The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1583 Charles Agrees To Divorce Sheryl

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It was already late when Sheryl finally completed her daily task. On a normal night, she would take a deep breath of relief before she stood up from her chair, ready to leave for home. But tonight, she didn't look relieved at all. Sheryl failed to receive any response from Charles even after she called him countless times. She was upset at his indifference.

Sitting in her chair, she was in no mood to do anything, nor did she intend to go home yet.

Anxiously waiting for Charles to return her calls, Sheryl lost her appetite for dinner. What had kept him busy all day long was a great puzzle to her. She wondered what was so important that Charles was even willing to ignore his wife's calls.

Sheryl didn't want to shake off her faith in him, but after today's events, she had received nothing from him but disappointment.

To avoid missing his call unintentionally, she had constantly checked her phone. Now she felt stupid doing that.

Suddenly, as Sheryl was about to sink into more despair with regard to Charles, her phone started to ring. To her dismay, the caller ID showed an unknown number. Happily picking up the call, she found that it wasn't a man's voice speaking from the other end of the line. After a pause, she realized that it was Joan.

"Hello, Joan! Did the kids have dinner already?" Sheryl asked first.

Joan sighed helplessly. "Ms. Xia, the kids are upset. They cry for their mom, and I don't know what to do..."

Joan was in a dilemma. No matter how hard she tried to comfort Shirley and Clark, they wouldn't listen to her. Running out of options, she finally decided to call Sheryl to ask for help.

"Oh. That's okay. I am so sorry that the kids are causing you trouble. Please hand your phone to Clark. Let me talk to him," Sheryl said in an apology, feeling that she could no longer avoid her kids. She decided to talk to them.

"Mom, you always teach me to be honest. And I always have been. You promised me that Dad would come back and take care of me and my sister. But he's not here yet. Does he want to abandon us? Are you trying to hide the truth from me and Shirley?" Trying to stay calm, Clark threw one question after another at his mother. His words felt like sharp blades piercing Sheryl's heart.

Sheryl felt under fire. Clark had always been observant. She couldn't possibly hide anything from him for long. Taking a deep breath to compose herself, she replied, "Oh, Clark, my good boy! How can you entertain that sort of idea? You dad is just busy, like I said earlier. When he finishes all his work, Mom will take you and Shirley to find him. Agreed?" Despite feeling depressed about how things are going, Sheryl tried her best to sound optimistic. Her kids needed her to be strong for them right now.

Listening on the phone beside her brother, Shirley started to get impatient. She reached out, attempting to grab the phone. Clark had already lost the will to continue chatting with his mother, not wanting to hea any more of her lies. Without letting Sheryl know, he tossed the phone to Shirley. "Fine, you talk with Mom!" Clark snapped at her.

"Mom, are you there?" Shirley asked. "I have so much to share with you. You know, today in school, Clark was rewarded with a little red flower for his excellent performance. The teacher spoke highly of him during class..." Shirley paused all of a sudden. "Well, why hasn't Dad come home yet?" Sheryl felt sad.

"Shirley, my dear Shirley. Your dad is so busy lately. Once he gets all his work done, I am sure that he will come home and see us," Sheryl comforted her in a gentle voice. She knew that Shirley was a smart girl. Even if she didn't tell her much, Shirley would realize that there were changes in her surroundings.

Shirley pursed her mouth, in half doubt. Patting her on the back, Clark said, "Enough, Shirley! Hand me the phone. Let me talk to Mom."

Clark took the phone from Shirley's hand. "Mom, fine. We will believe you this time. But you cannot lie to us again."

Feeling threatened by Clark's tone, Sheryl couldn't help but smile faintly. Shaking her head, she added, "Sure. Please believe me as your mom. As soon as your dad becomes available, I will be the first to tell you. I promise!"

With Sheryl's reassurance, Clark didn't say a word. Pleased, he then called it a deal.

Taking time to talk to them, Sheryl continued comforting her kids before she hung up the phone.

She then buried herself in work till it was ten o'clock in the evening. Checking the time, she felt more unwilling to go home, knowing the kids had already fallen asleep at this hour.

