Jared couldn't say a word, silenced once again by Cherry's biting tone. He was confused—torn between wondering whether it was still right to care about his ex-girlfriend or continue pretending not to see her. No matter how much he tried to avoid her, fate kept pushing them into the same path. He couldn't understand why destiny allowed their paths to cross again, even when there was clearly no more hope. He wanted to forget Cherry, to move on—but moments like this only made it harder. Made forgetting her feel impossible.
He gathered the courage to finally speak.
"Actually, I saw you sitting here alone and crying, so I came over," he said softly.
He didn't mention that this was the second time he'd seen her like that.
"I don't need you," Cherry snapped, pausing her crying. "I can handle this on my own."
Jared simply nodded, accepting her coldness.
"Okay. I understand, Cherry. I don't have the right to comfort you. But I just wanted to say…"
He paused and looked her straight in the eye.
"If ever you need someone to talk to… just call me. Or text me. I still have the same number. I won't hesitate to be there for you."
A moment later, sensing her reluctance, he decided not to linger. He knew she still wasn't comfortable with him.
Forcing a small smile, he said his goodbye.
"I have to go. Take care."
As Cherry walked away, she glanced back at her former lover. Then she quickly lowered her head, holding back the tears that threatened to fall again. She bit her lip in frustration.
It was already six in the evening when she arrived home. The first thing she heard was her husband shouting.
"You—where have you been?" he demanded. "You've got some nerve letting other people into our lives."
"Ate…" Daryl's face showed clear fear.
"I asked him to stay here and watch the house. Is that such a bad thing?"
"Didn't I tell you I don't want strangers in this house? What if something goes missing—can you take responsibility for that?"
"Alfred!" Cherry interjected, trying to hold her voice steady. She saw how embarrassed and hurt her younger brother was by her husband's words. "Daryl is my brother. I know him."
Alfred smirked. "Then how do you explain what I found out?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You're always such a fool," Alfred spat, right in front of her brother. Even Daryl was stunned by the way he treated his sister. He felt sorry for her, but couldn't bring himself to speak up in her defense.
"Didn't you notice? All the food in the fridge and pantry—gone. Damn it! I just wanted to eat, and now this?"
Cherry suddenly recalled what had happened earlier. Her siblings and parents had come over. So they had eaten all the food.
She wiped her face with both hands, clenching her fists in frustration.
"I'm sorry, Ate. We couldn't stop them—me and Ate Jessa," the boy said nervously.
"Don't tell me you even let others in the house?"
"Our other siblings came over… even Mama and Papa," Cherry explained.
"What kind of family is that, Cherry? Like a pack of starving dogs?"
"Alfred, that's enough!" she snapped, still defending them despite everything. They were still her family. "Don't you dare talk about them like that."
"Oh, you're defending them? Figures—you're all the same," he said with a mocking finger pointed at both her and Daryl.
Daryl couldn't take any more. Overwhelmed and humiliated, he decided it was best to leave.
"I'll go ahead, Ate. I'm going home now," he said as he turned away.
Cherry called after him, but he replied before she could say anything else.
"I don't know yet when I'll come back. I'm going now."
Left alone again, Cherry ran a hand down her face in utter frustration—torn between her husband's cruelty and the shame of her family's unintentional mistake. Not once did Alfred think about how she felt. She was overwhelmed with guilt, frustration, and a growing heaviness in her chest.
She was tired. Tired of it all.
"Is that his reply? He's just leaving without a word of explanation?"
"I already told you what I had to, Alfred. What more do you want from me?"
"Damn it. I'm starving and there's not even a bite to eat."
He stormed out of the house, prompting Cherry to follow after him.
"Where are you going?"
"That's not your problem anymore. Get out of my sight before I lose control and punch you," he snapped. Cherry froze in place, stunned by the change in his demeanor. He was nothing like the man she fell in love with back when they were still dating.
Instead of stopping him, she let him go. She didn't want things to escalate into violence. Quietly, she returned to their children, approaching them and pulling them into a tight embrace.
"Mama, where did you go?" her eldest, Carina, asked. "We're really hungry."
Cherry quickly put the children down and headed outside to buy some food. It was already dark, but she pushed on, stomach grumbling. After managing to bring home something to eat, she washed the kids up and put them to bed. Then, she stepped out of the room and slumped onto the sofa, listing what she'd need to buy the following afternoon.
