The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1102 Don't Dodge The Problem

Gary grilled Sheryl but not up to the point of breaking her. Calmly, Sheryl said, "I swear, I never lied to you. You should know it because I lived with you. But if you really think I have a hand on what happened, it's a proof that you really didn't know me at all. And, I can never change what you think. I think now, more than ever, that I can't force you or Charles to believe in me."

Gary saw Sheryl already exhausted. "I see. As you said so, I think I already know the answer. Go upstairs now and take a rest. I know you didn't sleep well last night," Gary commanded softly. She had a point. Gary already knew who was lying.

Despite knowing it, he had no intention of getting involved in this matter.

'Only when they have gone through these things themselves can they learn something and know how to live their lives. If I always give them good advice on everything, perhaps they might have fewer problems, but I don't think it does them any good. If they never suffer pain or loss, how would they learn to cherish things or people? Or how would they know how lucky they are to have each other?' he mulled He thought it would be for the best.

"Well, Grandpa, I'll go ahead and take a rest!" Gary just nodded, and Sheryl gave him a little nod as well. Then, she headed upstairs.

Gary remained where he was as he watched Sheryl disappear. Then, he went his way.

Going straight to the bedroom, she dropped her handbag on the sofa and threw herself onto the bed. The moment her head touched the pillow, she drifted into a deep slumber. She was very exhausted these past few days, both physically and mentally. When Melissa arrived at Dream Garden, she was still sound asleep.

"Bring these to my room, Nancy," Melissa ordered as soon as she entered the house. She liked to think and act as if she was the hostess of the house.

"Yes, Mrs. Lu. What else can I do for you?" Nancy replied obediently. Nancy remained standing where the bags were and waited for more instructions.

"That's all. Leave me now!" Melissa answered indifferently. After dismissing her, Nancy headed upstairs with the bags.

When the maid was heading upstairs, Melissa seated herself on the sofa. Though Melissa was allowed to be discharged from the hospital, she was still weak for she had lost lots of blood.

She committed suicide by slitting her wrist. But she didn't regret that decision! 'It doesn't matter as long as I can save my son's lifetime happiness,' she thought. She still firmly believe that Charles wouldn't be happy with Sheryl and her method of achieving her goal was morally right.

As she snapped back to reality, she stood up and headed to her room. She decided to take a rest. As she walked past Charles' bedroom, she saw the door shut. "Charles is supposed to be at his office now. Why is his room closed?" she murmured, frowning.

She walked back and stopped right in front of Charles' room. Out of curiosity, she pushed the door open.

The sight surprised her. Then she got angry. The sight that Sheryl was sleeping in bed peacefully displeased her so much. She shouted harshly, "Sheryl!"

Sheryl stirred in her sleep. A shrill voice continued shouting, "I almost died in the hospital. But look at you. How could you sleep like a baby?! I'm very impressed!" Melissa was shouting at top of her lungs. She didn't care if she had just gotten out of the hospital. She was really mad, blood boiling to the max!

Sheryl slowly opened her eyes. After a few seconds, she turned to the direction of the yelling. "Mom, you are back? I thought you were in the hospital," Sheryl replied. Her sleep vanished at the sound of Melissa's continued yelling. Then, she slowly got up and sat at the side of the bed.

"As you see, I am safe and sound. Were you expecting me to die when you learned that I committed suicide?" Melissa snapped. 'The nerve of that girl! Wait 'til I tell Charles,' she thought. She felt triumphant that she could be right! It was obvious on her face.

Sheryl saw the look on Melissa's face. It was time to fight back! "You get me wrong! You must be very impatient to set me up! Are you itching to tell the whole world that you decided to take your own life due to my humiliation? That's below the belt! If you died, who would prove my innocence?" Sheryl sneered.

"I hope you are not stupid enough to think I would explain my actions for you, Sheryl," Melissa scoffed with a disdainful look. "But let me tell you this one. I did this on purpose! I wanted Charles and the other people in Dream Garden to change their perception of you. My final intention is for Charles to divorce you!"

"Up to the risk of killing yourself? Just for breaking us apart?! I don't get it, Mom."

Sheryl was surprised with Melissa's revelation. She didn't think anyone in his right mind could commit suicide just to achieve a goal. Life was too precious to lose! Unless, there was already something wrong with Melissa's head...

