The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 972 I Thought Of You As My Sister

Holding the microphone in her hand, Helin stared at the entrance once again. Marking the lost look on her face, the emcee took over once again. "Looks like birthday girl got slightly nervous," the emcee laughed and tried to break the silence and fill it up with a bit of humor to engage the guests. Handing her microphone to Helin once again, she continued, "Today is Miss He's big day. I'm sure that she must have much to share with you. So I will leave the stage to her. I'd like to hear your applause, guys. Welcome, Miss He!"

The guests looked at Helin, waiting for her to speak. The paparazzi went on with their cameras. And amidst the entire hustle bustle, Helin stood still, lost into her thoughts. In fact, she didn't care a damn about the stupid party. All she wanted was to meet Roger and confess her feelings to him.

She had made such an elaborate arrangement only to see him. All the people who had gathered there meant nothing to her. Her heart wrenched as there was still no sign of the one and only person she was dying to see.

She laughed sardonically in the heart. Now that so many people had gathered at the party for her, she had to continue the show, with or without Roger. Otherwise, she would end up making a fool of herself. Both Helin's and her father's reputation would be at risk. She could not afford it at any cost. She pulled herself up and forced a smile as she addressed the crowd.

"First of all, thank you all for your coming..." Helin started her speech. Though she addressed the guests, she could not feel connected with them. She stood on the stage absentmindedly, sharing some pleasantries. The guests present were big shots of Y City. They were running out of patience as they didn't come here to waste their precious time hearing her rubbish.

Heron watched his daughter from afar and marked the reaction of the guests. He thought of saving the day and walked onto the stage hurriedly. He took the microphone from Helin's hand; he couldn't hear anymore. With a laugh, he said, "I'm sorry, everyone. My daughter was spoiled by me. Evidently, she is not a great speaker. Please forgive her."

He successfully came to Helin's rescue and engaged them with his speech. The next flow of events was to cut the birthday cake. Sheryl initially planned to let Helin propose to Roger during the process. However, since Roger didn't make his appearance, Helin just blew out the candles, made a wish and cut the cake with a grumpy face. As soon as she cut the cake, she could not hold herself any longer on the stage.

She hurried off the stage and ran straight toward Sheryl. She grabbed Sheryl's hand tightly and pleaded, "Sheryl, please do me a favor and call up Roger."

Sheryl cast a stern look at her and abstained from replying to her. Helin looked at Sheryl's face and put on a pitiful face as she begged, "Sheryl, please don't refuse. Now you are the only one who can help me. I can't think of anyone else except you.

It took me a long time to prepare for this. I can't give up like this." A mark of despair spread over Helin's face as she pleaded. Looking at the helpless girl, Sheryl raised her brows. The sad girl stared at her and implored, "Please do me this favor. I don't know what to do now..."

Sheryl narrowed her eyes at Helin, not knowing whether she should help her or not. Taking note of Sheryl's dilemma, Helin held her hands and continued, "If you agree to help me, I will do whatever you ask me. Please just say yes, will you?" Helin sounded exasperated as she pleaded in front of Sheryl.

As they were engaged in talking, there was some noise that came from the door and suddenly all the reporters rushed towards the door. Helin turned her face towards the door. And with a completely startled look on her face, she let go of Sheryl's hand that she had in her clasp for such a long time. Looking at her reaction, even Sheryl turned towards the door to replace Roger entering the hall with a female star who was a newbie who hit the limelight recently. The shutterbugs rushed towards them.

Sheryl and Helin watched them as they posed like a couple in front of the cameras. She had unnatural, delicate fine features. Such features could not be attained without going under the knife. She stood beside Roger and held his arm tightly just like a timid bunny.

A sudden whispering sound broke out among the crowd as all the heads turned towards Roger and the lady in his arms. "Isn't this Roger Han?" A voice came from the crowd.

And then came another remark, "Oh, yes, it's him. It is widely said that he was dating Miss He. I thought they were a couple. But what's going on?"

