The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1669 Why Are You So Eager To Leave

"Yes, I just left the company." Sheryl curved her lips into a smile, so that Charles wouldn't notice anything wrong in her expression.

"Okay, that's good. Would you like to visit Melissa? I guess she toiled herself to sickness as she had kept busy taking care of me these past several days. Now she has been put in the room next door. I guess she must already be awake now," Charles suggested. He hoped to repair the relationship between his wife and his mother. From his point of view, he couldn't ignore it anymore. If there was any chance for them to reconcile, he would seize it and try his hardest to make it happen.

"Really? Then I will come back after visiting Mom!" Sheryl was a little startled, though there was a trace of suspicion and reluctance in her eyes. She planted a kiss on Charles' forehead before she headed toward the room next door.

As Sheryl pushed the door open slightly, Melissa was holding an apple in her hand. With much expectation, she had thought that it must be Leila coming to see her again. She almost called out for Leila before realizing it wasn't her.

When Sheryl came into sight, Melissa's face turned sour sharply. The big smile she had just put on disappeared without a trace, and annoyance and displeasure took over at once.

Sheryl's mood sank as she captured the change in expression on her mother-in-law's face. Seeing Melissa's vigor and substantial appetite, she knew Melissa must be pretending to be ill again! Still, she endured it and asked, in a thoughtful tone, "Mom, how are you feeling today?"

"Why do you care? Were you hoping to see me feeling sick?" Melissa replied, with a sneer.

Sheryl was a little taken aback by Melissa's reply. Confusion filled her mind as she really had no idea where Melissa's unfriendly attitude towards her came from. Since Melissa had moved into Dream Garden, even though she was the one who was the latecomer to the house, Sheryl had never treated her as an outsider at all. She always tried to show that she had respect for her. Melissa, from what Sheryl had experienced, had never been grateful. She had never treated Sheryl like a family member. Other than that, she was even averse to her own grandchildren at times.

"Mom, can we just try to be a little civil to each other? Charles just woke up from his coma, so I don't want to upset or worry him in any way!" Sheryl said, almost in an imploring voice. She only wished for a harmonious family, so she was willing to offer peace, regardless of how Melissa had made her life miserable in the past. She wanted to settle things between them no matter what.

Melissa wavered as she stared into Sheryl's sincere eyes. Perhaps confusion made her start to reflect on herself. She wasn't lost for long, though. Quickly, she shook off her self-doubt as she envied the fact that Charles cared for Sheryl even more than Charles cared for his own mother.

"I have been too nice to you! Don't you point the finger of blame at me! Did you forget how you treated me and my family? While my son was in oblivion, you and your new boyfriend humiliated me! Should I again bring up in detail what happened?" Melissa said as her voice trembled in anger. She refused to give Sheryl a chance to settle things between them.

Sheryl nodded her head helplessly, before she tried to say anything else. She sighed, saying, "Mom, there is nothing between Lewis and me. I don't love him, and he is not my boyfriend. I think I have explained that to you more than once, haven't I?"

She got a little annoyed then as she was tired of being entangled with that old affair. Considering Melissa was a patient now, she swallowed her mild anger and only vented it with a frown.

"Are you seriously blaming me? It was your fault, and you are blaming me for not giving up on your affair? Why didn't you stop playing hanky-panky with that man? Clearly, you are a woman without integrity, manners, or loyalty! You'd better leave my son alone! Divorce him as soon as possible! If you are waiting for me to drive you away, I can't imagine how it is going to look for us both!" Melissa raised her voice even louder. She pointed to the door, gesturing for Sheryl to leave.

Sheryl felt like she was on the verge of collapse. Earlier that day, Ferry had threatened her, trying to put her husband's company at risk, and next she was being insulted by her mother-in-law for no reason. She couldn't bear it anymore; it was too hard for her to stay around Charles with all the pressure that was on her.

"Mom, I did not come here to argue with you!" Sheryl retorted with dignity, as she shot Melissa a cross look.

If the soft way failed to succeed, then she thought she'd better be tough. Anyway, what mattered to her the most was making Melissa realize one thing-Charles' health was more important than their conflict. She hoped Melissa could understand that and not stir up a quarrel again. She wanted to keep Charles in a happy mood as long as she could.

"I didn't ask you to pay this visit to me, so why did you come? Honestly, I don't want to see your face. It makes me feel disgusted!" Melissa even spitefully said to her.

She had always opposed her son's marriage to Sheryl. Though Melissa had tried the best she could to pull them apart, she had failed every time. Then, over time, her hatred for Sheryl grew deeper in her heart. She didn't care about her manners anymore, and she decided that she could lose her temper at Sheryl without scruples.

