The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 601 Charles’ Obsession

"Okay," Sheryl replied. She hesitated for a moment before she asked one question, "When are you coming back?"

"I've been doing my best to finish my work faster. Unfortunately, even though things have been going well here, I might still need to stay for a week or so," Anthony answered. Sheryl could sense the loneliness in his voice.

After a short pause, he continued, "I couldn't wait to see you, honey. You just don't know how much I've missed you. When I return to China, I need to visit my parents first. I couldn't wait to tell them about you. Afterwards, I'd bring you to see them."

Sheryl let out a laugh. She only asked a short question, yet, Anthony already narrated his plans to her. She just said, "Okay, I'd be waiting for you. Please give me a call and let me know your flight number in advance. Shirley and I will pick you up at the airport."

"Of course," he replied briskly. Anthony wanted to talk to Sheryl a little longer but it was already late in China. He was afraid that she might get sick if she didn't get enough rest. Thus, he decided to end their conversation, "It's late. You should rest now. I'll just call you again tomorrow, honey! I love you!"

Sheryl put her phone in her pocket and decided to go back inside Shirley's room. Shirley was still sleeping soundly on the bed. She felt relieved to see Shirley sleeping peacefully.

On the other hand, Charles didn't go home after he left the hospital with Charlie. Instead, he took Charlie to a restaurant for dinner. So, it was already late when they arrived at Dream Garden.

Leila had been coming to Dream Garden every day after Charlie lived with Charles. She was hoping that she could get the child back to her place. However, several days had already passed but she still didn't get a chance to see Charlie. She couldn't even enter Charles' home.

Today, she came early in the morning and waited outside the whole day. But she still failed. It was already late but Charlie hadn't showed up yet so she decided to go home. She planned to call Charles first thing in the next morning. If Charles would still refuse to see her, she would call the police.

Anyway, she had raised Charlie alone since he was born. Even though Charles was his father and he was affluent, he could still not separate a mother from her son just like that.

The moment she turned around to leave, she was blinded by the headlights of a car coming to her direction. She peered at the car and realized that it was Charles's. As the car was moving slowly, she clearly saw Charlie at the back seat. When she thought that the car would stop, she couldn't help but rush over.

Meanwhile, Charles was shocked when he saw someone come out of nowhere. He stepped on the brake hardly to stop the car. However, even though he was quick enough to step on the brake, they still heard a bang. Someone was knocked down.

"What happened, Dad? Did we run into someone?" Charlie asked worriedly. He was dozing off just now so he didn't see what was going on outside.

Charles knitted his eyebrows as he unbuckled his seat belt. He turned to Charlie before getting off and said, "Stay in the car, son. I'll go and see what was going on." "Yes, Dad!" Charlie replied and nodded to him. He understood that it would be much better if he stayed inside to avoid giving Charles more troubles at this moment.

Charles opened the door and walked in front of car to check. Then he found Leila siting on the ground. She was rubbing her ankle and she looked miserable. From what Charles could see, he knew she was not badly hurt but just twisted her ankle.

The moment he recognized it was Leila, Charles was immediately boiled with anger. He frowned and shouted to her, "Were you insane? Did you want to kill yourself? Why would you run into my car just like that?"

"Me? It was you who tried to kill me, right?" Leila sneered. "You already killed me when you took my son away from me," Leila added sarcastically. "If you only knew what I've been through in raising him alone. And after all those sufferings, you just ruthlessly took him away from me. My son is my life. And since you've taken him away from me, didn't you already kill me?"

Full of rage, she struggled to stand up. Fortunately, she wasn't badly hurt so she still managed to stand up.

Charles admitted that it was wrong to take Charlie away from Leila. But he couldn't have them both. He couldn't leave Charlie to Leila because he knew that she was incapable of giving him a better life but he would never want Leila to live with him.

"Look, I know it's hard for you to accept that Charlie is not with you anymore. However, he's happy to live here. Don't you want him to be happy?" Charles retorted. "I can let you visit him anytime you want. But, if you'd continue insisting on taking him back, I'm afraid that would be impossible." Charles made sure that he said those words clearly.

"That iss unfair!" Leila protested. "I know that you're rich, Mr. Lu. You're powerful and influential in this city. With just a stamp of your foot, the entire city would definitely shake. But I don't care!"

She continued, "You can never change the truth that Charlie is my son. I gave birth to him and I've brought him up. Yes, you are his father. But, did you really serve as a father to him after he was born?" "No, you didn't," Leila answered her own question.

Leila didn't want to give Charles a chance to butt in so she continued, "Since he has survived many years of his life without a father, he can still manage to grow up without you in the future. I believe that I will be able to send him to college even if I don't earn too much. My income will be enough for us to live comfortably even if not luxuriously. And I will never ever treat him badly. I know you like Sheryl and you want her to be your wife. I won't interfere on that. But, just give Charlie back to me because I will never allow him to live with a stepmother!"

Leila's voice was full of disdain. ""m warning you, I will never let my son live with another woman. Never!"

Now that Charles heard Leila mention Sheryl, his face turned red in anger. He suddenly remembered that Leila slapped Sheryl the other day. The picture in his mind added fuel to his burning anger. He yelled a Leila at once, "Stay away from Sheryl! I'm warning you the last time, Leila. If you keep harassing her, I won't hesitate to show you what I'm capable of doing!"

He continued, "I know that you despise the women in my life. First, Autumn. Now, Sheryl. I'm telling you now, if you dare to hurt her, you'd be sorry. You gave birth to my son and I owed you for that. But I'm very willing to pay you. Just name you price. I can give you any amount you want."

Looking through her eyes, he continued warning her,"Sheryl has nothing to do with this and she barely know you. So, don't ever show up in front of her. Don't you dare lay a finger on her because if you'd do so you will be in a serious trouble."

Charles felt awful every time he thought of how Leila had slapped Sheryl. He wasn't able to protect and defend her when she needed him. He felt guilty and he blamed himself so bad. When she was Autumn, he wasn't able to protect her. Now that she was Sheryl, he still couldn't do so.

"Serious trouble?" Leila laughed loudly. "I don't understand it, Charles! There is nothing special on that woman but why are you so obsessed to her?" she yelled with tears in her eyes.

She stepped forward and grabbed his hand, "Look at me, Charles! I am a woman too, and we have a son. I believe that I'm also beautiful like her. But why haven't you even laid eyes on me? Why do I always mean nothing to you? Why?"

She looked at him desperately and continued, "Do you replace any flaws in me? If you do, please tell me and I can change for you. Sheryl is already engaged to Anthony and they're happy together. Besides, Anthony also take Shirley as his own daughter. Why can't you just leave them alone? Why are you running after somebody else's fiancee?"