The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 2007 The Follow Up

"Yes, can I help you? Is there anything wrong?" One of the women nodded and examined Melissa from head to toe.

"Oh, well. It's my first time here. I am not exactly sure." Melissa indeed looked like this was her first time here.

The gathered women exchanged some doubtful glances with each other. Nevertheless, they didn't question Melissa any further and began chatting with her.

'Was that woman Jackson's fiancée?' Melissa asked herself. As they got to know each other through conversing, Melissa subtly began to dig for more information on Jackson.

"So, I know this guy, Jackson, not a bad man actually. I was wondering if you know him by any chance?" Melissa nonchalantly asked. The woman sitting opposite to Melissa suddenly became excited upon hearing Jackson's name.

"I know him! We used to work together on some partnership projects. Honestly, though, I think his new fiancée isn't right for him at all." As a woman herself, Melissa could understand how the other women really felt towards Jackson's fiancée. In truth, they were all jealous of her.

'That is, perhaps, the nature of all women, I suppose,' Melissa thought.

"We think the same too! She has nothing to recommend her except her money. Other than that, she is not that special for Jackson. Why else would Jackson marry her except for her money?" One of the women blatantly derided Jackson's fiancée. Clearly, she was just envious of her.

"Alright! We get it. We are not as lucky as her. After all, she has a filthy rich dad," a woman said for the whole group.

"You're right."

From the gossip, Melissa realized that Jackson wasn't a morally righteous person, and neither was that woman.

"I don't want to disturb you any further. So, I'll go play golf now and let you guys be," Melissa said. With that excuse, she left the group of gossipy, envious women.

Right now, Belinda, Jackson's fiancée, was playing golf.

Melissa gradually ambled towards her, thinking that it was best to talk things over with her face to face.

"Excuse me, are you Jackson's fiancée?" Melissa asked the woman.

Belinda was undoubtedly startled by the stranger's direct question. "I'm sorry, but who are you? Do I know you? Because I don't think so."

"You don't have to know who I am. All you need to know is who you are. I am your senior. Thus, I have only one piece of advice for you." Melissa's tone was cold and harsh.

"What are you doing?" Realizing that the woman was here to mess with her, she became defensive.

"Honestly, do you really think Jackson loves you? He is not marrying you, but your money! Look at him. You two are going to get married, but he is still having an affair with another woman. He is fooling you!" Melissa cut to the chase.

"What... what do you mean?" Belinda's body trembled as she stuttered.

"What do I mean? Can't you see it yourself? Jackson doesn't love you. He loves your money. That's it." Melissa told Belinda only what she suspected, not what she really knew. She disregarded the fact that it was only her guess. Actually, she wanted to deliberately terrorize Jackson because she hated him.

Belinda's cheeks turned a bright shade of red either from embarrassment, anger, or both. Melissa wasn't really sure which, but she was sure her message hit its target.

Now that her goal had been achieved, Melissa smiled in satisfaction and left.

When Belinda snapped back to her senses, Melissa was already gone. There was no chance for her to question her. Thus, there was no way for her to get the truth.

After she left the golf course, Melissa headed back to Dream Garden.

When she left the house, she was feeling distressed, but when she returned, she was so jubilant that she looked like she had just won a lottery.

Nancy was glad to see the smile of Melissa's face.

"Nancy, get me a cup of coffee. I need it." Melissa laid on the couch, so she could relax.

"Yes, Ma'am." Nancy nodded her head as a diligent servant.

When Nancy brought the coffee back to the living room, Melissa was already asleep. Shaking her head, Nancy murmured to herself, "What has she done? She's exhausted herself."

'Should I wake her up now or later?' Nancy thought to herself. 'She just fell asleep. If I disturb her sleep, she may be upset at me. I know; I'll let her sleep.' Nancy then covered Melissa with a blanket and carried on with her own work.

At The Shining Company

In Charles' office, Charles was busily finishing up his work.

Once done, he then called David in.

"Did anything happen in the hospital?" Charles hadn't visited Vicky for the day, and David didn't report to him about Vicky either. The lack of news made Charles suddenly think of her.

"Mr. Lu, surprisingly, they say that she was quiet today."

"Hmm...nope. I disagree. Vicky is never just quiet. She is up to something. I guarantee it. Continue to monitor her!" Charles explained solemnly.

"I understand, Mr. Lu."

David understood why Charles was always worried and suspicious. He was heavily burdened by matters regarding the company, his family, and Vicky.

It wasn't until in the evening that Charles managed to complete everything on his agenda for that day. Surely he was not at all planning to go to the hospital to see Vicky. On the way back to Dream Garden, he received a call from Vicky, the last person he wanted to hear from.

"Yes?" Charles asked monotonously.

"Why didn't you come visit me today? I was waiting for you," Vicky asked, acting cute.

"Do I have to visit you every day?" Charles answered in a flat and tired tone.

'I can't pressure him too much. That's only going to drive him further from me, ' Vicky thought to herself.

"No, Charles, you don't. I just miss you. That's all," Vicky answered in a gentle tone, trying her best not to annoy Charles. As long as she was still with him, she believed, she still had the chance to get him back.

"Okay. I'll come to the hospital after I finish my work." Charles made it sound like it was a task to visit her rather than out of his own free volition.

Vicky didn't mind that, though. Instead, her mood instantly improved at the sound of him coming. "Okay, Charles. I'll wait for you. Please remember to come!"

"Okay." He then hung up the call.

David noticed the cold look on Charles's face, and he knew to tell him this new information would not be pleasant. Heaving a sigh, he said, "Mr. Lu, I have found out that Vicky seems to be contacting someone secretly."

"Yes?" Charles closed his eyes. His brows knitted together.

"Every other day, she dials a number at the same time of the day. Unfortunately, I'm still trying to replace out the identity of the person she's calling." It was the first time David felt so defeated. He had high expectations for himself, but now he couldn't even get the simplest things done right.

"Follow up with that. I thought she had forgotten everything? Who could she be calling?" Charles thought out loud.

"Okay, Mr. Lu." David didn't bother answering the questions Charles just had spoken. He knew they were rhetorical. Silence then descended inside the car.

When they arrived at Dream Garden, Charles found Melissa sleeping in the living room. Frowning in displeasure, he turned to Nancy and asked, "Nancy, what's wrong with my mom?"

"Mr. Lu, you're back! There's nothing wrong with her. She just might be too tired. When she came back today, she seemed to be in a good mood, but once she lay down on the couch she fell asleep," Nancy diligently told Charles.

Upon hearing that Melissa was alright, Charles heaved a sigh of relief.

Of course, though, he wouldn't allow her to spend the night on the couch.

"Mom... mom." Charles patted Melissa's shoulder, slowly waking her up.

Melissa opened her eyes lazily. Seeing Charles, she sprang up and exclaimed, "Charles, you're back!"

"Yes, mom, I am. Let's have dinner together. You can sleep after dinner, okay?" Charles was very meticulous about Melissa's health. After all, she wasn't very healthy. He was afraid that she would get sick again if she continued to sleep on the couch that night.