Owned By Mistake

Another thing that bothered Cherry was that she couldn't read Gilbert's expression. She didn't know what he was planning. What if this was just some setup? What if, later on, he turned everything around and made it look like she started the fight?

Cherry hesitated. Instead of creating more drama, maybe it was smarter to ask for money, compensation for the damage done to her clothes, her job, and her pride.

"N-No need," she finally said. "Just pay me for what your friends did."

Olivia let out a relieved sigh, then glanced at her cousin with a smirk. "See, Brother Gilbert? She prefers money. What a leech."

Cherry took a slow breath and stared straight at Olivia. "Miss Olivia, if you think I'm here to cause trouble, I can always call the police instead."

"You!" Olivia's eyes went wide with rage, but she didn't dare make a move. Not in front of Gilbert. He still held the power to call off her engagement with Benjamin, and that scared her more than anything.

She huffed and pulled out her chequebook. "Is fifty thousand enough?"

Cherry nodded. "Yes." She walked over to retrieve her phone, the one Olivia had thrown. The screen was cracked, but it still lit up when she powered it on.

Olivia signed the check and handed it over with a flick of her wrist. Then she turned on her heels and stormed out of the restaurant. Her face was burning with shame, but she swore silently, this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

Cherry glanced up and noticed Gilbert was still there.

She bowed slightly, feeling awkward. "T-Thank you, Mister Ace Carter."

"I was just disciplining Olivia," Gilbert said flatly.

Cherry didn't know what to say to that. She still wasn't sure why he had helped her at all. But she didn't want him to misread her gratitude.

"I'm thankful for the compensation I got," she said, standing straighter. "Because of you, Mister Ace Carter."

Gilbert didn't react. His face was still blank. But his eyes told a different story.

In his gaze, Cherry could see disgust. He looked at her like she was greedy, like all she cared about was the money.

And maybe that's all he ever wanted to believe.

"Thank you again," Cherry repeated softly, when Gilbert didn't answer.

She turned away, wanting to check on what else had been damaged in the restaurant. She figured she'd deduct whatever costs she needed to cover from the money Olivia had paid.

Cherry began moving quickly. She picked up the broken glass and scattered cups, then dropped them gently into a garbage bag. But as she turned to grab a mop, she bumped into someone's chest.

Gilbert.

She hadn't realized he was still standing behind her.

Her lips were still swollen, and the sudden impact made her gasp.

"You're hurt," Gilbert said, staring down at her, "but you still seem happy because you got money."

Cherry's hand trembled. Was he angry that she took the payment? Was he blaming her now? What was he going to do, turn against Olivia again?

Or would he turn on her this time?

She bit her lip, heart throbbing, and whispered without thinking, "I'm happy because of you."

Gilbert narrowed his eyes. "What did you say?"

"N-Nothing," Cherry said quickly, shaking her head.

His cold gaze didn't waver. The tension in the air made Cherry feel like her chest would burst. She was afraid to speak. Afraid that whatever she said next would trigger something she couldn't control.

So she did what she knew, she played pitiful.

"I-It really hurts," she moaned quietly, wrapping her arms around her ribs.

Gilbert stared at her a moment longer, then, without a word, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the door.

"W-Wait," Cherry gasped. "I haven't cleaned up yet, "

"Don't worry. I'll have someone handle it."

His grip was tight. Too tight. "Please, slowly, it hurts," Cherry said, voice strained.

Her whole body throbbed. Every step made her wince. Olivia and her friends had pinched and punched her like she was nothing, and now, even walking hurt.

Gilbert didn't speak.

He just kept pulling her outside.

Cherry didn't know where they were going. And the worst part was, she didn't know what to expect. Was he angry? Was this about control?

All she knew was that a quiet fear had crept into her chest.

And it felt a lot like sadness.

He never cheated anyone. He never caused trouble. But just because he had no partner or family of his own, people always found something to say about him.

