The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1103 The Truth

As much as Sheryl and Shirley wanted to eat out, they failed to persuade Clark. To compromise, Clark agreed to Sheryl's suggestion of taking the pizza home. Shirley also agreed on that idea. It was better to take it home than nothing at all.

Sheryl really enjoyed the company of her children. When she was with them, she forgot all her worries. She even forgot others. It seemed that her world was rotating only around her children. Her focus was only on Clark and Shirley.

Ever since she turned off her phone, she hadn't checked it for calls or messages. She was unaware of the numerous missed calls and messages she received.

While Sheryl was enjoying her time with the kids, Charles, on the other hand, was really anxious by this time. He couldn't contact Sheryl! He tried to contact her for several times, even left her message after message. But, there was no reply!

In his heart, he knew the reason why he couldn't contact Sheryl. He knew the reason why they had a problem. It was all connected with his dear mother. At first, since Melissa came to live with them, he was starting to get annoyed with Sheryl. He couldn't understand a kind and considerate girl becoming very vicious!

But just an hour ago, he suddenly received a video recording from Sheryl. Although it was a sneak shot, the recording was completely clear.

The video showed their bedroom. The voice recorded unmistakably belonged to Melissa. He clearly heard everything she said.

He was a little bit shaken. Even though Sheryl didn't say anything, he could still understand her actions. Who wouldn't be? After all, his mother was no saint.

But what made Charles really feel sad was his guilty for Sheryl. Why did he doubt her? Didn't all the hardships they overcome proof enough of her loyalty and love? Of her character? Wasn't this just another obstacle that they had to win together?

Charles looked at his watch. He knew it was time for Sheryl to pick up the children. But when he drove to the kindergarten, he found no one anymore. So, he rushed home.

His anxiousness reached its peak when he reached home. Sheryl and the kids had not arrived yet.

But, somebody was in a good mood to see him. Melissa walked to his direction and gave him her best smile. "Charles, it's good to see you. I missed you."

Charles did not look at Melissa. He didn't even return her greetings. In short, he didn't like to see her.

"Charles!" Melissa shouted a bit. She didn't like her son's attitude just now. And she wanted to get to the bottom of this. "What happened? Is there anything wrong with you?" she asked.

"Where is Sher?" he asked. He wanted to shout at her, but controlled himself. He suppressed whatever anger he was feeling. After all, Melissa was still his mother. She still deserved to receive even a little respect.

"Sher? I don't know. She hasn't come back since she went out this afternoon," Melissa answered feigning ignorance. Melissa knew very well that Sheryl went out to fetch the kids from school, but she pretended not to know. So what if not telling him what she knew would create a problem. It was her objective anyway to create a wedge between them. She would do everything to achieve what she wanted.

When Charles looked at her, he saw her eyes as sincere as ever. If Charles had not seen the video, he would have believed her. But now, after knowing the truth, he just turned away from her and walked out. He was nearing his car when his mother called him.

"Charles, where are you going?" Melissa asked gently. She didn't understand why Charles was frantic to replace Sheryl.

"I am going out to replace Sher!" Charles answered. He wanted to say more, but stopped himself. He wanted to talk to Sher first.

"Charles, is Sher still angry with me? If you replace her, you must help me to persuade her. I..." Melissa continued. She continued acting as the good mother-in-law who was so sincere and concerned to her daughter-in-law. Her acting was definitely improving each day.

"Mom!" Charles shouted, stopping Melissa with whatever else she was going to say. "Cut it out, will you? You have just been discharged from the hospital. Go to your room and rest!" Charles really didn't want to hear her telling more lies. As much as he would like to control himself, he failed. He was reaching his breaking point.

Melissa was shocked by his words. She detected anger in his voice. She couldn't accept the fact that Charles' attitude to her changed in just a snap of a finger.

'What made him like this? Did I do something he didn't like? But I just came back from the hospital, ' Melissa thought. The harder she thought, the harder she felt to figure out the reason.

Melissa was thinking miles away, and Charles took the chance to get away from her.

When he was about to leave Dream Garden, he saw Sheryl's car approaching.

She pulled over and got out of the car, followed by the two kids with smiles on their faces.

At that moment, Charles finally felt relieved. He got out of the car as well and walked towards Sher.

"Sher, is your phone turned off?" Charles asked. He didn't want to elaborate his question anymore for fear of the children understanding what he meant. Clark, especially. He was too perceptive for his age. Sheryl also felt uneasy with the question. She didn't want her children to know that something was definitely wrong. Clark already hinted earlier that he noticed something was amiss between her and Charles. Sheryl wouldn't like her children to be unhappy. "Yes, the phone is low bat. I didn't have time to charge it," Sheryl simply answered.

