his fists.
Nicholas stepped between them.
"Enough!"
He looked toward the hallway.
"Call the doctor immediately."
Elian held Cherry protectively against his chest, blood still running from the wound on his head.
He looked down at her pale face.
"Please wake up, Cherry."
His voice broke.
"Please."
At the hospital, everyone waited anxiously outside Cherry's room.
After what felt like an eternity, the doctor finally came out.
"She'll be okay."
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Mrs. Jennie immediately stepped forward.
"What happened to her?"
The doctor looked serious.
"She was drugged. Whatever substance she was given was quite strong, which is why she lost consciousness."
Mrs. Jennie covered her mouth in shock.
"Drugged?"
"Yes. We've stabilized her, and she's being monitored. She should regain consciousness once the effects wear off."
Elian's eyes immediately moved toward Nicklaus.
His expression turned cold.
He stepped toward him.
"You."
Nicklaus looked back.
Elian's voice was low and furious.
"Get out."
Mrs. Jennie stared at him.
"Elian..."
"No."
He didn't take his eyes off Nicklaus.
"We're leaving."
Nicholas frowned.
"What are you talking about?"
Elian finally looked at all of them.
"Cherry is under my care now."
Mrs. Jennie's eyes widened.
"What?"
"She isn't safe with you anymore."
The words stunned everyone.
Elian continued.
"I found her unconscious in that room. The doctor just confirmed she was drugged."
He looked directly at Nicklaus.
"And I'm not leaving her alone with him."
Nicklaus's expression hardened.
"You can't accuse me without proof."
Elian stepped closer.
"Then explain why I found you alone with her while she was unconscious."
Nicklaus said nothing.
Mrs. Jennie looked between them, visibly shaken.
"Elian, this is our home. Cherry is part of this family."
Elian's expression softened slightly.
"I know."
He looked toward Cherry's hospital room.
"And that's exactly why I'm going to protect her."
He turned back toward them.
"Until we know exactly what happened, she stays with me."
Mrs. Jennie remained stunned, unable to respond.
Nicholas stepped forward, his expression hard.
"No."
Elian looked at him.
"You have no right to decide that, Elian. Cherry is my daughter. This is her family, and you can't simply come here and take her away."
Elian's jaw tightened.
"I'm not taking her away."
"Then what exactly are you doing?"
"Protecting her."
Nicholas shook his head.
"You don't have that authority."
Elian didn't back down.
"Maybe I don't."
His eyes remained fixed on Nicholas.
"But that doesn't change what happened tonight."
Nicholas's expression darkened.
"You think you're the only person who cares about her?"
"No."
Elian glanced toward the hospital room.
"But I'm not going to stand by while someone who was alone with her after she was drugged gets to stay near her."
Nicklaus immediately stepped forward.
"You're accusing me again."
Elian looked at him coldly.
"Because you still haven't explained what happened."
Nicholas raised his voice.
"Enough! You're not taking Cherry anywhere."
Elian's expression remained firm.
"Then I'll wait until she wakes up and let Cherry decide for herself."
Nicholas stared at him.
Elian didn't move.
His mind was made up.
"Until then, I'm staying right here."
That night, Elian remained beside Cherry's hospital bed.
He hadn't slept for even a minute.
He sat in the chair beside her, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest.
Every few minutes, he checked her face, making sure she was still breathing comfortably.
His phone suddenly rang.
It was Mrs. Anna.
Elian answered quietly.
"Hello, Lola."
"Elian, where are you? It's late. Why aren't you home yet?"
Elian looked at Cherry.
"I'm at the hospital."
There was a brief silence.
"The hospital? What happened?"
Elian took a deep breath.
"It's Cherry."
Mrs. Anna's voice immediately became worried.
"What happened to her?"
"She was drugged."
"What?!"
"The doctor said whatever she was given was too strong for her. She's stable now, but she's still unconscious."
Mrs. Anna went silent.
Elian continued.
"I came to the Haynes house earlier and found her unconscious in her room."
His voice tightened.
"Nicklaus was there."
Mrs. Anna immediately understood why Elian sounded so angry.
"Nicklaus?"
"Yes."
Elian looked toward the closed hospital room door.
"We fought. Then Nicholas came in and believed Nicklaus's story."
Mrs. Anna gasped softly.
"What story?"
"He accused me of trying to take advantage of Cherry."
"What?"
"It's a lie."
Elian's voice cracked with frustration.
"I found Nicklaus over her. I tried to get him away from her."
Mrs. Anna was quiet for a moment.
"And your head?"
Elian touched the bandage at the back of his head.
"I'm fine."
"Elian..."
"I'm fine, Lola."
He lowered his voice.
"Cherry isn't safe there anymore."
Mrs. Anna sighed heavily.
"Where are you now?"
"Right beside her."
"You haven't gone home?"
"No."
He looked at Cherry again.
"I'm not leaving her alone tonight."
Mrs. Anna's voice softened.
"Then stay with her."
Elian leaned back in the chair, exhaustion finally showing on his face.
"I will."
After the call ended, he reached over and gently held Cherry's hand.
"I'm here."
He whispered.
"When you wake up, I'll be right here."