Cherry's chest ached as the truth settled in her mind. Her lips trembled before her voice cracked.

"If you think I shouldn't have accepted the money your cousin paid, I'll return it. I didn't take it for myself. I just," Her voice broke, and tears streamed down her face. "I just needed to make things right."

Gilbert looked at her.

Her face was slightly swollen. Red marks lined her cheek and neck. Her skin, pale as milk, made every scratch stand out. And her eyes, half-hidden by thick lashes, were puffed and bloodshot.

Do I look like I need money? he thought to himself bitterly, irritated by her words but unsure why they bothered him so much.

Without speaking, he opened the car door and guided her into the back seat. His driver was already waiting.

"To the hospital," Gilbert ordered as he climbed in beside her.

Cherry froze.

"W-Why the hospital? I-I'm fine, Mister Ace Carter,"

Gilbert didn't respond. Instead, he grabbed her wrist and pulled up her sleeve.

"Look at your arm," he snapped.

Cherry glanced down.

Her skin was covered in red and purple bruises, the worst around her forearm. The marks were angry and raw. She hadn't realized how bad they looked until now.

Gilbert's jaw tightened. His eyes burned with frustration.

"You're so damn stupid. Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?"

Cherry's whole body trembled. She bit her lower lip, fighting back tears.

"I-I told you earlier, you just didn't listen, Mister Ace Carter."

As soon as they arrived at the hospital, the doctor immediately asked Cherry to remove her long-sleeved shirt. She hesitated, but with Gilbert standing nearby and watching, she had no choice.

Underneath, she was wearing only a thin undershirt. Her pale skin was bruised and scratched all over, her arms, her shoulders, even her collarbone. The marks were fresh, some of them swollen and red. Even her neck and cheeks had visible bruises and welts that couldn't be hidden.

Gilbert's expression darkened as he looked at her injuries.

He hadn't expected it to be this bad.

The doctor was a woman in her late forties or early fifties. She frowned the moment she saw Cherry's condition.

"Who did this to you, hija?" she asked gently, placing her stethoscope down and moving closer.

Cherry gave a small, uneasy smile. "I just got into a fight, doc."

As she reached for her shirt to cover herself again, the doctor glanced at Gilbert, who stood stiffly nearby, arms crossed, face unreadable.

Then the doctor leaned down and whispered, "Is this the man who hurt you?"

Cherry blinked, startled. "What?" she asked, then quickly shook her head. "N-No, doc. It wasn't him."

But the doctor wasn't convinced. "You don't have to be afraid. If he did this, I'll call the police right now," she said quietly, her hand resting gently on Cherry's arm.

Cherry's eyes flicked to Gilbert, who was now glaring at the two of them with an even darker expression. That cold stare alone made her stomach tighten.

She quickly shook her head again. "It's nothing like that. Someone else did this."

"Then who is he? Your boyfriend?" the doctor asked, her tone lightening with a small smile. "He's handsome."

"N-No, not my boyfriend," Cherry replied shyly, shaking her head again.

The doctor gave her a teasing look, clearly not buying it.

Gilbert let out a quiet sigh and finally spoke up, his tone clipped. "Are you done?"

The doctor looked at him but didn't respond, turning back to Cherry instead. "I've already treated your wounds, but I'll prescribe an ointment for the bruises. Apply it three times a day. And use an ice pack to bring down the swelling."

She scribbled on a pad, then handed Cherry the paper. "Also, avoid lifting anything heavy."

Cherry nodded and clutched the prescription, but her heart was still racing. She didn't know what Gilbert was thinking. She couldn't read him. And that silence was the scariest part of all.

Cherry nodded quietly at the doctor's instructions. Her chest was no longer tight with fear. Earlier, she had thought Gilbert brought her here to punish her or humiliate her further, but he hadn't. Instead, he let her be treated.

The doctor turned to Gilbert and handed him the prescription. "Mister, buy this medicine right away so you can apply it to your girlfriend's wounds. The sooner you use it, the faster she'll heal."

