The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 974 You Don't Know Him

"What's the matter?" Although the question was asked in concern, Sheryl harbored no affection for Roger and faced him with a cold expression. Not expecting to have a long conversation with him, Sheryl looked at him unheedingly.

"I just wanted to tell you...

what you saw today... it's not real," slightly stammering, Roger explained. It wasn't clear to Roger himself why he would even try to explain this to Sheryl. There was just the feeling of not wanting Sheryl to misunderstand him in such a way.

Giving a polite smile, Sheryl said, "Roger, you don't need to tell me. You should just go and explain to Helin. She's been anxiously waiting for your explanation for too long."

"It has nothing to do with Helin because I don't have any feelings for her at all," Roger explained with haste. It seemed as though he was afraid Sheryl would get too angry and just leave abruptly. Taking two steps forward, Roger looked at Sheryl and said rather fretfully, "I never liked her from the beginning. I really don't have any feelings for her. You must believe me."

"And so what if I believe your words? Would it make a difference? You think it matters enough to change anything?" The doubt was evident in Sheryl's voice. It was still rather puzzling to her that he was even explaining anything to her at all. "I still don't quite understand why you're talking about this with me. What are you trying to do? You should talk to Helin, not me because I don't think my opinion matters much to you."

As a matter of fact, Sheryl simply decided not to believe what Roger said anymore. No matter how much he explained, she would not be convinced. Moreover, she could feel the regret of helping him in the past seeping into her chest.

Although Helin was arrogant and acted unreasonably at times, Sheryl knew that she was, deep down, a good and kind-hearted girl with real and serious feelings for Roger.

When Roger heard Sheryl's words, he smiled bitterly. Even he had to admit that regardless of whether or not he explained things clearly to Sheryl, nothing would change. There was no way Roger could change anything by merely saying a few words to the person in front of him.

Sheryl was Charles' wife; she was Mrs. Lu. All Roger could do was ask himself, 'What on earth am I expecting? What kind of fantasy do I still have about this woman?'

The answer was still lost to him, yet, he said to Sheryl with a forced smile, "I just don't want you to misunderstand me as others do. That's all."

Taking a moment to pause, Sheryl cast a cold glance at him and said, "Roger, if you really care about what I think of you, I suggest that you go and clear things up with Helin. No matter what you plan on doing, she's innocent. She's someone who's done so much for you. You shouldn't sever your relationship so easily because of such a matter. It's not fair to her. Go and have a heart-to-heart with her to deal with the problem. She needs you, you know?"

"What about you? Do you need me?"

As soon as he spoke the words, Roger was stunned by his own boldness. While he didn't know why he suddenly had the courage to say such a thing to Sheryl, he continued anyway, "What exactly do you think of me? Do you have any feelings for me?"

The daring questions were just as much of, or even more so, a shock to Sheryl. Never would she have expected him to be so brazen to ask her such things directly and she wasn't sure why he would say such things that seemed like nonsense.

As they stood in silence, both stilled from Roger's words, Sheryl's driver pulled over and stopped the car in front of them. Ignoring his aimless questions, Sheryl merely walked straight to the door of the car. As she was about to enter the vehicle, Roger got a hold of her hand in an attempt to stop her from leaving. "Sher, you haven't given me an answer..."

"Let go of me." Seeing him act like that for the first time, Sheryl was too startled and wanted to shake his hand off but failed when he gripped her hand with more force. His behavior bewildered her as she didn't even share much affinity with him at all, so him harboring any desire for her was absolutely ridiculous in her eyes.

At that moment, Roger was too much of an unpredictable man and she had to keep away from him at all costs.

Finally, once she succeeded in getting rid of his hand, she rebuked impatiently, "You disgust me. Don't make me sick." "Sher..."

Though Roger still wanted to say something, the driver walked to him and grabbed his wrists with a surprising force as he pinned them behind his back, pushing his head down onto the surface of the car. Before Roger even comprehended what was happening, the driver had him under control.

