The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 804 I Need Some Time

Sheryl felt really angry at this moment. Anthony had crossed all the limits now. How could he just come to Charles' office following her. She stared at Anthony's face with anger. "Calm down, Sher," Anthony said with a frown. "I know you are mad at me. And I have given you enough reasons for that. But I promise that if you help me this time, you will never see me again."

"Sorry. I don't think I can be helpful to you in anyway. You'd better replace someone else," Sheryl refused immediately, wanting nothing but to end the talk as soon as possible. The very look of Anthony irked her out of her wits. This was one nagging dispute that she had had enough of and desperately wanted to end now.

Moreover, Anthony choosing to confront her at her workplace was something that annoyed her the most. People here knew Sheryl, especially Sue, who was just about to come out. 'If Sue sees Anthony talking with me,' Sheryl thought nervously, 'I can never explain myself, no matter how hard I try.'

Therefore, Sheryl wanted to end the talk immediately, trying to avoid making things more complicated.

She was just about to leave when Anthony just held her hand and said, "Listen, Sher." He knew that it was improper to be here today, but he had no choice. Sheryl was the only person who could help him and he had no one else to turn to.

He could earn enough money to support Carlson financially, but what Carlson wanted was not just his job, but his dignity to be returned. Moreover, as a consequence of this, his parents' marriage was also at risk. Anthony was really helpless. Hence he decided to reach out to Sheryl by hook or by crook.

Unaware of the real reason behind Anthony approaching her, Sheryl got really worked up with Anthony's behavior. "Let me go, Anthony!" Sheryl said and tried to free herself. And when she failed, she landed a slap right on Anthony's face. The loud smash attracted passengers' attention. They all looked at the two, wondering what was going on. Sheryl lowered her face feeling all the more embarrassed after slapping Anthony.

Anthony stroked his face with a shocked expression. He had never expected such a blow from Sheryl.

Even Sheryl was shocked. She had never imagined that she could even hit someone. It might be the grievance and resentment in her heart that caused this situation. And moreover Anthony was the wrong person to have arrived at the wrong time.

Anthony stared at Sheryl and spoke in a choked voice, "I deserved this. And I really hope that this makes you feel better." Anthony looked back at Sheryl with rueful eyes.

"Shut up!" Sheryl screamed at Anthony. She was still amazed to see that Anthony was not ready to move even after being slapped by her. And this literally made her lose her mind. "Anthony, whatever you wan from me, you can never get it," Sheryl continued furiously. "Just leave me alone. I don't want to see your face again. We have some good memories of the past three years. Don't let those memories turn into my nightmare. Don't make me hate you. That's all I want to say. Just leave me alone... Get out of my sight. Please leave."

'I should have given him this slap that night,' Sheryl said to herself. 'At least that way, my Shirley wouldn't have suffered autism.'

Anthony forced himself to smile. "You really hate me. Maybe you think that I deserve to go to hell, right?" Anthony's face was marked with pain. He looked repentant for his deed. At the same time, he looked desperately helpless which did not evade the eyes of Sheryl.

Sheryl looked at him and said in a cold voice, "I don't hate you, but our relationship is over. Neither do I want to give you a hand, nor do I want your hand. Please! Don't come to see me again, otherwise I will... Sheryl didn't have to say further and Anthony knew it already. After all, their past relationship allowed him to know Sheryl very well.

He also realized that Sheryl misunderstood his purpose of coming to her at this time. So he said with a bitter smile, "At least, allow me to finish my sentence. Can you give me this privilege?" Anthony looked at Sheryl and continued, "I came here today, not for myself, neither for our relationship, but for my father."

Sheryl's face changed as she heard him speak. This was certainly out of the blue for her. She took a few deep breathes and calmed down. Anthony could tell from her expression that she would listen to him now. So he took the opportunity and said, "I know what I have done earlier hurt you deeply, but my father did nothing wrong. I'm the one who should be blamed and punished. Please don't hurt my father, Sher.'

"What do you mean?" A frown settled on Sheryl's face as she heard him speak. She was completely startled as she had no clue about his father.

"Stop being innocent," Anthony blurted out rather impatiently. "I know you hate me. You want a revenge. Fine. I am right here in front of you. But don't hurt my father!"

"I really don't understand your words." Repeated blames from Anthony about something that she was so oblivious to made her puzzled and she started to lose her patience once again. Sheryl looked at Anthony with an expression of indifference. "We have been together for so many years and this is how you know me? You consider me to be a person who will seek revenge for the smallest grievance. Huh. Funny."

She stared at Anthony with cold eyes and continued, "Even if I wanted to take revenge, I would go after your mother. Like you said, your father has done nothing wrong. So, why should I hurt him? Stop hitting around the bush and come to the point."

Anthony sneered at her out of utter disbelief, "Huh! Sounds like you really did nothing. But the truth is you had your grandfather kick my father out of his office. Now he has lost his job and wants to divorce my mother. My family is torn to pieces. And it is all because of you. Now, what can I do to make you to spare my family?"

Sheryl looked at Anthony with jaw dropping silence and wondered what made her to date with this man for so many years.

She faced Anthony and said, "Believe it or not, I have nothing to do with this."

"Stop fooling me." Anthony sneered, "If it were not you, my father would not lose his job. If you didn't mention the disputes between us to your grandfather, he wouldn't have dismissed my father.

The problem between us should remain between us. If you want to punish someone, I am right here to suffer the pain. Please tell this to your grandfather. I'll be really grateful if you can let my parents off. My father is too old to suffer your revenge. He will retire from the office in just two years. Please, just let him complete his tenure in the hospital till his retirement. This is my last request to you." Sheryl looked into his eyes and spoke with slight bitterness in her voice, "We have been together for so many years, Anthony. I thought that you knew what kind of person I was. But to my surprise, you think of me no better than a bitch."

She looked at Anthony and promised, "Don't worry. If what you said is true, I will ask my grandfather to give back your father's job. Nevertheless, I also need you to do one small thing for me."

Sheryl suddenly realized that being nice to Anthony was taking a toll on her and Shirley. Hence, she decided to take this opportunity to get rid of the trouble all together.

Anthony curved his lips into a bitter smile. "I had expected this. Say it. What do you want? Today, I am ready to accept any deal you put forth just to save my father's dignity."

"I need you and your family to leave Y City. I don't want to see you ever again," Sheryl narrowed her eyes and raised her chin as she demanded in a cold voice. "I have had enough of your family. So, your father can only get his job back if all the three of you just disappear forever."

Anthony frowned as he heard Sheryl's terms and conditions that he needed to fulfil if he wanted his father to get back to his position in the hospital. Then, he tried to bargain, "I will leave this city. Sheryl, but as you know, since I came back, this country, especially Y City, has been the key to my career. I need some time to sort things out."

"How long do you need?" Sheryl asked. Her voice was as stern as before.

"Six months," Anthony replied without giving it much of a thought.

"Three!" A familiar male voice cut through their conversation before Sheryl could have replied to him. It was none other than Charles, who was walking toward them.

Standing in front of Sheryl, Charles asked softly, "Are you okay, honey?" Sheryl turned towards him and smiled as she heaved a sigh of relief. In fact, his voice as well as his presence already gave her a sense of security and peace of mind.