The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 655 The Starry Sky

Sheryl and Charles sat inside the car. She asked Charles fretfully,"So, what should we do now?"

Instead of answering her, Charles got off the car, took a bottle of mineral water out of the trunk and gave it to Sheryl. "Please drink some water first."

He appeared calm. Sheryl glanced at him and blurted, "Charles, please give me a break. Why do you keep on bothering me? Is it because I'm the spitting image of your wife?"

What had just happened got on Sheryl's nerves. Besides, it was very likely that she would spend the night with Charles in the mountains. Thus, she was on the verge of a breakdown.

Charles soothed Sheryl for quite some time before she finally calmed down. After the fact that she couldn't get back home sank in, Sheryl reclined the car seat and leaned back on her side. She tried to sleep. After being separated for three years, it was the first time that Charles had ever been so close to Sheryl. Wide awake, he lovingly gazed at Sheryl's back.

He then decided to open the sunroof. The city was extremely colorful and bright at night. He realized that he couldn't even have the luxury of looking up at the sky with his hectic schedule, let alone marvel at the sparkling and starry sky which was a rarity in the city.

With Sheryl next to him, a sense of peace and security welled up inside him.

Charles thought Sheryl was asleep. He quietly took off his coat and gently put it over her.

Sheryl couldn't sleep at all either. She felt the warmth of the coat sweeping over her. She said in a muffled voice to Charles who was behind her,"There is no need to be so good to me. Nothing will happen between us... at any rate."

"You're still awake?" Charles asked Sheryl tenderly.

Since she already came to terms with the fact that she had to spend the night with Charles, Sheryl softened her tone a little.

She thought, 'It was unexpected that the car broke down. I don't think Charles did it on purpose.' She then asked without answering him,"Why are you awake?"

"I don't know but I can't sleep." Charles stared at the starry sky with his hands clasped behind his head. "It's extremely rare to see such a beautiful, starry sky."

Sheryl turned over and lay flat on her back. She slightly looked at the sky and then looked again intently. 'Admiring the starry sky through the sunroof is indeed a highly enjoyable experience.'

She stared at the sky for quite a long time and then heaved a sigh. "We are busy with work in our daily lives. Besides, the city teems with artificial lights. It's indeed a special experience to spend a night in the mountains like this."

"You don't blame me for what happened tonight?" Charles tilted his head to face Sheryl as he asked.

"Charles, what's the use of blaming you?" Sheryl said with a smile. "There is no point in putting the blame on you. I'd rather look on the bright side. At least... we can marvel at such a beautiful, starry sky. It makes everything worthwhile."

Charles couldn't help smiling at the lively sound of her voice. The car was so small that even the slightest sound could be heard clearly. Upon hearing the rumblings of Sheryl's stomach, Charles again hurried out of the car and took a carton of milk and a bag of bread from the trunk. He handed them to Sheryl. "Here, take a bite."

"How come you have these things in your car?" Sheryl asked Charles with a puzzled look.

"I bought them for Charlie. I didn't expect they could come in handy on this occasion," Charles explained with a smile.

Sheryl did a double take and said to Charles, "You are such a good father. I'm really surprised!"

Charles grinned. He wanted to take advantage of the good vibe and explain what was going on between him and Leila.

"Sheryl please listen," he said to Sheryl suddenly,"actually... what happened to me and Leila was just an accident. I don't have the faintest idea when we had..."

"What do you mean by saying that, Charles? Do you want to... to shake off your responsibility about what happened... or you just want to feel less guilty?" Although she didn't like Leila, Sheryl was also a woman. She felt pity for Leila when she heard what Charles had just said.

"Neither," Charles shook his head slightly. "I don't want to evade the responsibilities and obligations. Otherwise, I could have denied that Charlie is my son when Leila came to me, couldn't I? I am telling you all this... because I don't want you to get me wrong. I did make some mistakes. But can't we have a fresh start?"

"Charles, you really don't have to worry about my feelings." It was dark inside the car. There was only a full moon floating in mid-air. Sheryl stole a glance at Charles. She couldn't make out his expression in the dark. She said to Charles,"Since you brought up the subject, I think it's time for us to really get things straight. I'm totally not interested in your past, nor your future. I don't give a damn about what's going on between you and Autumn or Leila."

Sheryl continued after a pause, "I... I just want to be a good mom. I have Shirley and Anthony. I'm really content with it. I will definitely have a happy life. So, I beg you, please just get out of my life and stop messing it up."

"But, what if I don't want to?" Charles seemed to be already used to Sheryl's hurtful remarks. Initially, her remarks could really push his buttons and hurt him so badly, but now he got immune to them. 'No matter what Sheryl says, I will run after her until she accepts my love. It's gonna be a real marathon.'

Sheryl remained silent. Charles could hear her steady breathing in the darkness. He knew that by being quiet, she was just beating around the bush with his question. So he decided not to force her to answer. He got plenty of time after all.

At the door of Sheryl's apartment in Y City

Shirley had fallen asleep, but Anthony couldn't.

He had made numerous phone calls to Sheryl, but her phone was off. He waited at the door hoping that he could see Sheryl immediately the moment she came home. Anthony watched intently every time the elevator pinged. But he couldn't spot the figure he was eager to see among a horde of people coming in and out of the elevator.

'What's going on with Sheryl? Did she recall everything? Is she rekindling her love for Charles? Is she with Charles now?'

Many torturing questions flashed through Anthony's mind. The elevator pinged again. He looked up at the entrance of the elevator with so much anticipation. Instead of Sheryl, it was Sue who stepped out. Sue had been in a bad mood since she fell out with Sheryl. She frequented bars at night and recently returned in the middle of the night. The instant she got out of the elevator, she spotted Anthony at Sheryl's door. She gave him a quick glance but glanced back again longer.

A flicker of disappointment flashed across Anthony's face when he saw Sue. Sue tottered drunkenly towards him and mumbled, "What are you doing Anthony? Why... do... you crouch at Sheryl's door?"