The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 659 You Are Totally Without Scruple

"What I told you was absolutely true," Sheryl looked up at Anthony and explained to him patiently. Anthony was fuming in rage. She understood that he was not in the position to judge the situation rationally. Any man who suspected that his girlfriend got involved with another man would be mad. It was useless to reason with him at the moment. So she suggested, "I know you are angry. We will talk about it when you calm down."

Anthony was rather amazed at such a cool reaction from Sheryl. It seemed she had no repentance for what she did! "You would rather keep that a secret and never let me know, huh?" Anthony said. In the pas three years, Anthony had done so much for Sheryl while she still maintained a vague distance with him. And just now she confessed to him that she had spent the last few days with Charles in his house! Anthony could suddenly feel that all his efforts to win her heart had gone in vain. He was deeply hurt. He could not put up the all forgiving benevolent self in front of her any more. He blurted, "Sheryl, do you think you can do anything even if it hurts me just because I love you? Do you think I am an idiot? Do you have no heart? Do you think I can always tolerate you and forgive you no matter what you do? Do you think I won't mind being a weak cuckold? When you were with Charles, have you ever thought about the fact that you have a boyfriend? And on the top of that you have no repentance for it!"

Sheryl was shocked to hear Anthony's accusation. She had thought Anthony loved her and trusted her. The fact that Anthony's faith in her was so frail that it broke so easily hurt her feelings deeply. He didn't even care to hear the entire thing. She sneered, "In your heart, I am such a cheeky shameless woman. That's your real thoughts, isn't that?"

"Isn't it true?" Anthony retorted. Sheryl's question struck him like an arrow leaving him sad and dejected. He knew Sheryl very well and trusted her. However, he couldn't restrain his anger.

Jealous.

Yes, he was jealous. His lips curved in a painful and sarcastic smile.

He thought, 'Three years ago, I really envied Charles because he had met Autumn before I could express my feelings for her. And now, three years later, Charles still has his own charm to bring Sheryl to get close to him. I am so jealous of him.'

"Get out! Get out of here," Sheryl shouted, looking at Anthony angrily. Sheryl could not tolerate Anthony's suspicion towards her. Is this how he loved her? That his trust broke so easily. Little did she know why Anthony reacted in that way at the very mention of Charles. What actually made him so insecure towards Charles?

Yes, last night she went out with Charles and stayed with him for the whole night. Although there was nothing between them beyond friendship, she knew her behavior was not proper for a committed woman like her. She had intended to make a sincere apology. She had never expected Anthony to react like this. His harsh criticism made her disappointed.

She calmed down and said, "Anthony, we'd better take a break. You have not in right mindset to talk about this. We will talk about it, after you have calmed down." Sheryl looked at his face and wondered what happened to him? This was the first time she saw him react like this.

Anthony glared at Sheryl and insisted, "I am perfectly rational now."

Sheryl failed to persuade Anthony. She looked up at him with apologetic eyes and explained once again after a deep breath,"Anthony, I am aware that it was improper for me to do what I did. I was wrong. I admit it. I told you nothing happened between Charles and me. We are just acquaintances. He has been pursuing me, but I didn't agree. I knew that I am your girlfriend and hence have maintained a respectable distance with him always. Why can't you trust me?" Sheryl looked at Anthony's face which was still as stern as ever. She felt that no matter what she said and how much she tried to assure him about her loyalty towards their relationship, Anthony was hard to be convinced. She had tried her best to smooth things over while it didn't work.

"Trust you?" replied Anthony with a sneer. "Tell me, why did you live in Charles' house when I was in the United States?" Anthony was literally on the verge of getting paranoid at this point. He could feel a fist full of sand slipping out of his grip. It was possible for Sheryl to fall in love with Charles once again. Or else, she could even remember her past as she met her ex-husband several times. Charles must have tried his best to remind her of her past. The thought of his life without Sheryl, made him feel miserable and he couldn't suppress his anger.

Sheryl thought sadly, 'How could Anthony know about all this? It must be Sue. She has a liking for Anthony and she said she would compete against me.

I feel so unhappy. After all, we used to be best friends. Now we will be mere acquaintances.

I understand why she did so. Making trouble for Anthony and I is surely good for her. Thank God, she just told him the truth and didn't make up any stories. There is no need to hate her. All she wants is to take my place and become Anthony's girlfriend.' Sheryl was lost in her thoughts while Anthony was expecting a reply from her.

Anthony stared at her with a cold look on his face and asked, "Why don't you say something? Don't you have an answer to a simple question I asked? I repeat again, why did you stay at Charles' house? Sheryl I trusted you and respected you. See what you have done to repay me? You said you have nothing to do with Charles. Why did you stay in his house?" He interrogated once again.