Meanwhile, Romualdo, Cherry's father, noticed that Daryl, his youngest, was still in his house clothes. From what he knew, Daryl usually visited his sister Cherry's place around this time.
Also present in the house were Julian, his wife, and their children, along with Jonald, who was already having breakfast. Jessa was in the bathroom bathing the kids with her husband's help.
"Aren't you going to see your sister Cherry today?" Romualdo asked his youngest son, but received no answer. Irritation flashed across his face.
Daryl sat down, pretending he hadn't heard the question.
"Hey, Papa's talking to you," his older brother Henry said.
"You really think Cherry would still want me around after what happened? After I was humiliated by her and her husband?" Daryl shot back. Alarmed, Jessa quickly left the kids with her husband.
"What are you saying, Daryl? You're talking to someone older than you," Henry interjected.
"Oh, you're getting bold now? Did you pick that up from your sister?" their father scolded.
Moments later, Elena, Cherry's mother, emerged from the bedroom. She had just finished tidying up after making breakfast.
"What's going on? I can hear you all the way from the room. It's too early for this," she said sharply.
"It's your youngest again. Talking back. Must've picked that up from Cherry. Tsk," Romualdo muttered.
Elena turned to Daryl. "What is it this time?"
"You really want to know? Do you have any idea how painful it was to be called scavengers—me and our whole family—by Kuya Alfred, because of what you all did?"
"The nerve of that guy to say that about us," Jonald chimed in, furious. "He needs to be taught a lesson."
"Enough, Jon. You're not helping," Jessa said firmly.
"He's so arrogant," Jonald muttered again. "He deserves a good punch so he knows who he's messing with."
Jessa rolled her eyes. "We never seem to do anything right in this family. It's exhausting."
"That husband of hers is out of his mind. Since when did visiting your sister and asking for food become a crime?"
"That man was never a good influence on Cherry. She left us because of him."
"No, Ma, Pa," Henry said, looking at Daryl, who was trying to keep his cool. "Cherry made that choice. She married him because she loved him."
"Loved him? She left us behind and only thought of herself," their mother argued.
Daryl let out a sarcastic laugh. "Cherry was never selfish. What's so wrong with her choosing her own happiness for once? Or maybe we're the selfish ones for always trying to deny that she is right?"
Elena slapped Daryl across the face. "You've gone too far."
"Ever since he started courting Cherry, she's changed," Romualdo added.
"And maybe Alfred was right after all… this family really is a bunch of beggars," Daryl muttered, earning a punch from his father. Jessa rushed between them.
"You've got no manners!" Romualdo shouted. "You have no right to say that! You're still my son." The fury was evident on his face—and Elena's too.
"Daryl, please stop," Jessa pleaded.
"You're right, Ate. Enough." Daryl gently pulled away from her grasp and walked toward the door. He paused for a second. "I'm done."
He kept walking. Henry called after him, but Daryl didn't look back.
Jessa sighed heavily and dragged a hand down her face. She returned to their bedroom.
"Jes!" her husband called as he followed her inside.
Back at Cherry's house, she was preparing breakfast when Alfred suddenly appeared.
"Where have you been? You were gone for two days."
"Is there a problem?" Alfred asked as he walked toward her. The stench of alcohol still clung to him.
"Yes, there is. A big one. You just left us here like we are not matters to you."
He swept the items off the table and wall shelves in a sudden fit of rage.
"Please stop this now, Alfred!"
"Stop? Stop what, Cherry? You can't control whatever I do!"
Frustrated, she abandoned her spot at the dining table and stormed outside. She blocked his path, refusing to let him leave again.
"What do I have to do to get rid of all that anger in your heart?" she began, trying to keep the tears from falling. "No matter what I do, you're always mad at me. I don't even know where all that hatred comes from."
"You want to know why I'm angry?" he spat. "Because of him."
Her brows furrowed. "I don't understand what you're saying."
Alfred grinned bitterly. "You don't? You really don't? It's because of him that you've never wanted making love with me—not even once after our wedding. You keep saying you're not ready to have a child, but the truth is, it's because you're still thinking about him."
