The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1535 Turning Over A New Leaf

Leila turned and headed straight to the lingerie shop she owned. Melissa averted her eyes from Leila's back and hailed a taxi by the street to reach home.

"Nancy, make a pudding for me to take away!" Melissa ordered curtly. But the happiness in her face could not evade Nancy's eyes.

Nancy became curious. She remembered Melissa went out with a displeased look. And now she had come back so happy and delighted. What could be the reason? Was it that Melissa found a great deal of cash on her way home? So she could continue with her favorite pastime gambling?

"Yes, Mrs. Lu!" Nancy replied. She shook her head to clear it out of the speculative thought about Melissa and walked straight into the kitchen to carry out Melissa's order.

These days, both Charles and Sheryl were too occupied with their work to care about Melissa's daily agenda. Taking advantage of this, Melissa must have indulged herself once again, and given in to her addiction to gambling. Besides, she completely forgot how badly her earlier ploy with Leila had failed. Now she had braced up to collude with Leila once again!

That day as she noticed that it was Nancy who picked up the kids after school, Melissa couldn't help but start to wonder.

"Nancy, I remember that you picked up the kids from school today, right? Why was it not Sheryl to do that job? Tell me why." Melissa demanded an answer, looking straight into Nancy's eyes. She didn't get used to the tiniest change in this house without being informed. There was obvious displeasure in Melissa's eyes. Then she moved her eyes to the kids.

"And you two little bastards! You have no respects for your grandma. Don't you even know how to greet when you meet your grandma? Where are your manners?" Melissa snapped out, glaring at the two petrified faces of Clark and Shirley.

"Hello, Grandma!" Clark greeted politely, as he felt the slightly charged atmosphere caused by Melissa. He gently patted his sister's back and guided, "Shirley, say hello to Grandma." "Hello, Grandma."

"Grandma, if you don't have anything else to tell us, Shirley and I will go upstairs and do the homework!" Observing Melissa's angry face, Clark smartly made an excuse to rush upstairs with Shirley, leaving Melissa no choice to speak more.

Nancy gave Melissa a faint smile and responded in a soft tone, "Mr. Lu and Sheryl are busy lately. They asked me to take care of the kids for the time being. And do you have anything else to ask? Because I have to prepare for dinner."

"Fine, Nancy, I understand. You should carry on with your business."

Melissa thought Charles would come home after dinner, but to her disappointment, he was not back even by the time when she went to bed.

The next morning, Melissa walked out of her bedroom as she yawned and stretched. Eager to see Charles, she walked over to knock on Charles' bedroom door. When she got no response from the room, she went downstairs to the dining room but still didn't find him. A little annoyed, she frowned and asked Nancy, "Nancy, where is Charles? And Sheryl? Did they not come home last night?"

"They got up early this morning and left for work. The kids have also left for the school. Mrs. Lu, it seems that you were a little late to wake up today. Tell me, what do you want to have for breakfast? How about porridge with fried dough sticks?" Nancy managed a courteous smile, even though she was rather averse to talking to Melissa.

"Well, whatever!" Melissa felt disappointed. After Nancy served the food on the table, she picked the chopsticks to help herself but didn't enjoy the breakfast much. While eating, she was getting increasingly impatient. Her mind was occupied as she thought about how to meet Charles as soon as possible.

After a while of consideration, Melissa's lips curved into a smile, as if she had come up with a good idea. Melissa dropped the chopsticks and called Nancy all of a sudden. "Hi, Nancy. Cook some soup for me. will take it to my son! You know what kind of soup Charles loves the most!"

"The soup made of cow tenderloin?" Nancy replied as she wondered about why Melissa decided to take a soup to Charles all of a sudden. At the same time, she was also worried about whether the answer she gave for Melissa's question was right.

"Yes, make it as soon as possible! I am in a hurry. I will go to his company and pay my son a surprise visit!" Saying this, Melissa turned and went upstairs. She needed to get changed before going out. When she came downstairs, the soup was ready and meticulously packed in a disposable bowl on the dining table.

"Well, I am leaving!"

Before Nancy could say anything, Melissa walked out of the house. Nancy watched her from her back and speculated, 'It looks like she is trying to repair the relationship with her son?' At Shining Company

"Mrs. Lu, good morning. May I help you?" The receptionist stood up immediately and greeted Melissa with the utmost respect. The receptionist recognized Melissa at first sight. Though as a very young staff, she had never met Melissa in person, she was aware of how her CEO's mother looked.

"I came here to see my son!" Melissa straightened her back and exuded a sweet smile. Though she was already in her 50s, she had a natural grace and charm. She had learned a lot of skills about how to present herself in public.

"Mrs. Lu, let me guide you to his office." The receptionist stepped out of her seat to show Melissa to Charles' office.

