The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1565 Sadness

"Yes, sir!" Barrett saluted before walking out.

Sheryl knew the police were just doing their job but she couldn't just leave Nick and Cassie here. Who knew what kind of torture they would go through if they stayed here?

Her mind was in shambles but she needed to think of a way to solve this. She shook her head in frustration and entered the visiting room.

Tears welled up in her eyes once she saw Nick and Cassie. However, she had to hold it in. She was the only one they could count on right now. She needed to remain strong for them. "Don't worry. I promise to get you out of here. Just hold on, okay?" she told them, her voice breaking in anguish.

Cassie grabbed Sheryl's hand in desperation. "Sher, please help me. This place is hell. I don't want to stay here anymore," she murmured tearfully, her entire body shaking in fear and anxiety.

Sheryl understood what Cassie meant by "hell". She too couldn't bear to stay here any longer and she couldn't imagine just what horror Cassie would have to go through being held here. Sheryl swallowed and took her hand from Cassie's grasp. "I will," she said, standing up quickly and walking away.

She couldn't bear it, being in that sort of place and watching Nick and Cassie suffer. It was suffocating and heartbreaking at the same time. She needed to leave. She needed to act. She knew she had now run out of options. The only person who could help her now was Charles.

It was a hard decision to make but what else could she do? He was the only one who could help save Nick and she only hoped he wouldn't turn her down considering what they had been through in the past days.

Taking a deep breath, Sheryl hardened her resolve and headed for the Dream Garden.

The tall, imposing front doors stood before her. Sheryl wanted to just forget everything and get out of there but her desperation forced her to raise her hand and knock.

The door opened, revealing a shocked Nancy, who stood with her mouth wide open at the sight of Sheryl.

"Sher?" she said, reaching out to hold her hand as if to ensure that Sheryl was indeed real.

Sheryl smiled in embarrassment. "It's me. How have you been, Nancy?"

Just before Nancy could answer, a sharp voice called out from the inside. "Nancy, who is it?"

Nancy visibly stiffened at Melissa's voice, but was not given a chance to respond.

"Sheryl?"

Melissa said in obvious displeasure, quickening her pace towards the door.

'Why is this bitch here?' Melissa thought to herself.

"What are you doing here?" Melissa asked Sheryl. No matter what, she must not let Sheryl enter the house.

Of course, Sheryl would never barge in uninvited. She didn't even want to be here in the first place. The only reason she came was because of Nick.

"I'm looking for Charles. Is he home?" Sheryl asked coldly, trying to keep her voice stable.

However, another newcomer arrived, further worsening the situation. Leila appeared by Melissa's side and sneered coldly at Sheryl.

"Sheryl? What are you doing here? Weren't you the one who left the house? Are you regretting it now? Are you, perhaps, here to win Charles back?" Leila paused and let out a high pitched laugh. "Listen, what's done is done. What do you take Charles for? You don't own him and you can't just come and go as you please." The way Leila mocked her was very reminiscent of Melissa. People would think the two were flesh and blood, cut from the same high and mighty fabric that loved to look down upon others.

Melissa crossed her arms and angrily started yelling, "I'm very angry to see you here right now Sheryl! You'd better leave or I will call the police!"

she warned, forgetting her dignified air and choosing to be hostile.

Sheryl sighed. "Is Charles home or not?" she asked.

"He isn't home! Now get the hell out of my place!" Melissa yelled, pushing Sheryl roughly away from the door.

Leila, on the other hand, refused to let her off the hook so easily.

"I heard that you'd been dating someone lately, so why are you looking for Charles now? I'm confused," she said, acting as if she was also part of the Lu family.

"None of your business," Sheryl answered. She was used to Melissa being mean to her, but she didn't expect Leila would be too.

Melissa was quick to spring into Leila's defense, "Leila is my future daughter-in-law. Of course it's her business!"

Sheryl scoffed, "Sorry to bother you then. Since Charles isn't home, I'll take my leave." It would only be a waste of time fighting with these two, time she did not have the luxury of spending while Nick and Cassie remained in that hellhole.

"Are you too embarrassed to stay?" Leila shouted after her.

Sheryl was already a few feet away but Leila's words irritated her. She quickly turned around and shot her a glare. "You listen here Leila. Charles and I haven't divorced yet but if you're so into being his mistress, then go ahead!"

she spat scathingly before storming off the residence.

She would have loved to vent out her anger for all the shit they threw at her but she had more pressing matters to attend to.

Leila and Melissa were practically livid. Leila couldn't even stop her tears from Sheryl's last words.

"Leila, darling, don't listen to her. It's only a matter of time before she divorces Charles. She has to! In my eyes, you're already my daughter-in-law," Melissa fussed, trying to comfort a sobbing Leila.

"I'm fine, Aunt Melissa!" Leila insisted, wiping her tears away with a piece of tissue. "Sheryl is right, though. I'm not his legitimate wife. I should just pack my stuff and leave."

Melissa was quick to stop her, grabbing her arm tightly before she had the chance to go upstairs. "Leila you are upsetting me. You're not leaving and there's no way I'm letting Sheryl go back to this house. This is your home now! Where else will you go? Just wait for Charles to come back and I will ask him to marry you immediately!"

she said, persuading Leila to finally change her mind and stay.

"Okay, Aunt Melissa. I will stay," Leila sniffled.

Melissa smiled and patted her head. "You really freaked me out just now, Leila. I'm going to play mahjong with Mrs. Zhang. Are you coming?" she asked, already grabbing her purse.

Leila shook her head. "No. I might just stay at home. Drive safe!"

"Okay then. Bye!" Melissa said, leaving the house and not noticing the shady smile on Leila's face.

Meanwhile, Sheryl decided to go to the next place she might find Charles: Shining Company.

If he wasn't at home, then he might be there.

"Excuse me, is Charles in the office?" she asked the secretary. Nobody had stopped her from going straight to the CEO's office since everyone in the company knew who she was.

The secretary was very surprised to see her though. "Mrs. Lu, Mr. Lu is abroad. There are a lot of things in the branch for him to deal with."

"When will he come back then?" she asked anxiously but the secretary only shook her head, indicating that she did not know.

Sheryl cursed before also storming out of the building in frustration.

This was bad. She was running out of options and she needed to set Nick and Cassie free as soon as possible. Should she call Charles?

It took her a while to think it through but after realizing that she had no choice, Sheryl mustered up the courage to dial his number. Imagine her annoyance when it went straight to voicemail. Frustrated, Sheryl left him a message, hoping he would call her back soon.

He was obviously hiding from her. He hadn't called her for so many days and now, he was nowhere to be found. Of course he was purposely avoiding her.

The thought made her extremely sad.

However, this was no time for tears. Sheryl shook her head and held her head high. She had a lot on her plate and there was no way she was going to break.