"I've told you so many times—I've moved on. I thought you understood that. And now you're bringing him into this?"
He scoffed. "I don't believe you. We've been married for a year, and not once did we celebrating our love together. We adopted a child because you wanted to—remember? I gave you what you wanted." His voice has risen. He had always suspected that even during their relationship, Cherry still have feelings for her ex, Jared.
Cherry was at a loss. Alfred's mind was closed off to everything she said. Deep inside, she knew—he had never truly trusted her love.
"You're making up stories. I told you—I'll do it when I'm ready. Is that really so hard to understand?"
"You still can't accept the fact that it's all because of him. And don't pretend that Cyprus just happened out of love. You only agreed because you felt guilty."
"There's nothing to admit—because none of what you're saying is true!"
"You are lyinng."
"If anyone here's being stupid it is probably you!" Cherry exploded, no longer able to hold it in. "You say you love me? Then why did you do all this?" She pointed to herself, her voice cracking. She recounted two years of being controlled, insulted, nearly abused. "Is this what love looks like to you? Who's really doing the foolish things here?" She jabbed a finger at his chest, all her bottled-up resentment spilling out.
"It's me. I'm the one who chose to stay even while it's hurting, just to keep this family together." She glared at him. "If this is all you have, Alfred maybe you should've never married me in the first place. If you doubted my love all along maybe we shouldn't have started a family."
"You're wrong, Cherry. Between the two of us, I was the one who got tired."
"Fine…" she said, turning to him.
"But let me just say one thing..." She paused. A faint, forced smile crossed her face. "You're a worthless husband." She emphasized every word, which almost earned her another slap from Alfred.
Earlier that morning, as he was driving, Jared happened to pass by Cherry and Alfred's house—only to see the couple fighting outside the gate. He almost keep going. Almost.
But when he saw Alfred raising his hand to her, something inside him to let him stop what he is doing.
Jared hold the Alfred's arm that made Cherry stunning seeing his face.
"Don't you dare hurting her and I will report this to police." He stated.
"What the hell is that bastard doing here?" Alfred snapped, his voice laced with hostility as he turned toward his wife, who stood frozen in shock.
"Jared, how did you even know we lived here?" Cherry asked, disbelief etched all over her face. She couldn't begin to understand how he'd found their place.
But instead of answering her directly, Jared kept his gaze on Alfred.
"Watch your mouth, man," Jared said calmly, though the hurt behind his eyes betrayed his composed tone.
"And you think you've got the right to say that?" Alfred retorted with a mocking grin. "You, barging into a married couple's life like some kind of hero—now you've got the nerve to act all self-righteous?" He taunted Jared further, but Jared didn't budge.
Instead, he stepped closer to Cherry's husband. "If you treated your wife better…" His tone sharpened as his stare pierced Alfred, prompting Cherry to step between them.
"Jared, that's enough, please. Just leave."
"I'm not going anywhere until this man gets what he deserves, Cherry."
"You have no right to interfere, Jared. This is our life—please leave," she pleaded.
"And you're still defending him? Even after all you've endured for so long?" Jared said, pointing a finger at Alfred. "Look at yourself," he said as his eyes scanned her from head to toe.
"Can you even call that love?"
"You're testing my patience uh!" Alfred growled, ready to lunge at Jared, but Cherry held him back quickly.
"Cherry, please listen to me. Don't let him keep you in chains," Jared begged. Then, he stared to Alfred, and spoke with a cold expression, "You've never loved her. Not once. You've never been a good husband. You're worthless."
Before anyone could react, Alfred's fist collided with Jared's jaw in a fit of rage.
"Stop it!" Cherry cried, trying to break them apart.
Jared merely smirked and didn't fight back.
"Let go of me!" Alfred shouted, shaking off Cherry's hand. "I'm not crippled. I still have the strength to teach this guy a lesson."
"There's nothing going on between us! Please believe me," Cherry insisted.
"Liar…" Alfred muttered with a smug grin.
"Should I call the cops now?" Jared raised his phone for them to see. It displayed a picture—evidence of Alfred hurting Cherry. "I have it all on record." He played the video, followed by a voice recording that captured everything they'd said.
"I'm not afraid of you," Alfred spat.
