The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 513 Telling Lies

"Maybe..." Sue hesitated. "Anthony overreacted because he was thinking of your miserable past in Y City," she suggested. "And Shirley's father is there, which is why he's strongly opposed to your going back. The man only wants to protect you but is going about it the wrong way." She waited for a reaction but got none. While quiet, Sheryl was actually pondering Sue's words.

'Her assumption makes sense. I did escape from Y City. And before I lost my memory, I wrote a letter to myself warning me never to go back to that place,' she thought.

The woman argued with herself, 'But this show is important to me, so I can't miss it. No matter what I'm going to face there, I have to go and finish the show.' Sheryl took a deep breath.

Sue's voice broke into her thoughts. "Sher, I believe you need to talk with Anthony. I'm sure there's a good reason why he seems to have become so unreasonable." She peered at Sheryl before cautiously saying, "Maybe, he's just trying to protect you." What was important for Sue was her friend's happiness.

Sheryl considered Sue's words and then nodded. "I see" was all she said.

When Sue left the apartment, she headed straight to a car. Anthony drove her there. The whole time she was with Sheryl, he stayed inside the vehicle waiting patiently and staying out of sight.

"How is Sheryl?" he asked the moment Sue entered the car. Anthony could tell Sue was irritated, but he was excited to hear about Sheryl.

In reply, she grumbled, "Next time you call me, it better be for some good news. Did you know I was in the middle of a dream when you called? You may be a cute guy, but you can't treat me like that! Do you know how annoying suddenly being awakened can be?"

Anthony accepted her scolding and apologized, "I'm very sorry. I had no one else to call for help. I was afraid of getting into a fight with her again if I came to the apartment myself."

Sue huffed, "Sher told me you fought because you disapproved of her going to Y City. Is that right?" Anthony looked away briefly.

Then he nodded, but did not explain.

Her brows furrowed, she hesitated before asking, "Is it because Shirley's birth father is there?" Anthony's head snapped up.

He met Sue's eyes directly. And his panic-stricken look confirmed Sue's suspicion.

"Ah, so I was right," she blurted. 'I knew it! Anthony would never have snapped at Sheryl for no reason,' Sue thought.

He raised his hands in surrender. "You got me," Anthony admitted. Embarrassed, he explained, "We've gotten on so well these last years. And I don't want anyone or anything disrupting our peaceful life." Sue sneered at the man,"You're lying!" She paused and looked at him. "You're just not secure enough in your relationship. You're afraid Sheryl will fall in love with that man again if ever they see each other when she goes back," she said.

Anthony bowed his head, slightly embarrassed. In a low voice, he admitted, "You're right." He winced inwardly and thought, 'I can't hide anything from her.' Worry lined his face as he confessed, "You don't know what Sheryl went through in the past. Just this time, I want to be selfish and keep her to myself. I'm hoping she'll always be my Sheryl. So the thought of losing her is my greatest fear."

Anthony looked so forlorn that Sue felt sorry for him. "You don't need to worry so much. Sheryl seems to have completely forgotten the past, including that man. So, he should no longer be a threat to you. Always keep in mind that you are her boyfriend. And if you have no faith in yourself, how will others believe in you?" she encouraged.

He let out a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you." Hurriedly, he offered, "Let me take you home."

But Sue smiled politely and refused, "Don't bother. I can grab a taxi." She paused and added,"My place isn't very far anyway." Summoning her courage, Sue advised, "Why don't you go talk to her? She's probably waiting for you."

Then she got out of the car and left. Anthony also stepped out and began pacing back and forth, looking at Sheryl's apartment with hesitancy. Out of the blue, his phone rang and the caller ID said it was Shirley. He answered the phone and heard a little girl's voice. "Did you fight with Sher, Tony?" she asked angrily.

"No, we didn't," he assured the little girl. Anthony was rubbing his forehead to smoothen the wrinkles as he paced. "Recently, I have been very busy," he said. "There's nothing to worry about."

"Is that so?" Shirley sounded suspicious. Anthony shut his eyes to imagine Shirley with pouting lips and eyebrows nearly meeting as she spoke over the phone. But all he could see was her lovely face, which brought a smile to his lips. She never failed to make him happy.

"Don't you believe me, sweetie?" he asked affectionately. Anthony paced some more, while waiting for a reply.

"I'd like to believe you, but you two are behaving strangely. By the way, Sher has a fever. I told her to call you, but she refused. She said you were busy and that I shouldn't bother you. Are you truly busy, Tony?" the girl asked.

He panicked at hearing Sheryl was sick. "Your mom has fever?" he asked. The doctor made up his mind quickly. "Wait for me, Shirley. I'll be right there," he said and ended the call.

There was no time for misgivings. Anthony dashed up the stairs to Sheryl's apartment, a worried expression on his handsome face.

When Sheryl heard the doorbell ring, she thought Sue had forgotten something. She was speaking as she opened the door,"Did you forget something?"

Her eyes almost popped out when she saw her boyfriend standing at the door.

He quickly snatched her hand and inspected her from head to foot. "Are you all right, Sher? I heard you had a fever. How are you feeling now?" he fired the questions without pausing for breath, looking very worried.

Sheryl was, of course, stunned. "What are you talking about?" she asked. Confused, she quickly denied, "I don't have a fever."

It was Anthony's turn to look surprised. Then he caught sight of Shirley sitting on the couch, her eyes looking straight at him, and he understood what had happened. Disappointment in his eyes, he thought, 'She's learned to lie to me.'

His eyes hardened, and sternly, he called out, "Shirley!" Inside, he was telling himself, 'This is not good. I need to correct this habit of lying.'

The little girl knew she did something wrong and pursed her lips. Head bowed low, she approached the angry man and said, "I shouldn't have lied to you. I'm sorry. But you lied to me, too, didn't you?" Anthony was taken aback. "When did I do that to you?" he asked. He was trying to recall what he told the girl.

"You told me you were working. But I saw your car downstairs. And you're not the only one who didn't tell the truth. Sher lied to me, too," she replied, darting glances at both adults. Sheryl and Anthony were at a loss for words.

"You two were fighting. But you told me you weren't," Shirley accused. With her brows knitted, she turned to Anthony and demanded,"Tell Sher you're sorry and you two make up. Because if you don't, no one will make lunch for me."

She sighed inwardly, 'When Sher is in a bad mood, she becomes upset and absent-minded. So, how is she going to take care of me?'