Sheryl took the opportunity to get into the car and slammed the door shut.

"You'd better stay away from Mrs. Lu."

After intimidating Roger with a threatening tone, the driver let him go and merely drove away, leaving Roger standing awkwardly behind.

For the first time, Sheryl came to realize that the driver Charles assigned to her was rather skillful in a fight. As she rode in the backseat, she thought about it the whole drive back. Finally, she let her amazement get the best of her.

"Wade, I didn't know...you are so capable in a fight! Thank you for protecting me just now."

"You're welcome, Mrs. Lu. I used to be a soldier for several years before I transferred to another job. That's why I know some fighting techniques."

While Wade put it mildly, Sheryl knew things were definitely not as simple as he said.

It was a wonder why Charles assigned Wade to be her driver.

It dawned on Sheryl that Charles wanted a person strong enough to be by her side to protect her. Knowing that, Sheryl felt a warmth bloom in her heart.

Meanwhile, leaving the banquet hall, Helin headed towards the bar. The day had made her pretty upset and half of her wanted to paralyze herself with alcohol. Only drinking could make her numb. Since Helin was a public figure, she was recognized not long after she entered the bar. Some of the more daring guys gathered around her, trying to chat her up, but Helin simply swore them all away as if it was second nature to her.

One bottle after another, she continued drinking and was almost wasted by the time someone sent by Heron found her and took her home.

Seeing his daughter in such anguish and dismay, Heron was truly worried. The love he had for his daughter could hardly let him bear to see her suffer any pain. The more he thought about it, the resentment he had for Roger grew stronger.

Looking at Helin who was lying in bed, Heron took out his cellphone and gave Roger a call. "Come to my office at 9 o'clock tomorrow morning. I want to have a talk with you."

Grimly, Roger agreed.

Having drunk too much at the bar the previous evening, Helin spent the night vomiting. Because Heron was too afraid that the nanny was not capable of taking good enough care of Helin, he stayed home to look after her until she woke up. When she did wake, it was already the morning of the next day.

Almost nodding off as he sat on the sofa, Heron was woken up by a sound coming from Helin's room. When he swung the door open to check on her, he saw her slowly getting up from the bed. "Are you okay?"

Paying no attention to Heron, Helin got up on her own. Thinking that it was all his fault, she was angry at him and bore only malice instead of affection. She was convinced that Roger treated her poorly because her father kept obstructing their relationship and so she would not listen to or even look at him.

Understanding that his daughter would give him no response, Heron heaved a sigh. "Look at you! You were so drunk last night. You could've easily run into danger. Have you even thought about the consequences of your actions? Is it really worth it to devastate yourself like this for that bastard, Roger?"

"I know what's worthwhile for myself. Stay out of my business," Helin coldly replied, stubborn as a rock. Still adamant about her father not getting involved in her relationship with Roger, she turned to face him abruptly and snapped, "If it weren't for you, I would've been happy with him. We would get along well and have a good time together by now. But because of you... You ruined it! You destroyed our relationship. It's your fault. And you stand there asking me if it's worthwhile? That's hilarious!"

By then, Helin's face had turned red with anger. Taking a deep breath, she went on, "Listen to me. I will hate you for the rest of my life because of what you've done to me and Roger. I hate you and I don't want to see you anymore!"

"How can you talk to me like that? I am your father."

Helin's words deeply irritated Heron and he rebuked, "Everything I've ever done has been for you. I've done so much for your sake. I never expected that you would always appreciate my efforts, but you can't blame me for caring about you. I've been struggling in this society for several years, much longer than you. I know how to judge a person's character much better than you. You have absolutely no idea what kind of a person Roger is. You just want to be with him, regardless of his background and personality. You even look down at me for his sake... Have you forgotten that I am your father?"

"You don't know Roger at all. You're not qualified to judge him."

Losing all control of her anger and hateful emotions, Helin raised her voice as she blurted out, "Roger is a very good man. He's extremely kind to me. You don't know what you're talking about!"