The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1574 Replacing Sheryl

After Leila listened to Melissa's kind words, tears streamed down her face. She was a natural actress.

"Aunt Melissa, in fact, I didn't want to bother you by telling all this. But I couldn't bear it anymore!" Leila sobbed in deep grief.

"Leila, my dear. Stop crying. Tell me what happened?" Melissa asked anxiously. She knew that Leila wouldn't cry so desperately until and unless there was a compelling reason behind it. Leila sobbed and told Melissa about her encounter with Sheryl in the supermarket.

"What did you just say? Did Sheryl really say that to you? She even dared to beat you!" Melissa was so much taken aback that she sprang up immediately and gaped at Leila in disbelief. Leila nodded, feigning to be utterly aggrieved and sad.

"Who does she think she is? What did she mean that Dream Garden was her property and she was the hostess as long as the marriage continued?" Melissa snapped angrily. If Sheryl was there in front of her, she might have given her a good beating right away.

"Aunt Melissa, please don't get mad for a woman like her. I think she was partly right," Leila pacified Melissa, still sobbing.

"She was right? Nonsense! She will never ever take charge of Dream Garden! Leila, don't worry. When Charles comes back, I'll ask him to divorce Sheryl and marry you. You are the only daughter-in-law that I find suitable for this family!" Melissa looked at Leila affectionately.

Leila nodded and stopped crying.

After a while when Melissa was distracted, Leila broke out a wicked smile. However, she made sure that Melissa didn't notice her.

In the other part of the city at the same time, Sheryl got out of Isla's car and was ready to go home. Suddenly she sneezed.

"Go inside now. You will catch a cold if you stay outside for long. Tell the kids that I'll take them to the entertainment park next time!" Isla said, urging Sheryl to go home as soon as possible.

"All right. Got it. You have a safe drive home!" Sheryl said.

After seeing Isla leave, Sheryl walked into the building.

It was late at night. Sheryl knew that the kids must have been asleep already. She tiptoed to the kids' room, looked at their sweet faces with a smile, and gave each of them a kiss on the forehead. Then she returned to her own room.

However, she tossed and turned for the whole night unable to get proper sleep. Her mind was occupied with a series of problems that had occurred recently. It kept her perturbed throughout the night. Early next morning, after sending the kids to the kindergarten, she headed straight to the hospital to visit Nick and Cassie.

At Holley's home

Holley woke up in cold sweat. She had a nightmare. Ever since Ferry had found her, she didn't have a good night's sleep. His threatening words haunted her all the time.

It was like death looming over Holley's head which literally made her go crazy. She sat on the sofa clutching her head, frustrated and lost in thought. She knew that she had to pull down Charles and Sheryl as soon as possible; otherwise she would suffer.

Her mind went berserk with random, conflicting thought that crossed her mind. Finally, she decided to call Leila.

Holley knew that the only person who could help her create trouble in Charles' and Sheryl's life was none other than Leila. Leila could help Holley to destroy them.

At Dream Garden, even Leila could not sleep throughout the night thinking of Sheryl's warning. It kept her up, fretful and restless all night.

It was six in the morning when she finally came out of her room.

Melissa stayed up late last night playing cards, so she was still sleeping now.

"Nancy, don't prepare breakfast so early since Aunt Melissa is still sleeping. She might wake up pretty late today," Leila ordered as if she was the hostess of the house as soon as she came downstairs. Nancy never liked her. She just glanced at her but did not bother to reply to her.

However, Nancy's cold attitude didn't affect Leila. She had all the confidence that she would become the real hostess of this mansion sooner or later. At that time, she would give this old bitch a lesson about discipline and respect.

At the thought of it, Leila couldn't help but feel elated. She walked out to the backyard garden and indulged herself in the fresh air when suddenly the sharp ringtone of her cell phone broke her reverie. Leila got a little startled to hear her phone ring at such an early hour.

She checked her cell phone screen and frowned when she saw Holley's name flashing on it. After some hesitation, she answered the call.

"Hello?" Leila said curtly.

"Leila, I heard that you returned to Dream Garden already?" Holley's voice sounded rather soft from the other end of the line.

Holley's question reminded Leila of Sheryl's words once again. She got quite annoyed and snapped impatiently, "Stop beating around the bush!"

"Let's meet. I have a good way to tell you how to become the real hostess of Dream Garden!" Holley said. She could feel Leila's impatience and irritation from her voice. Deep in her heart, she despised Leila. But she also knew that it wasn't the right time to fall out with her. Leila was still useful.

Upon hearing Holley's words, Leila opened her eyes wide in amazement and replied hastily, "Fine. Let's meet!"

After Holley told her the address, Leila hung up the phone and went to her room to get ready to go out.

Still holding the phone, Holley couldn't help sneering. 'Stupid woman! Does she think that she has become somebody by living in Dream Garden? As a matter of fact, she is nothing now!' Holley thought. Holley looked down upon a woman like Leila who was both stupid and blindly ambitious. Leila was like a joke for her. But to make use of Leila for her own benefit, she had to tolerate her for the moment. Half an hour later, Leila arrived at a fancy cafe.

"Holley, I haven't seen you for a long time. But I have to say that you look really bad now!" Leila taunted as soon as she saw Holley. Even though she was telling the truth, her impoliteness made Holley embarrassed.

Holley smiled awkwardly, "Of course, I'm not as fortunate as you are. You are like the rising sun!"

"Fine. Stop flattering me. You also know that I'm not the real hostess of Dream Garden. You said you had a good way to drive Sheryl away from Charles. What is it?" Leila came straight to the point. Leila's desperation to adopt any trick that would help Sheryl part with Charles was clearly apparent from her demeanor. Her anxiousness to hear out what Holley had to say amused Holley.

Leila behaved just as Holley had expected out of her. She knew Leila's nature. She always dreamed of becoming Charles' wife, but she never had a correct understanding of herself. "Take a seat first. Why are you in such a hurry?" Holley shrugged carelessly. Then Holley ordered a cup of coffee for Leila, and looked at her face quietly.

Sitting in silence, Leila couldn't stand it anymore. She knitted her eyebrows and asked, "Why did you call me? Did you lie to me just now?" "What good would it do me if I lied to you?" Holley retorted in a very calm manner after she took a sip of her tea.

"Then why don't you just tell me what your good way is?" Leila asked nervously as she stared at Holley with her eyebrows stitched in a stern frown. Holley burst into a smile and then said, "The good way is: you sneak into Charles' office and get a confidential file of Shining Company. Period." Holley's tone was careless and indifferent as if she was talking about a common business practice.

Leila flared up as soon as she heard her.

"What do you mean? All I want is to get Charles and Sheryl split up. I don't want to ruin Charles or his company. Tell me the truth. Are you trying to set me up?" Leila stood up immediately and asked Holley in a loud voice.

Holley and Leila had never trusted each other. They had come together because they wanted to make use of each other for their own vested interests.

"Relax Leila. I'm not your enemy, but your ally. Why would I set you up?" Holley explained. She asked Leila to sit down and then continued, "Have you ever considered why Charles never liked you and doesn't want to stay with you?"