And yet another voice-"Isn't that girl Bessie? She has gained a lot of popularity lately. But now they show up together. Are they seeing each other?"

"I guess so. But what about Miss He?" And thus, there was an exchange of different remarks and comments regarding Roger, Helin, and Bessie.

Helin ignored all that as she sprinted straight to Roger and gave him a tight hug. Paying no heed to the girl next to Roger, she sobbed cheerfully, "I knew you would come here. I knew it."

"Let him go," Bessie said acridly as she pushed Helin away from Roger. It was evident that she was hostile to Helin.

The guest flooded to the three of them, waiting to see the show.

Heron dashed forward and grasped his daughter's arm. Turning to Roger, he said, "Hi, Roger, I am so glad to see you here. You have always treated Helin as your own sister. I heard that you were on a vacation abroad. Have you come back only to attend her birthday party?"

Heron sported a smile which failed to reach his eyes. As he grasped Helin tightly with one hand trying to keep her away from Roger, his jaws were stiff and his facial expression betrayed his words.

Roger looked back at Heron and replied with a diplomatic smile, "Yes, I have. I got a call from Helin, so I came back." Marking Helin's restlessness from the corner of his eyes and yet maintaining a nonchalant attitude, he gestured at the girl beside him and said, "Well, I forgot to introduce her. She is my girlfriend, Bessie."

"Girlfriend?" Helin repeated as she gazed at Roger in disbelief. Her face went pale and her jaws dropped. Roger had become aloof from Helin. Initially, she thought he had gotten a fake girlfriend to make her get mad. But she didn't expect that he would bring that girl here.

Roger's referring to Bessie as his girlfriend broke her heart into a million pieces. Darting a hurtful look at Roger, she asked, "Is she really your girlfriend?"

"Of course I am," Bessie grumbled before Roger replied. Helin rasped as she cast a burning glare at Bessie. "Do you think he is lying to you? We have been together for a long time." Bessie braved Helin's wrathful glare as she spoke.

"You're lying, aren't you?" Helin ignored Bessie's words, looking at Roger. Her face was full of pain as she looked at Roger who refused to even look back at her. She couldn't believe that he was dating someone else. "How come you suddenly made a girlfriend?" Helin asked again demanding an answer from Roger.

"It's true," Roger confirmed as he finally looked at Helin and smiled. "I and Bessie have been together for long. I plan to marry her. I will send you a wedding invitation." Roger put his word in the most casual manner, ignoring Helin's reaction.

Helin had her eyes popped out and her mouth open as she heard Roger announce his marriage. Pain and humiliation surfaced on her face like an open wound. She could not believe it. Even if it came from Roger's mouth, she did not want to believe it. Tears pooled her eyes as she stammered, "And what about me?"

"You?" Roger drew a warm smile and replied, "I thought of you as my little sister." After a pause, he continued, "Oh, would you like to be my bridesmaid when I get married?"

Helin gave a desperate laugh, tears bursting out of her eyes as she laughed. "You are so mean to me, Roger Han," she responded dejectedly.

'It doesn't make sense. I never expected this. Roger is supposed to be with me. But why did he choose that woman?' she mused.

"Are you mad at me, Roger?" Helin asked softly wiping the tears off her cheeks. Regardless of so many guests and reporters, she moved forward and held Roger's hand. "I am the one you like. Then why did you choose this woman? Did I do anything wrong? If I did, please let me know. I will do anything I can to make things right," Helin implored swallowing her pride.

Seeing Helin beg in front of Roger like this, Sheryl couldn't bear to see it any longer. She squeezed her way through the crowd towards Helin. She held the latter's hand and said, "Miss He, you are drunk. Please stop talking nonsense." Sheryl tried to pull Helin out of the crowd but she remained rooted at her place refusing to budge even an inch away from Roger.

Sheryl's appearance took Roger by surprise. With a slight smile, he repeated, "It's not funny, Helin. I always treat you as my sister. How would I have a crush on you?"

Holding Bessie's shoulder, he turned towards her and said, "I like Bessie, and we have decided to get married."