The next morning, Elian went to the Haynes house.
He had barely slept the night before. Mrs. Anna's strange behavior continued to bother him, and he wanted to speak with Cherry about it.
When he knocked, the door opened.
Nicklaus stood there.
His expression immediately hardened when he saw Elian.
"What are you doing here?"
Elian's expression became cold.
"I'm here to see Cherry."
Nicklaus stepped forward.
"She's not available."
He started closing the door.
Elian put his hand against it.
"Don't lie to me."
Nicklaus glared at him.
"I said she's not available."
"I'm not leaving until I speak with her."
Nicklaus's anger suddenly boiled over.
He shoved the door open and lunged at Elian.
Elian reacted instantly.
He grabbed Nicklaus, and the two of them crashed against the doorway.
"Get your hands off me!"
Nicklaus swung at him.
Elian blocked the punch and struck back.
The fight quickly moved toward the staircase.
Neither man was willing to back down.
Nicklaus grabbed Elian's shirt, and Elian pushed him backward.
They lost their footing.
Both of them tumbled down the stairs.
"Nicklaus!"
"Elian!"
They hit the floor hard.
But even after the fall, neither let go.
They rolled across the floor, exchanging punches as their anger completely took over.
Inside the house, Nicholas and Jennie heard the commotion.
"What was that?" Jennie asked.
Cherry immediately recognized Elian's voice.
"Elian!"
The three of them hurried outside.
They stopped in shock when they saw the two men fighting on the floor.
"Stop!"
Nicholas rushed forward.
"Elian! Nicklaus!"
But neither man listened.
Cherry covered her mouth in horror.
"Please, stop fighting!"
Jennie stood frozen, staring at them.
The situation was becoming completely out of control.
Nicholas rushed forward and grabbed Nicklaus by the shoulders, trying to pull him away.
"That's enough!"
At the same time, Cherry hurried toward Elian.
"Elian, stop!"
Elian was breathing heavily, his face filled with anger.
"He attacked me first!"
Nicklaus tried to break free from his father's grip.
"He came here looking for trouble!"
"I came here to see Cherry!"
Elian glared at him.
"You tried to keep me from even entering the house."
Nicholas tightened his grip on Nicklaus.
"Enough, both of you!"
Jennie stepped closer, her expression filled with disappointment.
"Nicklaus, why are you always fighting with him?"
Nicklaus looked away.
Elian straightened his clothes and wiped the corner of his mouth.
Cherry immediately went to him.
"Are you hurt?"
"I'm fine."
She carefully examined his face.
"You keep saying that."
Elian sighed.
"I'm okay."
Nicklaus noticed Cherry's concern for Elian, and his expression darkened.
Nicholas noticed it too.
"Nicklaus, go inside."
"But Dad—"
"Now."
Nicklaus reluctantly stepped away.
Elian looked at him coldly before turning toward Cherry.
"I came because I wanted to talk to you."
Cherry nodded.
"About what?"
Elian glanced toward Nicholas and Jennie.
"About Lola."
Jennie immediately looked at Nicholas.
"What happened to Mrs. Anna?" Cherry asked.
Elian's expression became worried.
"She's been acting strangely since she came home yesterday
Nicholas's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Strangely?"
Elian nodded.
"She came home crying. She kept asking me to stay away from your family."
Jennie's heart began pounding.
She exchanged a nervous glance with Nicholas.
Elian continued.
"She was terrified that someone would take me away from her."
Jennie lowered her gaze, suddenly understanding why Mrs. Anna had reacted that way.
Elian looked at Cherry.
"I don't know what happened to her, but something is seriously bothering her."
No one answered.
Nicholas and Jennie knew exactly what Elian didn't.
Mrs. Anna was hiding something.
And now, more than ever, they needed to know what it was.
Cherry walked beside Elian toward his car.
She glanced at his face again, still worried about the bruises from the fight.
"You shouldn't have fought with Nicklaus."
Elian opened the passenger door for her.
"He attacked me."
"I know."
Cherry sighed.
"I just don't want you getting hurt again."
Elian gave her a small smile.
"I'll be more careful."
Cherry hesitated before getting into the car.
"Are you really worried about Lola?"
"Very."
Elian's expression became serious.
"Something happened when she met your parents. She won't tell me what it is."
Cherry nodded thoughtfully.
"I'll try talking to her."
Elian touched her hand.
"Thank you."
Meanwhile, inside the house, Nicholas was furious.
He marched upstairs and headed straight for Nicklaus's room.
He pushed the door open.
Nicklaus looked up from his phone.
"Dad?"
Nicholas shut the door behind him.
"What happened downstairs?"
Nicklaus's expression hardened.
"He started it."
"Don't lie to me."
Nicholas stepped closer.
"I saw the aftermath. You were fighting him before anyone could separate you."
Nicklaus looked away.
"He shouldn't have come here."
"That's not an answer."
Nicholas's voice became colder.
"Why are you so determined to keep Elian away from this family?"
Nicklaus remained silent.
Nicholas stared at him.
"Every time that man comes near Cherry, you lose control."
Nicklaus clenched his jaw.
"Because I care about her."
Nicholas's eyes narrowed.
"That's not an excuse."
Nicklaus said nothing.
Nicholas stepped closer.
"Something is wrong, Nicklaus. And I'm going to find out what it is."
Nicklaus looked at his father, suddenly uneasy.
Nicholas turned toward the door.
"And if you ever attack Elian again, there will be consequences."
He walked out, leaving Nicklaus alone with his thoughts.
Nicklaus remained alone in his room.
The moment the door closed behind his father, his anger erupted.
He grabbed his phone and threw it against the wall.
It crashed onto the floor.
"Cherry is mine..."
His breathing was heavy.
"I won't let him take her from me."
Meanwhile, Nicholas returned downstairs, still visibly angry.
Jennie noticed immediately.
"Nicholas?"
He sat down heavily on the couch.
"What happened?"
Nicholas rubbed his forehead.
"It's Nicklaus."
Jennie became concerned.
"What about him?"
"I've been watching him for a while now."
Nicholas sighed.
"The way he behaves whenever Elian is around Cherry isn't normal."
Jennie remained silent, listening.
"He gets jealous. He picks fights with Elian. He tries to keep him away from her."
Nicholas shook his head.
"Even today, he attacked him as soon as he arrived."
Jennie frowned.
"I've noticed it too."
Nicholas looked at her.
"I think Nicklaus has feelings for Cherry."
Jennie was quiet for a moment.
"Feelings?"
"Yes."
Nicholas's expression was troubled.
"He doesn't see her as just his sister anymore."
Jennie's eyes widened slightly.
"Nicholas..."
"I know."
He sighed.
"And that's why I'm worried."
Jennie lowered her gaze.
"Cherry doesn't feel the same way."
"I know."
Nicholas looked toward the staircase.
"She loves Elian."
Jennie nodded quietly.
"And Nicklaus needs to accept that."
Nicholas leaned back, his expression becoming more serious.
"I don't know what he's capable of if he lets his jealousy control him."