The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 562 Charlie's Birthday Party

Holley couldn't help but giggle in her mind. 'Just like that, this aloof and arrogant man is being taken for granted by his beloved woman.'

"Hello Mister," greeted Holley who was standing in front of Charles. 'Now, I'm more beautiful and a different woman. I'm pretty sure he will never recognize that I'm Yvonne Gu,' she thought. To totally forget her past, she didn't only change her appearance but also her voice.

Holley offered her hand politely. Charles narrowed his eyes and hesitated for a while. Then, he extended his right hand and shook hands with the unknown woman. He withdrew his hand immediately and turned around to face Sheryl. "Why didn't you answer my call?" the man asked loudly.

Sheryl looked slightly awkward not only because of Charles booming voice, but also for the reason that she saw Holley's wry expression while shaking hands with Charles. To her immediate relief, Holley gave a little chuckle, turned her back and walked away.

However, many people stared at them. Sheryl pulled Charles' sleeves and they walked to a corner. "I was rehearsing. What are you doing here?" she asked.

Sheryl kept reminding herself that the man was just Charlie's father and nothing more.

Charles was a good observant. Sensing that Sheryl became distant, he raised his eyebrows and felt a little annoyed. Despite this, he pretended to look calm as if nothing had happened. "I came here and met my client in that nearby building. I know you live here, so I decided to pass by and see you. I'm planning to hold a birthday party for Charlie on Saturday night. Would you like to join us?" he invited.

"Saturday?" Sheryl mumbled to herself in surprise. "This coming Saturday is Charlie's birthday?" she asked, dumbfounded.

'Shirley's birthday is also that day. What a coincidence!' she said to herself.

"No, it's not his birthday," Charles replied. "Charlie's birthday had already passed, but I still want to hold a birthday party for him. I acknowledged him as my son very recently, so, I owed him a lot. I only want to make amends," he explained, as his eyes darkened with sadness.

With a smile, he changed the subject immediately. "You will leave after finishing the show. Charlie likes you so much. I think he would really love to see you attend his party. I hope you can fulfill his wish," he said in a relaxed tone.

The coming Saturday would be the third year anniversary of Autumn's death. In the past three years, Charles regularly visited the depot to reminisce on how they met. But now, he found his wife, so he surmised that there was no need to visit the place again.

He also intended to share the "Sheryl" news with his friends and family at the party.

"But..." Sheryl frowned. 'BM Corporation is scheduled to hold a celebration party that day. As their model, I can't be absent from it.

I've already excused myself from the previous important meeting, I couldn't do it again,' she said to herself, not knowing what to do.

"What's wrong Sheryl? Do you have other appointment on that day?" Charles asked assertively.

"I'm... I'm free on that day," Sheryl answered, as she came back to her senses. "Okay, I'll be there," she agreed.

'Charlie's birthday party is more important than that dull celebration party,' she thought.

"Well, then I will arrange a car for you that day," Charles ended with a bright smile.

"There is no..." she was going to refuse Charles' arrangement and say she could grab a taxi. But before she could finish her sentence, Charles butted in immediately. "That's it. I have to leave now," he said, and then left with an approving smile written on his face.

Sue went out to look for Sheryl since her friend didn't return to the backstage for a long time. To her surprise, she caught sight of Charles' retreating figure.

She shifted her gaze to look at Sheryl. Her confidant was staring at Charles' back pensively, which made her look uneasy.

'Is Sheryl acting so weird because of that man?' she wondered, as she squinted at Sheryl. Then she started to probe, "Sher, what are you looking at?" Sue asked as she walked closer to her friend. "I thought you were talking to Holley. Who is that man?"

"He is Charlie's father," Sheryl replied blandly. "By the way, he came here to meet his client. He then invited me to attend Charlie's birthday party."

"Did you agree?" Sue asked with a scowling face. Somehow she thought that the man was suspicious, but her friend didn't think the same way.

"Yes, I did," Sheryl nodded. "After the rehearsal, I'm going to pick up a birthday gift for Shirley. I will also choose one for Charlie. Do you know what kind of present boys about his age would like?"

"How could I know?" Sue countered with furrowed eyes. Seeing Sheryl was about to come back to the rehearsal, Sue grabbed her arm. "Sher, don't you think you're seeing this man a bit too frequent?" she voiced out her thoughts.

"Mimi, what the hell are you talking about?" Sheryl retorted frantically. "Each time we meet each other, we only talk about children. I don't think there's something wrong with that," she said defensively. "Really Sher? But I think, he has another agenda whenever he approaches you," Sue commented, as she narrowed her eyes suspiciously. At last, she continued,"I think... he's into you and he wants to ask you out."

"Don't be ridiculous Mimi. He is a good man. How could it be possible that he has a crush on me?" Sheryl snapped, as she looked away to avoid Sue's interrogating eyes.

Sue opened her mouth and inquired, "Do you remember the man I spoke to you about?" With a grim face, she continued, "I told you I ran into a man at the hotel hallway. He was not properly dressed and came from a room adjacent to ours."

"Yes, I do," Sheryl nodded at her.

"He was... that man," Sue said in contempt. Upon hearing this, Sheryl froze as she contemplated, 'Although those are Sue's speculations, they do make sense to some extent.'

"That's his personal matter, It has nothing to do with me," Sheryl uttered with an embarrassed smile.

Sheryl tried to pretend that she didn't care about Charles. However, Sue knew her friend very well. She thought Sheryl might have some feelings for the man.

"Sher, I'm telling you these because I want to remind you that he isn't a good man. You should be wary of him," Sue warned. After a pause, she went on, "Now, he approached you and used his son as an excuse. Perhaps, he will think of some other alibi to be with you. Be careful, okay?"

"Oh, come on girl! I'm not an idiot not to see that," Sheryl answered, again defensively. She couldn't think clearly after knowing that Charles was that man. "I will just attend the party to give my blessings to Charlie. You think too much Mimi," she continued.

"You... listen..." Sue faltered, squinting at her. 'Sheryl doesn't realize her true feelings for that guy. If she continues to meet him, she may fall in love with him,' she pondered.

Unwilling to waste time to argue with Sue, Sheryl walked to the backstage, leaving her friend alone.

Sue and Sheryl clashed with each other because of Charles. Sheryl thought, she misinterpreted her closeness with Charles. Sue on the other hand was sure, Sheryl would get hurt if she continued in accepting Charles' invitations.