Sheryl heaved a deep sigh and explained the whole thing,"Anthony, I stayed in his house in order to look after him. While I was getting photographed in the film studio, the background panel fell down. He was hurt when he rushed to protect me. If he hadn't done that, I would have been injured. That's the only reason why I went to his house. Trust me, I am telling you the truth. Besides, I just stayed there for one night. I came back early next morning."

"Is it the truth? Did you care even for once about my feelings?" Anthony spoke with a sarcastic smile.

"Don't talk to me in such a sarcastic manner. What I said was true. I won't admit any crime that I didn't commit," Sheryl replied angrily. Anthony had kept on hurling baseless accusations against her which made her lose her cool.

"Sheryl, you have disappointed me," Anthony said contemptuously. He was almost on the verge of slamming the door and leaving when his phone rang. He looked at the phone screen. It was his mother Laura The atmosphere had become tense because of their ongoing fight. He took a few seconds to calm down before he answered the phone, "Mom, what's the matter?" It was a very critical moment for Anthony. On one side it was his mother who just needed one reason to refuse Sheryl and on the other side it was his girlfriend who could not reciprocate his love wholeheartedly. God knew how long would it take for him to win her over completely. He had persuaded his mother to meet Sheryl, so his mother might call to make an appointment. He couldn't hang up the phone in case his mother became unhappy and changed her mind.

"Anthony, I have something to tell you. Are you free now?" Laura asked. Anthony could sense a feel of happiness in her voice.

"Yes Mom. I am free now. Please tell me," Anthony calmed down and replied.

Laura continued in a cheerful voice, "You said you will bring that woman to meet me. I thought it over and decided to cancel our meeting."

"Mother, how could you go back on your words?" Anthony frowned and muttered a curse out of utter desperation. Why was it that all the problems were snowballing on him at the same time? One ordeal after the other had made him desperate. First, Sheryl met Charles and stayed one night in his house. Then he was quarreling with Sheryl. And now, even before he could sort it out with Sheryl, his mother had broken her promise.

"You should let me finish what I'm saying, son. I have bought a ticket. Next week I will fly to Y City. I have never been there. It will be a good chance to visit that city and meet your girlfriend at that time," Laura interrupted his son and explained patiently. Anthony's unfriendly attitude didn't spoil her good mood. She was confident that she would be able to separate Anthony and Sheryl with Junia's help.

His mother's words fell on his ears like a soothing balm. A bright smile broke open on his face cutting through the frown. He heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Okay, Mom, I see. I will pick you up when you arrive." Although he had a bitter quarrel with Sheryl, both of them tended to seek reconciliation. Anyway, he loved Sheryl much. They would be husband and wife sooner. He was looking forward to it and was trying to persuade her mother.

"No, I can handle it myself. I will call you when I have checked in," Laura replied in a firm voice.

She wanted to observe Sheryl secretly. After figuring out what kind of person she was, she would make further plans. As the saying goes, "Know the enemy and know yourself, and you can fight a hundred battles with no danger of defeat." With Junia agreeing to help her, she thought it wouldn't be difficult to make Sheryl get away from her son.

"Carry on with what you are doing. I'll hang up now," Laura said and hung up.

Anthony glanced at Sheryl who was sitting on the sofa sulking and announced, "My mother is coming next week. I'll pick you up and we will have a meal together."

Although they were in the middle of a ferocious argument which was not resolved yet, the meeting couldn't be delayed. Laura might refuse to meet Sheryl if they missed this chance. That was why Anthony informed Sheryl about the news at once.

Sheryl didn't reply. Nor did she move. Anthony walked out and slammed the door behind him. Sheryl heaved a deep sigh and reflected over the argument.

'Perhaps I was wrong. I should have kept a distance from Charles after I felt his intentional approach. Anthony must be furious. I must apologize to him when I see him.' Sheryl could understand the reason behind Anthony's rage. Even though she did not do anything wrong, yet, her staying at Charles' house could not be justified to Anthony. She was repentant for what happened.

After Sheryl calmed down, she hid her anxiety and went to her daughter's room. As soon as she opened the bedroom door, she saw Shirley sitting on the bed with tears in her big eyes. It was evident that she had heard the fight outside the door and had got scared. Sheryl quickly walked to her and sat down beside her. Then she put her arms around her and asked, "Are you scared?"

Shirley stared Sheryl with a gloomy face and asked her with a mix of doubt and tears, "Sher, what's wrong with Tony? Why did he look angry?" Anthony was always kind to both the mother and daughter. His sudden and abnormal anger was something that Shirley had seen for the first time in her life. This made her really very much frightened.