"Let's see about that…"
"Leave, Jared." Cherry pleaded again, her voice trembling.
"Men like him—men who hurt their wives—need to be in jail. I can report this to the police. I have a lawyer friend, and he can do a case."
Alfred fell silent at that. Deep down, he knew Jared had the upper hand.
He took a step forward and glared at Jared, pretending to stay unfazed. "Just try it—and you'll see what happens."
"I will. I'll make sure justice is served," Jared said, his voice unwavering. "As I'm observing you, I can already tell how terrible you've treated the woman I loved. Keep it up, and I'll make sure you rot in jail."
"Leave, Jared. I don't need your help or your explanations. This is our problem," Cherry requested.
Jared looked into her eyes, searching for even a flicker of hope—something to hold onto. But he saw only sadness and resignation, years of pain etched across her face. Still, she defended her husband.
"You don't know what we're going through. Just leave us, please," she said softly, holding Alfred up.
Realizing there was nothing more he could do, Jared let out a sigh. He gave Cherry a faint, forced smile as stepping back, his heart feel heavy. He is turning backi and just walk away.
When Jared was gone, Cherry has faced Alfred again.
"Remember this," he growled, pointing a threatening finger in her face. "Don't ever let me catch you meeting with that man again. You don't know what I will do to him."
With that, he stormed off and left her once more in a broken, anxious, and filled with sorrow.
That night, the doorbell rang unexpectedly.
"I'll get it," Cherry said to her younger brother Daryl, who had temporarily moved in with her after running away from home.
"Okay, Ate," he replied.
Cherry made her way to the gate and peered out to see who it was. Her eyes widened in surprise. It was Alfred—drunk—and one of his co-workers helping him stay upright.
"Wow. I told your husband to take it easy with the drinks. He finished all three bottles we ordered," the co-worker said, shaking his head while guiding Alfred toward the house.
"I'm really sorry," Cherry apologized.
"It's fine. I'm just glad I was there with him. Atleast there someone could help him getting home safely."
After a few minutes, Cherry thanked the man and brought Alfred into the house by herself. On her way to their room, she crossed paths with Daryl.
"Ate…" he said, stunned by the sight.
"Please bring me a basin of warm water," she instructed gently.
"Right away, Ate," he nodded.
Cherry gently wiped Alfred's face and body to help lessen the effects of his intoxication.
"I don't know what to do with you anymore, Alfred," she whispered, tears falling down her cheeks. "I'm so tired. I don't understand how we ended up like this since we are happy before. I thought you accepted my flaws… I thought you could admit my past. But I was wrong. I never thought my shortcomings the reason you turned so cold."
After cleaning him up, she adjusted his sleeping position on the bed. She was about to take the basin back to the kitchen when he pulled her in a sudden toward him and stole a kiss to her lips.
It softens Cherry's heart. She didn't resist. She allowed her husband to do as he pleased—thinking perhaps this was their night of reconciliation.
Alfred climbed on top, kissing her neck down to the chest. Cherry remained closing her eyes, letting her hands wander gently over his body.
For her, this moment meant something. It was a sign—a fragile hope that things between them might finally heal.
The next morning, she was up early, preparing breakfast. Just in time, Alfred woke up. She smiled and walked over to him, but his expression change the moment he saw Daryl.
"What's your brother doing here, Cherry?"
"He will be stay here with us for a while. I'll take care of him, okay?"
"Do you even use your mind? Or are you just plain stupid? You really think I'd share meals with your freeloading brother after your family has eaten our food in this house and everything a mess they done?"
"Alfred, that's enough! You're now insulting everyone!" Cherry, who was smiling in a minute, now she looks frustrated and feel hurt about her brother.
She is hoping last night would change things. But it doesn't. She thought that moment of intimacy would be the start of reconciliation.
"And whose fault that I should act this way? It is because of you." he snapped. "I'm leaving and I'll eat somewhere else. I've already lost my appetite."
"Wait, Alfred." Cherry tried to stop him, but ignored her and ran outside.
She sighed in deep breath that her heart becomes weary.
After eating their breakfast, Daryl took Cyprus and Carina to school. Cherry are busy cleaning their house. When she attempt to sit down to rest for awhile, her phone unexpectedly buzzed. A single message appeared on the screen.
"I'm sorry."