Charles just nodded at her. Then, he turned to the kids and asked, "Clark, Shirley, what have you learned in school today?" Charles felt happy to see the two children smiling. He knew that they would eagerly answer his question. Every day, they always came home telling him the new things they learned.

Shirley proudly answered, "We learned a lot today! Do you want us to teach you?" Shirley couldn't help giggling. She knew already what her father would answer. It was always like this.

"Wow! It seems that you really learned something new today. You teach me what you learned later, okay?" Charles was already in a good mood. His temperament quickly changed as soon as he saw his wife and kids.

"Okay, Dad, I can't wait. I can't wait to teach you how to dance! Make sure you will be a good student later," Shirley laughed happily. Shirley could really imagine his father dancing! She burst into more laughter "Okay!" Charles answered enthusiastically. He couldn't help but feel excited also. Shirley's enthusiasm was infectious. He nodded to Shirley to show that he would be a good student, and he was starting to be a good one at that moment.

"Shirley, do you want teach Dad to dance or eat pizza first?" Sheryl asked. Sheryl showed the pizza in her hand to remind Shirley of their take home food.

"I love to eat pizza!" Shirley quickly answered. Then, she turned to her daddy. "Dad, I want to eat the pizza first. Would it be okay?"

"No problem, kiddo! You can teach me as soon as you have time," Charles answered. Then, Charles guided Shirley towards the door.

This time, he turned his attention to Clark. He said, "Clark, go eat pizza with Shirley." Charles took Clark's hand and entered the house. Shirley took the pizza from Sheryl and went straight to the dining room. "Dad, Mom, I don't like pizza. It's Shirley who loves it. What I want to do is talk to you both," Clark said. Clark removed his hand from his dad's grasp. Then, he faced his mom and dad, looking at both of them. Charles and Sheryl exchanged brief looks. "Talk to us? About what?" Sheryl asked. It was Sheryl who spoke first. She knew what this was all about, though she was hoping that he would drop it.

"Mom, Dad, tell me the truth. You have been arguing recently, haven't you?" Clark bluntly asked. Clark saw the exchanged looks between his parents. Now, it was his turn. He kept on looking back and forth between his parents. He wanted to know what was really going on between his mother and father.

"Absolutely not. We are not arguing. And if ever we do, we make sure that we reconcile before the day ends," Charles explained. Charles knew it! Despite how careful they were in front of their children, they still knew something was up. Especially with Clark... Nothing really escaped his perceptive son.

Clark saw the look on Charles' face and knew that he was lying. He felt a little bit angry at him. He said, "Dad, you're a big man. You have to man up with what you did. If you say you and Mom have really reconciled, you have to show it.

Otherwise, you'll be shameful in the eyes of others."

Charles didn't know the right words to tell his son.

"Clark, your dad and I are really good. Don't think too much," Sheryl answered Clark, comforting him. Sheryl saw how uneasy it was for Charles. She knew he was thinking on how to explain the situation to Clark. She also saw in Clark's face that he wasn't happy with what was happening either. She felt Clark knew that she was just giving him an explanation which he wanted to hear, not what he should know. "Dad, did Mom tell the truth?" Clark asked, looking intently at his dad. Obviously to them, Clark didn't believe what Sheryl said. And now, he was looking at Charles seeking for answers.

Seeing the expression on Clark's face, Charles now decided to tell the truth. He knew that Clark was naturally sensitive. They couldn't really fool him with some excuses or lies. "Clark, what you have just said now is right. Your mom and I did really have a misunderstanding. And, we haven't really sat down to talk about it."

Charles continued to explain, "I know I was wrong, and that I have misunderstood her. So I want to apologize to her and ask for her forgiveness. Clark, do you think your mom will forgive me?"

"That's right, Dad. You should face the problem. If you want Mom to forgive you, ask her personally!" Clark replied. Then, Clark smiled. He knew that once his dad apologized to his mom, he would be forgiven. He knew how much they loved each other.

And they would still be a happy family!

His fear of having a broken family would not happen to them.

"Now, your mom and I are going to our room to talk about this. Will you be okay with that?" Charles was very lucky to have such an understanding son.

"I like that. But I think you should first ask Mom if she would agree with you."

"Of course." Turning to his wife, Charles asked, "Sher, are you willing to go up and talk?" Charles looked Sheryl in the eye. He took her hands in his, hoping that she would agree.

Sheryl just looked at him, without speaking. Actually, she did not want to explain anything at all. Things already happened anyway. And more importantly, Charles already knew the truth. So, was there still something to talk about? She believed there was nothing more.