Other than that, Melissa doubted Sheryl as being hypocritical. In her thoughts, Sheryl must have had many pillow talks with her son to discredit her image. She sensed that her son had been more and more indifferent toward her in recent times.

Melissa had gotten so used to having everyone in Lu Family under her control. Sheryl was the only one she felt unsatisfied with because she couldn't control her. Within her presence, Melissa felt her power was being challenged every day. She couldn't miss any chance to pull a set-up or to frame Sheryl. Sizing up Sheryl from head to toe, she suddenly had an idea!

"Mom, I think I'd better leave since you are not happy that I'm here!" Sheryl turned after she made an excuse to leave.

Hearing that, Melissa got anxious. Though she had nothing to ask, she said at once, "Wait for a moment!"

"What's wrong?" Sheryl turned and asked. She was a little annoyed that Melissa was holding her up.

"I'm thirsty, so can you bring me some hot water?" Melissa asked her.

Normally, she just wanted Sheryl to stay as far away as possible from her, but she had some strange idea in the back of her mind at that second. Melissa managed to pretend to be frail and asked Sheryl for help.

A little confused, Sheryl stood still and hesitated for a moment. Without a word or nod, she went straight to the bedside table and picked up the kettle. Then she headed outside to fill the kettle with water. Seeing Sheryl walk away, Melissa immediately fetched her phone and dialed Leila's number.

"Leila, where are you?" Melissa asked, feeling both happy and anxious. She needed Leila to help her carry out her next plan.

"What's the matter? I'm standing by the hospital right now. I'm just about to head into the building!" Leila detected the anxiety in Melissa's tone, but she couldn't understand it. 'Did she get into another situation in such a short time?' Leila sighed to herself as she began to run out of patience.

"I'm going to keep Sheryl here in my room, but I need your help! I need you to get Charles to my room, okay?" Melissa got right to the point. As she was about to say something more, she was interrupted by a sudden noise from the door. She quickly hung up the phone when she noticed it.

Leila didn't hear the whole story that Melissa was trying to tell, but she had a faint clue of Melissa's intention. With a knowing nod, she quickened her step, making her way toward Charles' room with determination.

"Charles, see what I have brought you? I had Nancy cook it for you." Leila beamed at Charles as she walked into the ward. She waved at him, showing him that she was holding a dining box. Charles didn't show any surprise or pleasure on his face. He only threw Leila a chilly look, and then said, "Put it on the table. I'm not hungry."

Leila's happy face froze. Charles' indifference brought a lot of pain to her heart again. Even so, she still managed to keep her smile on her face.

"Well, I also dropped by to see your mother. Why don't we go to her room and check on her together right now?" Leila suggested.

Melissa's instructions still stayed at the forefront of her mind. She didn't let herself forget to make an invitation, trying to bring Charles to the room. She had the feeling that Melissa must have set a trap for Sheryl to fall into there. She must want Charles to be the witness.

"You go first. I will go see her later!" Charles believed his wife and kept a wary eye on Leila. He didn't want anything to do with Leila anymore, so he tried to avoid being around her. Charles' refusal had made his feelings clear. Leila knew she couldn't force the man to do something if he didn't want to. If she insisted, she knew it might invite his anger upon her. "Well, I am leaving!" Leila still smiled. Before she turned and got ready to leave, Charles changed his mind.

"Wait!" Charles called out to stop her.

Leila was so happy to hear Charles call out her name. Her lips curved into a smile as she stood there, wondering what he wanted. She immediately turned back to Charles, with her eyes full of expectation. Charles dreaded that Leila might start a fight with Sheryl like she used to do. He felt like he needed to personally go to Melissa's ward with her to protect Sheryl.

"Can you help me walk to the ward?" Charles asked, though his voice was still in a cold tone.

"Of course!" Leila replied, without delay. She couldn't help but feel more excited when she heard that request. She swiftly walked over to Charles. Gently putting his arm around her neck, she slowly helped him to sit up, and then helped him put his feet on the ground to stand up.

"Be careful. You don't have to be hasty. Are you okay without a wheelchair?" Leila looked at Charles in concern. She tried to make him feel more comfortable.

"No need. I'm really just fine!" Charles raised his hand, signaling her that he didn't want to use a wheelchair.

He knew that his body was recovering. Though the process had been slow, and even a little painful, he could bear with it.

Sheryl prepared the hot water for Melissa, then she was about to leave.

"Why are you so eager to leave? Are you not happy taking care of me? I am your mother-in-law, and now I am sick, so it's your duty to look after me!" Melissa wanted to stop Sheryl from leaving, as her plan hadn't even started to be put into action yet.