The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1105 Answer

Throughout the whole conversation, Charles kept his eyes on Melissa, observing her facial expressions closely and waiting for the slightest suspicious change. He wanted to catch the exact moment that her expression changed so he could call her bluff immediately.

Much to his disappointment, he didn't detect any change at all in her expression. In fact, ever since he had broken the news that he was planning to move out with his family, she seemed to have frozen in shock.

"Mom?" Charles said gently as he put his hand on hers. He couldn't help feeling guilty at Melissa's reaction. He even started to doubt himself, wondering if he was making the right decision to move out. "Charles, did Sher say something to you? Never mind, forget it. I'm getting old and don't understand the way you youngsters think nowadays..." Melissa's voice trailed off. She sounded forlorn and defeated. Tears started to form in her eyes.

Charles was instantly brought back to the day his father passed away. Melissa had a huge fight with his father right before he went out, and left the house. Sadly, his father had met with an accident that day and died before the ambulance could arrive. When his mother had heard the news, she had exactly the same expression that she was wearing now. Afterwards she had left, and he had never seen her again for the next fifteen years.

"Mom, I'm doing this for you. I know you've only moved in with us for a few days, but you look so miserable. I hate to see you like this." Charles tried to comfort her, hoping that she wouldn't take it personally. Melissa shook her head and smiled weakly. "No, no, it's not that I disagree with your decision. As a mother, I just want whatever is best for you, and makes you happy."

She had never seen this coming. In the process of breaking Charles and Sheryl up, she had nearly lost her life and had almost no regrets. But now, they were planning to move out, and she was going to lose her son just like that.

Once they had moved out and had their own home, she would no longer have any reason to stick her nose into their business.

If that was the case, Sheryl would be getting exactly what she wanted. No, she was not going to lose that easily, not after all the effort she had put in!

Melissa faked a deep sigh and said, "Charles, you are still young. There is still so much that you don't know. No mother would ever be willing to let their children get hurt, and naturally would never want to be far from their children. I have already made a huge mistake by leaving you for fifteen years. So..."

"You don't want us to leave, do you?" Charles blurted out, not letting Melissa finish her sentence. He had absolutely no intention to say such a thing. But he couldn't bear to see the tears in his mother's eyes, and his heart instantly softened.

"If I want to be selfish, I would say yes. I don't want you to leave me. But you are my son, and I don't want to cause any difficulties for you." She paused for a while, looking sadly at Charles. Then she asked, "Did you make this decision because Sher and I don't get along well?"

Charles was quiet. Melissa quickly continued, "If that is the case, then there is no need for you to move out just to solve this problem. I have been thinking about it, and I have decided that I will stop interfering and reduce my interactions with Sheryl." The look in her eyes was so sad and desperate, Charles felt his determination disappearing quickly.

"Mom, no, that's not how it is at all," he said earnestly. His heart felt like someone had cracked it into half and was drowning it in an ocean of his mother's tears. Not only was his heart aching, but it was also hurting with every breath.

"Charles, I want you to know that no matter what, I hope we can still live together. I admit, Sher and I have our differences, but since you are okay with her now, I have to accept her as my daughter-in-law. From today onwards, I will try to tolerate her, regardless of who is in the wrong during our arguments. I will try to be more inclusive to her for your sake," Melissa told him in a sincere tone.

"But Mom, I..." Charles wanted to tell her that he still intended to move out with Sheryl.

But Melissa quickly put her finger on his lips, not letting him continue. Fixing her eyes on Charles, she said earnestly, "Son, I have never asked for anything from you. But just this once, I am begging you to stay. To be honest, I came back to Dream Garden not because of your grandfather, but because of you. If you leave, there is absolutely no reason for me to be here anymore."

Not only were her words desperate, but aslo there was a terrified look in her eyes. She was scared of losing her precious son and she willing to do anything to make him stay.

"Charles, I promise, from now on I will not get into any arguments with Sheryl. I'll try to forget the past and start a new chapter with her. I will try to be a better mother-in-law to her. Please believe me, Charles," Melissa pleaded.

She knew her son well and knew that he would be easily swayed by her pleading. Even though it meant that she had to indirectly admit that she had been mistreating Sheryl, she didn't regret it, as she knew that it was worth it. Her biggest fear was being apart from Charles.

Her words had the desired effect. Charles wanted to say something, but just couldn't say it.

After all, she was his mother. He didn't have the heart to do this to her.

"Okay, Mom. I'll think about it," he said, frowning slightly. The words came out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

Sensing her son's weakness, Melissa attacked before he could think any further. "Thank you, Charles. I'm happy to hear that. Just give me some time, and I will prove to you that Sher and I can get along," she said.

"It's getting late. You should head back to your room and get some rest, Mom. Good night!" Charles wrapped it up quickly. He knew that there was no way he was going to win. His mother was not going to agree to his moving out.

"Good night!" Melissa replied with a bright smile.

Sheryl overheard the whole conversation between the mother and son. However she didn't feel in the least bit upset or disappointed with Charles as she knew that he was a filial son.

But she was worried that despite Charles knowing Melissa's true colours, he might still choose his mother over her. Blood was thicker than water, after all.

Charles had already turned around and was about to go to his room. Suddenly he turned back to his mother as he was hit by a thought.

"What's wrong?" Melissa asked. She couldn't figure out what was running through her son's mind.

Charles remained quiet, but she could tell from his expression that he was perplexed and he didn't know whether he should say it or not.

"Mom, there's actually something I've been meaning to ask for some time now. But I don't know how to say it," Charles began after some hesitation.

"It's okay, dear. What is it you want to ask?" Melissa asked with a warm smile.

"Mom, I know you've disliked Sher right from the start. Despite all her efforts to win your heart, you still dislike her, right?" Charles finally managed to ask. "But I just don't get it. Why? Why do you dislike her so much?"

"Is it really that obvious?" Melissa was surprised. She looked into his eyes and knew that she couldn't dodge this anymore. If she avoided the issue, her son would seriously consider moving out.

Even if she managed to divert the issue this time, she wouldn't be able to avoid it a second time.

"Yes, it is. Both Sher and I can see it clearly," Charles nodded.

"So that's why Sher is so hostile to me. She knows that I don't like her," Melissa said in realization. But even though she admitted that she did not like Sheryl, she was not planning to tell Charles the real

reason.

She quickly came up with a lie that would seem convincing enough for Charles to believe.

"Mom, I want to know the answer," Charles insisted. Sheryl had never given her a hard time, and he knew it. Despite Melissa's treatment towards her, she was still very respectful towards her mother-in-law. However, he kept quiet and didn't dispute Melissa's statement. He just wanted to know why his mother hated Sheryl so much.

"Very well, since you insist," Melissa sighed. "Your father and I were deeply in love, and the whole city knew it. We were one of the ideal couples, and everyone looked up to us. What they didn't know was that your father cheated on me."

"Dad had an affair?" Charles gaped at his mother in disbelief.

"Yes, he did. And Sheryl looks a lot like that person. In fact the first time I saw her, I even thought it was the same person!" Melissa lied calmly.