REPORTER'S

Liam wrapped his arm tightly around Cherry, pulling her close as they navigated through the swarm of reporters and paparazzi. The cameras clicked and flashed, blinding them with their bright lights.

"Liam, can you tell us what happened?" one reporter shouted.

"How does it feel to have Anthony behind bars?" another asked.

Cherry buried her face in Liam's chest, overwhelmed by the chaos. Liam held her tightly, trying to shield her from the madness.

"We'll make a statement later," Liam said firmly, his voice rising above the din. "Right now, we just need some time to process everything."

The reporters continued to shout questions, but Liam and Cherry pushed through the crowd, determined to escape the chaos. Finally, they made it to their car, where they collapsed onto the seats, exhausted.

Cherry looked up at Liam, her eyes red-rimmed from tears. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.

Liam pulled her into a tight hug. "You have nothing to be sorry about," he said. "We're safe now. That's all that matters."

As they drove away from the chaos, Cherry leaned her head on Liam's shoulder, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. She was safe, and Anthony was finally behind bars.

Liam wrapped his arm around her, holding her close as he drove. "We're going to get through this, Cherry," he said softly. "We're going to heal and move on, together."

Cherry nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Liam. He had been her rock throughout this entire ordeal, and she didn't know what she would have done without him.

As they arrived at their home, Angela and the kids were waiting for them, anxious to hear about what had happened. Liam and Cherry filled them in on the details, and then they all hugged each other tightly, grateful to be together and safe.

The rest of the day was a blur of police statements, phone calls, and visits from friends and family. But through it all, Liam and Cherry were together, holding each other up and supporting each other through the chaos.

As the sun began to set, Liam and Cherry finally had a moment to themselves. They sat down on the couch, holding hands and looking into each other's eyes.

"I love you," Liam said softly.

"I love you too," Cherry replied, smiling.

They sat there in silence for a moment, enjoying each other's company and the peace that had finally settled over their lives.

But as they sat there, Cherry's expression suddenly turned serious. "Liam, I have something to tell you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Liam's eyes narrowed, his grip on her hand tightening. "What is it?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

Cherry took a deep breath before speaking. "I've been thinking a lot about what happened with Anthony, and I realized that I've been blaming myself for everything," she said, her voice shaking.

Liam's expression softened, and he pulled her into a tight hug. "You have nothing to blame yourself for, Cherry," he said. "Anthony's actions were not your fault. You were a victim, and you did nothing to deserve what he did to you."

Cherry nodded, feeling a lump form in her throat. "I know that intellectually, but it's hard to shake off the feeling of guilt and responsibility," she said.

Liam held her at arm's length, looking into her eyes. "You need to let go of that guilt, Cherry," he said. "You need to forgive yourself and realize that you did the best you could under the circumstances."

Cherry nodded, feeling a sense of determination wash over her. "You're right," she said. "I need to let go of the past and move on. I need to focus on healing and rebuilding my life."

Liam smiled, his eyes shining with pride. "That's my strong girl," he said. "I'll be right here beside you, supporting you every step of the way."

Cherry smiled back, feeling a sense of gratitude and love towards Liam. "I love you," she said.

"I love you too," Liam replied, pulling her into a tight hug.