"No need! I know the way to my son's office," Melissa snorted. She was not used to listening to a humble receptionist. She put on a brash look and replied in a tone that was full of contempt. Dumbfounded, the young staff couldn't understand why her politeness irked her. Managing a faint smile, she retreated to her workplace after guiding Melissa to the lift.

Despite being a little shocked and irritated for having been treated in such a rude manner, the receptionist was professional enough to control her feeling. She immediately called Charles' secretary to inform him that his mother was paying a visit to his office.

Outside Charles' office

"Okay, I get it!" The secretary hung up the call from the reception and rushed towards Charles' office.

Knock! Knock!

"Please come in!" Charles summoned his secretary without looking up at him. He buried his head in a pile of files.

"Mr. Lu, your mother is coming to see you. She will come very soon!" the secretary informed anxiously.

Charles raised his head and took a glance at him. After a pause, he responded, "I get it. You can leave."

The secretary nodded his head and moved toward the door. As he opened the door, Melissa was already standing in front of him.

"Charles, do you have a moment?" Melissa walked in as she asked with a smile.

She halted and gave a slight nod to the secretary.

"Mrs. Lu."

"Dillon, thank you for assisting my son!" Then Melissa walked close to Charles and put the soup on his desk. Thoughtfully, she said, "Charles, I know you have been very busy lately. And as your mother, I think I pay very little attention to you. So today I asked Nancy to make your favorite soup. Have a taste of it!"

With a wary look, Melissa cautiously urged Charles to taste the soup. She had no idea whether Charles still had any respect for her. She looked towards his hands that were tightly clenched exuding a defensive mode. Suddenly, she feared that she might have disturbed Charles and made him unhappy.

Noticing Melissa acted so cautiously in front of him, Charles felt remorseful. Melissa was his mother after all. But at the moment, her tone sounded like she was Charles' servant.

To show his respect, Charles quickly grabbed the soup and took a sip. Then he said with a satisfied expression, "Well, it is so good." After a pause, he asked, "By the way, Mom, do you have anything else to talk with me?" This was the part that Charles was concerned about. Melissa's sudden visit made Charles a little suspicious, as she had seldom paid a visit to his office like this in the past.

"Well, I have come here today to apologize. I am aware that I have always been picky with Sheryl, and put you in a dilemma..." Melissa heaved a deep sigh, as she sat down on a chair across Charles. Her face looked gloomy, and her seemingly sincere confession made Charles' heart melt towards her. Silently, he took another sip and replied with a smile, "Mom, I am so happy that you are so straightforward with me on this matter. I have really been thinking hard about the issue between you and Sheryl. And it is not completely your fault. Now that I find you reflecting on yourself and extending an apology, I will find a moment to talk to Sheryl. As long as you are willing to be soft with Sheryl, I believe we can put all the unhappy things in the past."

Charles took a furtive glance at Melissa as he spoke, in case his words might offend her in some way or the other. Surprisingly, he couldn't capture a trace of displeasure on her face. In response, Melissa heaved a sigh again. "I agree. It was all because of me! How could I be so unfriendly to my daughter-in-law?"

"Thanks, Mom, for paying this visit." Charles' face lit up as he spoke, and a contented smile spread over his face. He could never express how much relieved he felt at the moment. He could not thank Melissa enough for the consolation she brought to his heart. Suddenly, he felt so light as if a huge weight had been lifted from his chest.

Melissa kept speaking to him, showing her solicitude about her son and her daughter-in-law. Her words were like music to his ears and this soup felt like the most fulfilling meal he'd had in a long time. Charles enjoyed every drop of it. After all, his mom brought it for him with so much love. The whole process was filled with family affections until Charles finished the soup. Melissa was very pleased. She knew that her visit did make a difference. With her lips curved into a faint smile, she was ready to say goodbye to his son and leave.

"Mom, I am busy reading an important document. So I can't leave my office. Forgive me to let my secretary show you out this time," Charles apologized, as he promptly dialed his secretary's extension number.

Melissa quickly waved her hand and refused. "Well, that's not necessary. I can walk out of here by myself. Let the secretary help you with your work, so you can come back home earlier tonight. I really miss the time when we all enjoyed the dinner together as a family."

"Okay, I will try my best to reach home earlier tonight. Goodbye, Mom."

After Melissa left, Charles stopped what he was doing. Instead, he kept his gaze fixed at the closed door. With blank eyes, he thought gleefully, 'That's exactly what I have been waiting for. Finally, Mom had thought this through and decided to turn over a new leaf. Hope Mom really meant what she had said.'

Charles was convinced that he could persuade Sheryl to let go of her grudges accumulated against Melissa, as long as Melissa was really determined to change her attitude towards Sheryl. If the relationship between Melissa and Sheryl could be repaired, then his family would be filled with love and care.