The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1079 Embarrass Me

Noticing that Charles had gotten slightly upset, Melissa realized that she should be a bit more patient. 'Sheryl must have some sort of special skill. Otherwise my son wouldn't be so good to her. Looks like it's gonna take a while to kick her out of my family,' she mulled. To break the tense atmosphere, she started to explain, "Charles, I didn't mean it. I had been stuck in prison for years. It might take a while for me to get used to chatting with other people comfortably." Turning to Sheryl, she asked gruffly, "Are you mad at me, Sheryl?"

"Of course she isn't, Mom. She is a sensible woman. You will understand that once you get to know her well," Charles promptly replied on Sheryl's behalf.

"Yes, you don't have to worry about that, Mom. How could I get angry at you?" Sheryl asked meekly. She had been slightly miffed when Melissa had said those offensive words. But after she heard her apology, her anger disappeared.

'She is right. Anyone who had spent fifteen years in prison would find it hard to fit in right after getting out,' she thought, but did not say that out loud.

"Come with me, Charles. Drink some of this tea. It's gonna get cold," Melissa beamed, as she tried to pull her son to the seat. She completely ignored Sheryl.

But Charles shook her hand away lightly and refused her offer. "Mom, I don't like tea. Let's go home. You have been gone for years; you must miss our home so badly." Walking to Sheryl's side, he said tenderly, "Let's help Mom pack her stuff, Sher."

"Okay," Sheryl replied in a hesitant voice. She knew that Charles had done that deliberately because he thought that she might feel awkward being neglected.

Charles' behavior displeased Melissa. She attributed this to Sheryl. "I don't have any luggage. Since you don't like tea, there's no point in staying here any longer. Let's go," Melissa said, showing no expression on her face.

She took the lead and stepped out of the room quickly.

"Charles! Look what you have done!" Sheryl said in a reproachful tone when Melissa was out of earshot.

"Did I do something wrong?" Charles retorted with a hurtful look. 'I did that for Sheryl,' he thought, confused.

"You have been separated from your mom for years. And when she asked you to drink the tea, you should have just drunk it. Why did you have to say that you didn't like tea?" Sheryl spelled it out for him. She guessed that Melissa was mad about his refusal.

She hadn't expected that her husband's mother would hate her so much from their very first meeting.

"But, that's the truth. I don't like tea!" Charles argued. As far as he was concerned, he hadn't done anything wrong. "Fine, whatever. Let's go back home."

By the time the three of them arrived at Dream Garden, Nancy had already served a variety of delicious dishes on the table. The front door was pushed open. At the sight of the stranger, Nancy inferred that she was Charles' mother. In a befitting way, the old maid greeted, "Welcome home, Mrs. Lu."

Melissa spared a glance at Nancy and walked inside. Charles and Sheryl followed her in.

"Mom, I have asked Nancy to prepare the master bedroom on the second floor for you. It is really spacious and it faces south. I'm sure you'll love it. Please make yourselves at home," Sheryl said respectfully, as they entered the living room together.

Sheryl wanted to act thoughtfully. The old lady was Charles' mother, and she had been in prison for so many years. She imagined that she should make her feel welcomed.

But Melissa was too blind to see the purity of her actions. She spat aggressively, "Are you looking down on me because I was a prisoner? You are making it very clear that you are the mistress of the house by picking a room of your choice for me. And I presume that I have no say in it."

"Mom, you're misunderstanding Sher. She only wants you to be comfortable here," Charles defended Sheryl. He was getting a little irritated that she was giving Sheryl a hard time right after coming back home. "Sher?!" Melissa repeated her name in disdain. "This is a vicious woman and she is trying to put me down!" She wouldn't have gotten angry if her son hadn't spoken for Sheryl. However, he had the nerve to side with his wife and this triggered her even more. Melissa couldn't stand the thought that her son was completely ignoring her. 'I've just come back home and Sheryl has already embarrassed me enough. What's worse, she has my son wrapped around her finger.

Unbelievable! What a crafty woman!' she screamed in her mind.

"Mom, you've got it wrong. I only wanted the best for you and that's why I chose that room. But if you aren't satisfied with that room, please go ahead and choose the one you like," Sheryl expounded. She didn' fully understand why Melissa would go ballistic about a room.

'I prepared the best for her. If I hadn't, would she have gotten mad for that too?' she thought speechlessly.

Although Sheryl wondered why Melissa was making a big deal out of nothing, she didn't show any displeasure on her face. She was Charles' mother, after all. Considering that she had been through a tough time for all these years, Sheryl decided to be more inclusive.

"That's funny. Do you think I'm incapable of finding a room I like?" Melissa snapped at her in an irritated tone.

"Mom, that's not what I meant. I truly hope that you can live comfortably here. If you'd like to choose one yourself, why don't you take a look around? I am totally okay with that," Sheryl explained swiftly. "Nancy!" Melissa turned to the maid. She paid no heed to Sheryl's kind words.

"What can I do for you, Mrs. Lu?" Nancy asked, bowing humbly.

"Lead me upstairs. I'd like to have a tour of the house!" Melissa ordered in an arrogant tone.

"Yes, Mrs. Lu," Nancy replied obediently.

"What's going on here?" A low, steady voice reverberated throughout the living room. Melissa trembled slightly at the voice.

"Dad! You're home. I haven't been here in years. So, I just wanted to look around and choose a room to stay in," Melissa replied meekly. Her arrogance faded in front of Gary.

"Didn't Sher prepare one for you? You don't like it?" Gary asked.

"Um...Dad..." Melissa stammered as she met the old man's stern eyes. Since she was just back, she didn't have the nerve to displease Gary at the moment. With a hesitant look, she blurted out, "I was planning to use the room in which Charles' dad and I used to stay."

But that room belonged to Sheryl and Charles now.

Gary knew how deep his son and Melissa's love was, and he was also aware of her guilt towards his son. He was at a loss for words. Finally he uttered, "I see. You should discuss that matter with them." Saying that, he returned to his room.

Sheryl had no idea which room Melissa was referring to, but Charles knew. Although his mother hadn't been home in fifteen years, he remembered his parents' room very well. He said gently, "Mom, let's have lunch first. You can choose a room you want later. As for the one you mentioned, Sher and I are staying there now."