A Few Days Later
Several days passed.
That afternoon, Cindy visited Mrs. Anna again.
It wasn't the first time that day she'd asked about Elian.
In fact, it was the third time.
"Mrs. Anna, do you know when Elian will be back?" Cindy asked casually.
Mrs. Anna looked up from what she was doing.
"Cindy, you've already asked me twice."
Cindy gave a small smile.
"I was just wondering."
Mrs. Anna sighed.
"He's at work."
"I know, but—"
"Cindy."
Her voice suddenly became firm.
Cindy stopped.
Mrs. Anna stared at her, clearly frustrated.
"Whatever you're planning, you need to stop."
Cindy's smile disappeared.
"I'm not planning anything."
"Then why have you asked me about Elian three times today?"
Cindy remained silent.
Mrs. Anna shook her head.
"Have you not done enough already?"
Cindy's expression hardened.
Mrs. Anna continued, her voice filled with disappointment.
"You hurt that boy years ago. He finally found his way back to Cherry, and now you're suddenly looking for him again."
"Mrs. Anna, it's not like—"
"I don't want to hear it."
Cindy fell silent.
Mrs. Anna stood up.
"Whatever you're trying to do, quit before you go any further."
She looked directly into Cindy's eyes.
"Don't find another way to ruin Elian's life."
Cindy's jaw tightened.
"I'm not trying to ruin his life."
"Then leave him alone."
Mrs. Anna turned away.
"He's finally happy. Let him be."
Cindy stood there quietly, her hands clenching at her sides.
She didn't answer.
But the look in her eyes said she had no intention of giving up.
Cindy turned toward the door, ready to leave.
But just as she stepped outside, a familiar car pulled up in front of the house.
Elian had returned.
Cindy stopped.
The moment she saw him, her eyes filled with tears.
She quickly wiped them away, but it was too late.
Elian had already noticed.
He got out of the car and walked toward her.
"Cindy?"
She looked at him, her lips trembling.
"What's wrong?"
Cindy tried to speak, but her voice broke.
Mrs. Anna remained silent behind them, her expression stern.
Elian looked between them.
"Lola?"
Mrs. Anna didn't answer.
Elian turned back to Cindy.
"Why are you crying?"
Cindy lowered her head.
"Your grandmother..."
She wiped another tear from her cheek.
"She doesn't want me around you."
Elian frowned.
"What?"
Cindy took a shaky breath.
"She told me to leave you alone. She said I've already done enough and that I'm trying to ruin your life again."
Elian's expression changed.
He glanced toward his grandmother.
"Lola, is that true?"
Mrs. Anna remained silent.
Cindy looked at Elian through tearful eyes.
"I didn't come here to cause trouble."
Her voice trembled.
"I just wanted to see you."
Elian stared at her, conflicted.
Cindy continued softly.
"I know you probably don't believe me anymore... but I never wanted to hurt you."
Mrs. Anna finally looked at Cindy, but said nothing.
Elian stood between them, completely unsure of what to believe.
Elian looked at Cindy's tearful face for a long moment.
"Cindy, go home first."
She looked up at him.
"But—"
"I'll come see you there," he said firmly. "Just go home."
Cindy hesitated before nodding.
"Okay."
She wiped her tears and walked toward her car.
Elian watched until she drove away.
Then he slowly turned around.
Mrs. Anna was still standing by the doorway.
"Lola..."
She sighed.
"Elian—"
"Why did you say those things to her?"
Mrs. Anna's expression hardened.
"Because someone has to."
Elian stared at her.
"What exactly did she do this time?"
"You don't understand."
"Then explain it to me!"
Mrs. Anna looked shocked.
Elian had never spoken to her like that before.
"You've asked me about Cindy three times today," Mrs. Anna said. "You've gone back to her, Elian. Don't pretend I don't see what's happening."
Elian's jaw tightened.
"This is between Cindy and me."
"No. It isn't."
"It is!"
His voice rose.
Mrs. Anna stepped back slightly.
"You have Cherry now. She loves you. She waited for you for years. And yet you're still allowing Cindy to come between you."
"You don't know what happened!"
"I know enough."
"No, you don't!"
Elian's voice echoed through the small house.
"For the first time in years, I finally have a chance to decide what I want! Why does everyone keep deciding for me?"
Mrs. Anna's eyes filled with sadness.
"Because I'm trying to protect you."
"Protect me?"
Elian laughed bitterly.
"From what? My own feelings?"
"From destroying your own life!"
Elian stared at her, breathing heavily.
"You think Cindy is going to ruin my life?"
"I think you're going to ruin it yourself if you keep going down this road."
Elian clenched his fists.
"You don't get to tell me who I can love!"
Mrs. Anna's voice trembled.
"And you don't get to pretend that what you're doing isn't hurting Cherry!"
That stopped him.
For a moment, there was silence.
Elian looked away.
Mrs. Anna stepped closer.
"She trusts you, Elian."
He swallowed.
"Don't make her regret it."
Elian's anger faltered, but his frustration remained.
"You should have talked to me instead of attacking Cindy."
"I tried."
"No, you didn't!"
His voice rose again.
"You've already made up your mind about her!"
Mrs. Anna shook her head.
"No. I've made up my mind about what I see happening to you."
Elian stared at her.
Mrs. Anna's voice softened.
"I watched you suffer when you were young. I watched you leave Manila carrying nothing but heartbreak. I watched you build yourself back up."
She touched his arm.
"I don't want to watch you destroy yourself now."
Elian pulled his arm away, still angry.
"I can take care of myself."
"Then start by being honest with yourself."
He said nothing.
Mrs. Anna looked into his eyes.
"You can't keep one woman in your heart while promising your life to another."
Elian's face went pale.
He looked away.
For once, he had no answer.
Mrs. Anna eventually turned away from him and went back to what she had been doing, refusing to continue the argument.
Elian stood there for a moment, still frustrated.
Then he walked out of the house.
The Draven house was only a short distance away, so he drove over and soon arrived.
He stepped out of the car and walked straight to the front door.
A maid opened it.
"Good afternoon, sir Elian."
Elian gave her a brief nod.
"Good afternoon."
He stepped inside.
In the living room, Noa was sitting on the couch watching television.
Noa noticed Elian immediately.
Their eyes met.
Noa's expression became serious.
Elian didn't say a word.
He simply walked past him and headed toward the stairs.
Noa watched him disappear upstairs.
He knew exactly where Elian was going.
Cindy's room.
Noa's jaw tightened as he turned his attention back to the television, though he wasn't really watching anymore.
Upstairs, Elian stopped in front of Cindy's bedroom door.
He took a deep breath.
Then he knocked.
Cindy leaned closer and kissed him.
Elian hesitated for only a moment before kissing her back, pulling her into his arms.
The kiss deepened as they moved toward the bed.
Cindy reached for the buttons of his shirt, slowly undoing them.
Elian didn't stop her.
She removed his shirt and let it fall aside.
Elian stared at her for a moment before gently laying her back on the bed. He leaned over her, kissing her again as his phone slipped from his pocket.
He placed it on the desk beside the bed.
A moment later, the phone began to ring.
Cherry.
The screen lit up with her name.
But Elian didn't hear it.
He was too lost in the moment with Cindy.
The phone continued ringing on the desk before the call eventually stopped.