Chapter 7 - Chapter 7

"How much do you need?"Cherry stood beside Gilbert outside the hospital, her hands trembling.He had asked her to come with him. He had listened while she explained what she had gathered and what was still missing.But he had not agreed to help."Thirty thousand pesos," she said.Gilbert watched her for a moment.She forced herself to keep looking at him. Luke needed treatment. She could not leave without an answer.When Gilbert stepped closer, she flinched.He stopped."You think you know me, Cherry?""No," she said quietly. "But I'm asking you to help."He looked away, running a hand through his hair.Cherry tightened her grip on her bag."Grandma cares about Luke too. If something happened to him before her surgery—""Don't."She fell silent.Gilbert let out a sharp breath."Fine. You'll get the money."Cherry stared at him."But after Grandma's surgery, we'll settle everything and proceed with ending the marriage."She nodded. That had been their plan already. She would not mistake his help for a change of heart."Thank you."Gilbert took out his phone and called Liam."Bring thirty thousand pesos in cash. We're outside the hospital."Cherry waited beside him. Neither of them spoke.When Liam arrived with an envelope, Gilbert took it and held it out.Cherry looked from the envelope to his face."It's what you asked for," he said.She accepted it with both hands.The weight of it was small. What it meant was not.She could pay the amount still needed. She could return upstairs with something more useful than another promise to find the money."Thank you, Mister Ace Carter."Tears slipped down her cheeks."I'll repay you."Gilbert turned slightly away."Take care of the payment."Cherry held the envelope close.Before she left, he spoke again."Don't hide anything else from me."She paused."I'll tell you what you need to know," she said. "But I haven't lied about why I married you."He looked at her, then gave a brief nod.Cherry hurried back inside.After handling the payment, she returned to Luke. He was still unconscious, but his treatment was continuing.She stayed until it was time to leave for her evening shift.The money had eased one problem. It had not removed the others. She still needed her jobs, and now she had another debt to repay.That evening, she pushed a housekeeping cart along a hotel corridor, checking the room numbers against her assignments.She tried to focus on the work. Fresh towels. Clean bedding. Supplies to replace.Tasks she knew how to finish."Cherry."Her hands stopped on the cart.Benjamin stood beside an open room. Another man waited just inside the doorway.She had not seen Benjamin at university for almost a week. With Luke in the hospital and extra shifts to cover, she had allowed herself to hope he would leave her alone."What are you doing here?" she asked.He smiled."Surprise."Cherry kept the cart between them."I have work to do. Please move.""A job?" His eyes moved over her uniform. "Still acting innocent?"She pushed the cart forward.Benjamin stepped aside, but as she passed, he spoke again."Your husband isn't here."Cherry stopped without turning toward him."He's not with me. That doesn't mean you can threaten me.""I only want to talk.""Then stay where you are."She looked back at him.Benjamin's smile faded."You still owe me.""I don't owe you anything.""You and your mother know better than that."Cherry's stomach tightened.The man in the doorway remained silent. She glanced past Benjamin toward the far end of the corridor, looking for another member of staff."You've done enough to me," she said. "Leave me alone.""I missed you."His soft voice made her feel colder than his anger had."Did you miss me?""Stay away from me, Benjamin."She started to move.He caught her wrist.Cherry gasped and pulled back, but his grip tightened."Let go.""You thought you could disappear?""You're hurting me."He leaned closer."You think acting like a victim will always save you?"Cherry raised her voice."Let go, or I'll call security."Benjamin laughed bitterly."I would have come sooner, but my father dragged me overseas. You wouldn't believe how bad it was. Every time Olivia started one of her moods, I thought of you."Cherry kept pulling against his hand."I remembered how easy it was to make you listen."Fear tightened her chest, but she lifted her chin."You don't get to do that anymore."A firm knock sounded against the open door beside them."Room service follow-up."Cherry recognized Liam's voice.Benjamin turned.Gilbert stood at the doorway with Liam and two men in black suits behind him.His gaze went straight to Benjamin's hand."Let her go."Benjamin froze.Gilbert stepped closer."Now."Benjamin released her.Cherry pulled her wrist against her chest and moved back toward the cart."Brother Gilbert," Benjamin said quickly. "This isn't what it looks like.""I saw you holding her.""We were talking.""She told you to let go."Benjamin swallowed."I was only trying to explain—""You can explain what happened when it's reported."Gilbert gestured toward the corridor."Leave."Benjamin looked at Cherry."You don't get to act innocent. You're just like your mother."Cherry's body stiffened."Don't talk about her.""You think someone like Gilbert will always be here?"Her wrist throbbed. She could still feel where his fingers had pressed into it.But Gilbert had seen him. Liam had seen him. This time, Benjamin could not make it sound as though nothing had happened."If you come near me again, I'll report you," she said. "I won't keep quiet."Benjamin's face hardened.Gilbert moved between them."And if you threaten or touch her again, you'll answer for it."Benjamin looked at the two men behind him.He did not argue when they escorted him and his companion away. The room door closed behind them, and their footsteps faded along the corridor.Cherry stared after them.Then her knees weakened.She sank slowly to the floor beside the cart, holding her sore wrist against her body.Gilbert turned at once."Cherry."He came closer, then stopped."Are you hurt?"She looked up at him. Her lips trembled."You came."He was silent.Cherry blinked, but the tears fell anyway."You came," she repeated.Gilbert lowered himself beside her, leaving enough space that she did not feel trapped."I'll come if you're in danger."She searched his face.Earlier, she had stood before him afraid to ask for money. She had thanked him while he turned away.Now he was crouching on the floor beside her.Cherry let out a shaky breath."Thank you."His gaze moved to the hand covering her wrist."May I see?"She hesitated, then lowered it.Gilbert reached toward her and paused. When she held out her arm, he gently supported her hand.The red mark was already visible.His touch was careful. Cherry watched his fingers, waiting for pain, but he did not tighten his hold."We'll have this checked," he said. "And what happened will be reported."She nodded.For a moment, neither of them spoke.Cherry's breathing began to settle. Benjamin was gone, and she no longer had to keep looking toward the open room or searching for someone who might hear her.Gilbert was still beside her.He released her wrist and stood. His face grew guarded again, but his voice remained quiet."Come."Cherry looked up."Where?""You're not going back alone."She stared at him, then began to rise.That morning, she had been afraid of what his help would cost. Now, after the way he had touched her wrist, she was afraid of something else.How was she supposed to walk away from this marriage if he kept giving her reasons to hope?