On the way back to the Haynes house, Cherry sat comfortably in the passenger seat, watching the city lights pass by the window.
After a few minutes, she suddenly sighed.
"Elian..."
"Hmm?"
"My assistant told me something today."
Elian glanced at her briefly before returning his eyes to the road.
"What happened?"
"Her husband cheated on her."
Elian frowned.
"That's terrible."
"It gets worse," Cherry said. "He cheated on her with her younger sister."
Elian's expression darkened.
"Her own sister?"
Cherry nodded.
"Yes. She said she found out after seeing messages between them. Apparently, they've been secretly seeing each other for months."
Elian tightened his grip slightly on the steering wheel.
"That's disgusting."
"I know," Cherry said sadly. "She trusted both of them."
She looked down at her hands.
"I don't understand how someone can betray a person who loves them like that."
Elian was quiet.
The words hit him harder than Cherry could possibly know.
His mind immediately went to Cindy.
Then to the secret relationship he had started behind Cherry's back.
Cherry continued talking, unaware of the storm inside him.
"She said she feels like she can't trust anyone anymore."
Elian swallowed.
"Maybe... some people make mistakes."
Cherry looked at him.
"Cheating isn't just a mistake, Elian."
He glanced at her.
"I know."
She sighed.
"I just hope she finds someone who actually respects her."
Elian's chest tightened.
For a moment, he couldn't bring himself to answer.
Because the person sitting beside him had no idea that the man she trusted was becoming exactly the kind of person they were talking about.
Elian drove quietly for a moment before glancing at Cherry.
"What would you do if you were in your assistant's position?"
Cherry thought about it carefully.
"I'd probably cut ties with my sister first."
Elian raised an eyebrow.
"Your sister?"
"Yes," Cherry said firmly. "Because she's family, but what she did would still be unforgivable."
She paused, looking out the window.
"Then I'd divorce my husband."
Elian's hands tightened slightly around the steering wheel.
"Because he wasn't faithful?"
Cherry shook her head.
"Not only because of that."
She turned to look at him.
"I'd leave because I have to respect myself."
Elian remained silent.
Cherry continued softly.
"What's the point of staying in a relationship when the other person's heart is still somewhere else?"
Her words hit him like a punch to the chest.
She looked back out the window.
"Love isn't supposed to be something you have to compete for."
Elian swallowed hard.
"And if he begged you to stay?"
Cherry shook her head.
"I'd still leave."
She smiled sadly.
"Because if his heart already belongs to someone else, then keeping him beside me wouldn't make him love me."
Elian stared at the road ahead.
He couldn't say anything.
Cherry had no idea how closely her answer was reaching the truth he was desperately trying to hide.
Cherry was quiet for a moment before continuing.
"I can tolerate a lot of things, Elian."
Her voice was calm, but there was something firm underneath it.
"But I can't tolerate disrespect."
Elian glanced at her.
Cherry looked out the window, watching the lights of Manila pass by.
"I can forgive someone for making mistakes. I can forgive arguments, misunderstandings, even things that hurt me."
She paused.
"But betrayal?"
Her expression hardened.
"That's different."
Elian's chest tightened.
Cherry continued.
"I hate when someone betrays you behind your back, then comes home and looks you in the eyes like everything is fine."
She shook her head.
"They pretend they love you. They hold your hand. They kiss you. They tell you everything is okay..."
Her voice became quieter.
"Meanwhile, they're doing something behind your back that they know would destroy you if you ever found out."
Elian's fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
Cherry turned toward him.
"I could never live like that."
She gave a small, bitter laugh.
"If you don't love me anymore, just tell me. It'll hurt, but at least I'll know the truth."
Elian didn't respond.
He couldn't.
Because every word she said made the guilt inside him grow heavier.
Cherry looked forward again.
"I'd rather be heartbroken by the truth than be happy because of a lie."
The car fell silent.
Elian kept driving, his eyes fixed on the road.
For the first time that night, the warmth of their date felt very far away.
Cherry sighed and leaned back against the seat.
"Well, it's a good thing I'm not in my assistant's position."
Elian glanced at her.
"Why?"
"Because I probably would've settled everything a long time ago," she said with a small laugh. "I wouldn't spend months wondering whether someone still loves me."
She turned toward him, her expression softening.
"And honestly, I'm sure you wouldn't cheat on me."
Elian's hands tightened around the steering wheel.
Cherry smiled at him innocently.
"I trust you, Elian."
Those three words made his chest ache.
He forced a small smile.
"You really trust me that much?"
"Of course."
She reached over and gently placed her hand on his.
"You're not that kind of person."
Elian stared at the road ahead.
For a moment, he couldn't bring himself to look at her.
Because Cherry believed in him completely.
And he knew he was already proving her wrong.
Elian was quiet for a few seconds, his eyes fixed on the road.
Then he spoke softly.
"What if you're wrong?"
Cherry looked at him.
"Wrong about what?"
"What if..." He hesitated. "What if I'm not the person you think I am?"
Cherry studied him, confused by the sudden seriousness in his voice.
She smiled gently.
"Elian, why are you asking me that?"
"Just answer me."
Cherry thought for a moment.
"What if I'm wrong about you?"
"Yeah."
She squeezed his hand.
"Then I'd want you to tell me the truth."
Elian swallowed.
"Even if the truth hurts?"
"Especially then."
She looked at him with complete sincerity.
"I'd rather hear something painful from you than live happily believing a lie."
Elian's chest tightened.
Cherry smiled again.
"But I don't think I'm wrong."
"Why?"
"Because I know you."
She rested her head against the seat.
"And I trust you."
Elian looked at her briefly.
That trust felt heavier than anything he'd ever carried.
An hour later, Elian's car finally pulled up in front of the Haynes house.
Nicklaus was already outside, waiting.
The moment he saw Elian step out of the car, his expression changed.
Cherry got out and smiled.
"Nicklaus? What are you doing outside?"
"Waiting for you."
He glanced at Elian, his eyes narrowing.
Elian noticed the glare but said nothing.
Cherry walked toward the front door with Elian beside her.
Nicklaus stepped forward and stood between them.
"Come on, Cherry. It's late."
Cherry looked at him.
"I know. I was just—"
"Come inside."
She sighed.
"Okay."
Before following him, Cherry turned toward Elian.
"Thank you for tonight."
Elian smiled.
"Anytime."
Cherry waved before walking inside.
Nicklaus gave Elian one last cold glare.
Then he turned and followed Cherry into the house, closing the door behind them.
Elian remained outside for a moment, staring at the closed door.
His smile slowly disappeared.
That look in Nicklaus's eyes had been unmistakable.
He wasn't looking at Cherry like a brother.
He was looking at Elian like a rival.