"There is no big reason behind it. I just simply hate you. I don't want to see you in Dream Garden," Melissa replied casually. Charles' mother didn't expose the real reason. When the right moment came, she was sure to let Sheryl see the big picture.

Melissa's explanation was simply not believable. Sheryl believed that there was more to it. She just didn't want her to know it. But time would come, Sheryl knew, that the reason would be divulged. But for now, whatever it was, it didn't matter. At least, she already got something she wanted-the evidence to prove her innocence.

"So, that is your agenda! I see. Like it or not, I will not leave here. You can continue setting me up. While I am going to wait for the day I will be kicked out!" Sheryl declared. 'Let the battle begin!' she thought. Glancing at her wristwatch, she got out of bed and fixed herself. Since Melissa still stood by the door, Sheryl said, "It's time to pick up Clark and Shirley. I have to go. Please help yourself here." With that, she went out and hurried downstairs. She went straight to the garage.

When she drove over to the kindergarten, there was no sign of the children yet. She rummaged through her bag and got her phone out.

She played the video she had recorded. The image was clear and so was the audio. The recording was of good quality. She was very satisfied with the result.

After contemplating a little bit, she opened Wechat and sent the video to Charles.

She then turned her phone off and placed it inside her bag.

As she lifted her head and looked ahead, she saw many kids get out of the kindergarten. She went out of the car and started looking for the kids. "Mom!" Clark greeted cheerfully.

"Mom!" Shirley called out gladly. The two kids shouted in unison.

Sheryl hugged the two kids. Then, she guided them towards the car. "Get in, kids," Sheryl said lovingly.

The kids slipped into the car quickly. After she helped them buckle up, she returned to the driver's seat. She started the engine and drove away. She planned to take her kids out for dinner, so she decided to ask Shirley first. She looked at Shirley and caught her eyes. Then she smiled and asked, "Would you like to eat out, sweetie?"

Then Sheryl continued, "What do you want? Pizza?" "Pizza?! Of course I love to. But didn't you tell us that we couldn't often eat it?" asked Shirley. Shirley beamed at the thought of eating out and eating pizza. Just like other little girls, she couldn't resist her excitement.

"Yes, I said it was not good to eat them too often. But it has been a while since the last time we ate it. So it's okay," Sheryl explained with a small smile. She didn't like the kids eating fast food. But it was okay to indulge in it once in a while.

"Yay, Mom! You are the best! Clark, we are going to have pizza," exclaimed Shirley. Shirley turned to Clark clapping her hands happily.

"Shirley, pizza is not yummy. Let's just go home to have dinner. The food Nancy cooks is delicious," answered Clark. Clark tried to persuade Shirley while staring at her skeptically through the rear-view mirror. "I know, because Nancy cooks for us every day. But I want to eat something different. I want to eat pizza. Come on, Clark. Let's have pizza, okay?" Shirley pleaded. Shirley gave Clark a pitiful look. "Clark, just say yes. After we have pizza, we will go home immediately. Does this work for you?" Sheryl negotiated as she read Clark's mind. That was why she proposed to go home as soon as they finished dinner.

"Mom, tell me the truth, what's going on with you and Dad? Dad will be on his way from work soon. Why don't you just take us home?" Clark asked bluntly. He felt something was amiss between his parents. "You are still too young to understand. And it's not right to know matters that concern the adults. Don't worry. Your dad and I are good!" Sher tried to explain without hinting anything at Clark. She knew that Clark was perceptive for his age. She didn't want him to burden himself with anything that concerned them, the adults. Clark was still too young for that.

"If that's the case, why do you want to take us out to dinner?" Clark asked again. He didn't believe her mother's vague explanation.

"Because it's been a while since the last time we ate out. And, I also crave pizza."

Clark suddenly remembered one of his lessons. "Mom, my teacher said kids who avoid problems are not brave!" Then, he continued, "So you are not a brave person, Mom!" He pouted as he tried to lecture his mom with what he learned in school.

"Of course I am brave! And hey, I am not a kid anymore," countered Sheryl. She was surprised with Clark's mini lecture.

"Now that you're a brave person, you should face the problem instead of running away from it!" Clark said, as he continued looking at his mother. This was one proof of Clark's intelligence and fast understanding of his surroundings.

"I never run away from my problems," Sheryl retorted. She couldn't help rolling her eyes as if she was charged of something she didn't do.

"Prove yourself, Mom. Let's go home!" Clark insisted. Sheryl admired his persistence.