Later that day, when Cherry finally had some free time, she quietly left the hospital.
She didn't tell Nicholas where she was going.
She knew he would try to stop her if he found out.
After everything Mrs. Anna had told her, she couldn't simply stay home and pretend nothing was happening.
Cherry drove straight to the police station.
When she arrived, she stepped out of her car and looked up at the building.
She took a deep breath.
She still couldn't believe Elian was actually being held there.
Her heart tightened at the thought of him sitting behind bars, especially knowing that he had been injured.
She walked inside.
"I've come to see Elian Eldridge."
The officer at the front desk looked at her.
"Are you family?"
Cherry hesitated.
"I'm his girlfriend."
The officer checked the records before nodding.
"Wait here."
Cherry sat down, nervously clasping her hands together.
She hadn't told Nicholas.
She hadn't told anyone.
She only knew one thing.
She needed to hear the truth from Elian himself.
A few minutes later, an officer returned.
"You can see him now."
Cherry immediately stood.
"Thank you."
She followed the officer down a quiet corridor.
With every step, her heart beat faster.
The officer stopped in front of a small interview room and opened the door.
Cherry stepped inside.
The moment she saw Elian, she froze.
He was sitting on a chair with his head lowered.
His face was bruised, and there were marks along his cheek and jaw. The bandage around the back of his head was still there, slightly stained.
Cherry's eyes widened.
"Elian..."
He slowly lifted his head.
His eyes widened when he saw her.
"Cherry?"
She hurried toward him.
"What happened to you?"
Elian tried to smile.
"I'm fine."
Cherry stared at him.
"Don't say that."
Her voice trembled.
"You're clearly not fine."
Elian looked away.
"Why did you come here?"
"Because I heard you were hurt."
She gently touched his cheek.
Elian flinched slightly.
Cherry immediately pulled her hand back.
"I'm sorry."
He shook his head.
"It's okay."
Cherry sat beside him.
"Tell me what happened."
Elian looked at her for a long moment.
"I already told them."
"I know."
She lowered her voice.
"But I want to hear it from you."
Elian took a slow breath.
"I went to your house because I wanted to see you."
He paused.
"When I arrived, I found your mother at the bottom of the stairs."
Cherry's eyes filled with tears.
"I didn't push her, Cherry. I swear."
She remained silent.
"I ran to her and tried to help her. That's when you and your father came back."
Elian's voice became strained.
"Your father thought I had done it."
Cherry looked down at her hands.
"And the police?"
Elian gave a bitter smile.
"They don't believe me either."
Cherry looked back at his bruised face.
"Did they hurt you?"
Elian didn't answer immediately.
That was answer enough.
Cherry's eyes filled with tears.
"Elian..."
He gently reached for her hand.
"Don't cry."
She looked at him.
"I should have come sooner."
"No."
Elian shook his head.
"You didn't know."
Cherry squeezed his hand.
"I believe you."
Elian stared at her.
"You do?"
She nodded.
"I don't know who hurt my mother."
Her voice was quiet.
"But I know you wouldn't do it."
For the first time since his arrest, Elian's expression softened.
He held her hand tightly.
"Thank you."
Cherry's composure finally broke.
Tears streamed down her face as she covered her mouth, trying to hold back the sob that escaped her.
Elian immediately moved closer.
"Cherry..."
She shook her head, crying harder.
"I'm sorry."
Elian gently held her hands.
"Don't apologize."
"I should've believed you from the beginning."
"You do believe me now."
"But look at you."
She looked at his bruised face, her tears falling faster.
"They hurt you."
Elian wiped her tears with his thumb.
"It's nothing compared to seeing you hurt."
Cherry broke down completely, leaning against his chest.
Elian wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly.
"I'm here."
She clung to him.
"I was so scared when Lola told me."
Elian rested his cheek against the top of her head.
"I'm okay."
"No, you're not."
Her voice was muffled against his chest.
"You shouldn't be here."
"I know."
Elian closed his eyes.
"But I'll be okay."
Cherry continued crying in his arms.
For several moments, neither of them spoke.
Then Elian quietly whispered,
"Thank you for coming to see me."
Cherry tightened her arms around him.
"I couldn't stay away."
The door opened.
An officer stepped inside and looked at them.
"Your visiting time is up."
Cherry quickly wiped her tears.
"Already?"
"I'm afraid so. You need to leave now."
The officer moved toward her.
Cherry reluctantly stepped away from Elian, but the moment she did, her emotions overwhelmed her again.
"No..."
She suddenly turned back.
The officer tried to guide her toward the door, but Cherry pulled away.
"Wait!"
She hurried back to Elian.
Before he could say anything, Cherry leaned forward and kissed him briefly.
Elian froze in surprise.
When she pulled back, she wrapped both arms tightly around him.
"Cherry..."
She buried her face against his chest, crying harder.
"I don't want to leave you."
Elian held her tightly.
"I'll be okay."
"I don't want to go."
Her grip tightened around him.
The officer approached again.
"Miss, you really have to leave."
Cherry shook her head, refusing to let go.
Elian gently stroked her hair.
"Cherry, please."
She looked up at him through tear-filled eyes.
"Promise me you'll be okay."
"I promise."
"Don't give up."
"I won't."
Cherry hugged him one last time, still crying.
Finally, she slowly released him.
Elian watched as the officer escorted her toward the door.
Cherry kept looking back at him until the door closed between them.
Elian remained seated in silence, staring at the door.
For the first time since his arrest, he felt like someone truly believed him.
Cherry returned to the hospital later that afternoon.
She quietly entered her mother's room and sat beside the bed.
Mrs. Jennie was still unconscious, the monitors beside her continuing to beep softly.
Cherry placed the food she had bought on the small table beside the bed.
She opened the container and forced herself to take a bite.
But the moment she swallowed, tears rolled down her cheeks.
She quickly wiped them away.
"I'm sorry, Mom."
Her voice trembled.
She took another bite, but she couldn't stop thinking about Elian.
His bruised face.
The bandage around his head.
The way he had looked at her from inside the police station.
And the way he had insisted that he hadn't hurt her mother.
Cherry lowered her fork.
She couldn't eat anymore.
She covered her face with one hand as tears continued falling.
"Why are they doing this to you?"
Her voice broke.
"I know you didn't do it."
She looked toward her mother.
"Mom... I know Elian."
She gently reached for Jennie's hand.
"He would never hurt you."
Another tear slipped down her cheek.
"I just wish I could get you to wake up."
Cherry leaned closer to the bed, still holding her mother's hand.
"And I wish I could get Elian out of that place."
She quietly cried beside her mother's bed, unable to stop thinking about the man she loved.