Later That Day
Cherry was in the kitchen helping Mrs. Jennie prepare lunch. The two of them chatted happily while cooking, laughing together as they worked.
Mrs. Jennie glanced at Cherry.
"Cherry, if Cindy makes you uncomfortable whenever she visits, I can cancel the marriage proposal."
Cherry looked at her and quickly shook her head.
"It's okay, Mrs. Jennie. You don't have to cancel anything because of me."
Mrs. Jennie smiled.
"I just want you to feel comfortable. This is your home too."
"I'm really okay," Cherry assured her.
Just then, Nicklaus walked into the kitchen with a teasing smile.
"What's this? You two are having fun without me?"
Cherry rolled her eyes.
"Nobody invited you."
Nicklaus laughed.
"Well, I'm here now. Besides, Mom seems to like you more than she likes me."
Cherry narrowed her eyes.
"Nicklaus..."
He grinned.
"What?"
Cherry picked up the wooden spoon.
"Nothing."
She suddenly smacked him lightly on the arm with it.
"Ow!"
Nicklaus jumped back, rubbing his arm.
"Cherry!"
She burst out laughing.
Mrs. Jennie laughed as well.
"Nicklaus, stop teasing your sister."
"But, Mom! She hit me!"
"Because you were teasing her."
Nicklaus pointed at Cherry.
"She's becoming too violent."
Cherry raised the spoon again.
"Want another one?"
Nicklaus immediately backed away.
"Nope. I'm good."
Mrs. Jennie shook her head, laughing.
"You two never change."
Nicklaus walked out of the kitchen, still complaining about his injured arm.
Cherry and Mrs. Jennie looked at each other before bursting into laughter again.
For a little while, the problems surrounding Cindy seemed far away.
Nicklaus walked outside, his hands tucked casually into his pockets.
A small smile remained on his face as he walked down the path.
He glanced back toward the house, remembering Cherry laughing in the kitchen.
His smile slowly grew.
"Sooner or later..." he murmured to himself.
He wasn't in a hurry.
He knew Cherry still had feelings for Elian, and he knew there was a lot standing between them.
But Nicklaus wasn't planning on giving up.
"One day, Cherry..." he whispered, his eyes filled with determination. "I'll make you completely mine."
He continued walking, already thinking about how he would make Cherry fall for him.
Meanwhile, back in Manila...
Elian stood alone by the fishing base, his hands resting against the wooden railing as he stared at the river.
The water moved quietly beneath him, but his mind was anything but quiet.
He couldn't stop thinking about what had happened with Cindy.
That kiss.
The way he'd kissed her back.
Elian closed his eyes and ran a hand through his hair.
"Why did I do that?"
He knew he still had feelings for Cindy. He couldn't lie to himself about that anymore.
But there was something else bothering him.
Maybe Cindy really had changed.
Maybe the years apart had made her realize what she'd lost.
Maybe she truly regretted leaving him.
Elian looked down at the water.
"But what about Cherry?"
His chest tightened.
Cherry had waited for him. She had stood beside him when he had nothing. She had given him the diamond that changed his entire life.
And now, after finally finding her again, he had betrayed her.
Elian lowered his head.
"Cherry..."
Her smile immediately came to his mind.
He felt guilty.
But at the same time, the feelings Cindy had awakened in him refused to disappear.
Elian stared at the river for a long moment.
"I don't know what I'm supposed to do anymore."
For the first time in years, the man who had seemingly figured out his entire life had no idea which direction to take.