Cherry's eyes widened, and her cheeks flushed deep red. "He's not, " she tried to explain, but Gilbert had already turned around and walked off without a word.

Cherry was left standing in shock. She bit her lip and bowed slightly toward the doctor. "T-Thank you, doc." Then she left the examination room, her steps a little slower now.

Since her injuries weren't serious, and Gilbert hadn't returned yet, Cherry found a seat on the hallway bench outside and sat quietly. She folded her hands in her lap and lowered her head, not wanting to draw attention.

Then a calm, baritone voice spoke from behind her.

"Cherry? Is that you?"

She turned toward the voice. Her eyes lit up as soon as she saw the man. He was wearing a white coat and had a soft, gentle face. His brown eyes sparkled behind his glasses, and he carried an aura that made people feel at ease even before he smiled.

Cherry stood quickly. "Doc Elijah!"

Elijah smiled warmly, the kind of smile that hadn't changed over the years. "Long time no see. How are you?"

"I'm okay, doc. I'm in college now," she said, a smile spreading across her face. "You? Are you a doctor here?"

"Yup. Been here three years."

Cherry looked down at his ID badge. "General Surgeon," it read. Her eyes widened. "You're amazing, Doc Elijah. You made your dream come true!"

He chuckled modestly. "Thanks. But look at you, in college now. You've come a long way."

They stood facing each other, surrounded by the hum of nurses and patients. For a moment, Cherry felt like time had rewound. Years ago, Elijah had treated Luke when he had severe pneumonia during a medical mission in Paco. Even after the mission ended, Elijah had stayed in touch, continued Luke's treatment, and never once asked for money.

Cherry had never forgotten his kindness.

And now, standing in front of him again, she felt an old warmth in her chest, something kind and safe that reminded her of who she was before everything fell apart.

But behind her, footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Gilbert was back.

Elijah's smile softened as he looked at her, but it slowly faded as he noticed the marks on her face and neck.

"Did something happen to you?" he asked gently. "Have you been checked out already? Do you want me to take a look?"

Cherry waved her hands quickly, not wanting to worry him or explain the mess she'd been through. "I-It's nothing, Doc Elijah. I slipped earlier. Another doctor already checked me."

He didn't look convinced, but before he could say anything more, a nurse came over and whispered something to him. Elijah nodded, then looked back at Cherry with a little regret in his eyes.

"I guess you're busy, Doc," she said, giving him a small smile and motioning for him to go.

"Yeah," Elijah said with a light chuckle. "But wait, do you have a cellphone?" he asked, suddenly remembering something.

Cherry nodded and reached into her pocket, but her hand hesitated a little as she pulled out her phone. The screen was cracked badly from what happened earlier. She gave him a sheepish look.

Elijah didn't say anything about it. He just smiled kindly, took the phone from her, and typed his number in. "Here. Just miss call me so I can save yours too," he said as he handed it back and pulled out his own phone.

Cherry dialed his number, and it rang almost instantly. Elijah glanced at his screen, saved her name, then looked up again.

"So, where are you studying now?"

"St. Claire University."

"Hmm. That's a good school," he said with a thoughtful nod. "What course?"

"Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Design."

Elijah's brows rose a bit, impressed. "That suits you. Are you on a scholarship?"

Cherry's chest lifted with quiet pride as she nodded. "Full scholarship," she replied softly.

"That's amazing," Elijah said, his tone full of genuine praise. "You really worked hard for it, huh?"

Cherry lowered her head with a smile. "I had to."

For a few seconds, neither of them spoke. They just stood there quietly in the hallway, with nurses walking past and muffled voices echoing from nearby rooms. For Cherry, it felt like a small piece of peace in the middle of the chaos she'd been living in.

But that moment didn't last long, because when she glanced toward the end of the hall, she saw Gilbert standing there.

Watching them. Expression unreadable.