Her heart still couldn't settle, since she had been waiting for Charles to call all along. She wavered on whether she should give Charles a chance and forgive him or not, in case he called her to apologize. But as it got late into the night, waiting further seemed to only add more pain in her heart. Eventually, she stopped hesitating and picked up the phone again. She finally figured out that it would do both of them no good to continue such a ruined relationship. She had to be tough and determined when needed, or else, both of them would end up consumed and exhausted. Finally, she decided to call Charles again, instead of waiting for his call.

Meanwhile, at Dream Garden

It was so late that the lights from every flat in Dream Garden had already been switched off. Charles was standing on the balcony and enjoying his moment of solitude. He had just got out of Melissa's bedroom and wanted to seek some fresh air to relieve himself. Lately, Charles had been so dispirited by Melissa's sickness.

He blamed himself for not taking enough care of his mother and regretted being indifferent to her for so long just to punish her. For some reason, he felt that her illness was due to the emotional abuse that he had subjected her to.

Against the quiet night, his phone started to ring. Given the inopportune timing, its tone sounded shrill and harsh to him.

Taking it out from his pocket, Charles checked to see who was calling.

He realized he hadn't contacted Sheryl the entire day. He remembered that he had promised he would be first to meet her once he returned. It seemed that Sheryl got anxious and ceased to wait. "Sher," Charles began, lowering his voice.

Sheryl also answered in a throaty voice, feeling emotional.

"Have you come back from your business trip?" Sheryl knew that Charles was back, but she pretended like she didn't know about it.

He forgot that he was talking to Sheryl on the phone, and his first reaction was to nod his head in response. Realizing that she was not standing in front of him, he immediately straightened and uttered in a gentle voice, "I am back. I was supposed to come to you first, but my mother got ill at this time so I decided to look after her. I have been so busy taking care of her that I forgot to contact you."

While recounting Melissa's illness to Sheryl, Charles couldn't help but get upset. Now he felt he needed Sheryl with him to help him attend to his mother.

Upon hearing that Melissa got ill again, Sheryl couldn't help the trace of disgust in her heart. Quietly letting out a snort, she thought to herself, 'Melissa got ill again?

This woman must be itching to cause me and Charles some more trouble!' She remembered how the other day had turned out, when Melissa stirred up a quarrel with her in front of Nick. That old witch seemed so full of vigor whenever she lost her temper with her.

There was no sign of illness that could be detected in her spirits. Did she really get ill all of a sudden? Sheryl found it hard to believe that Melissa fell ill as soon as Charles got back. What a coincidence! Other than that, Sheryl had just received a call from Melissa in the afternoon.

Recalling their conversation, she didn't detect anything abnormal from her way of speaking.

'Charles, only you can be stupid enough to believe Melissa's words!' Sheryl sighed in her heart helplessly.

"So are you available tomorrow?" Sheryl changed the topic. She had had enough of Melissa's tricks. In her eyes, Melissa must have made an alliance with Leila on the sly. It was so obvious! She wanted to avoid Melissa for as long as she could.

But Charles was shocked at Sheryl's response. He couldn't believe his ears and didn't understand why her words showed complete indifference to his mother's health. The least he expected was for Sheryl to express her concern, even for formality's sake.

'Sheryl, do you really have no regard for my mother's health?

Even though she failed to treat you well, she is still my mother, and your mother-in law! After living with this family for so long, haven't you formed even a little bit of affection toward her?'

Charles felt infuriated. He doubted if Sheryl was the same person he used to know. He felt so perplexed.

"Charles, do you hear me? I am asking if you will be available or not tomorrow!" Sheryl's patience finally ran out so she pushed him a little.

Her attitude shocked Charles once again.

In his thoughts, he mocked her. 'Maybe I am just a nobody to her. She probably doesn't even care about me anymore, because she doesn't even care to show any concern for my mother!' Following his thoughts, Charles understood why Melissa was averse to everything about Sheryl, just as Sheryl was toward her. After all, hatred was a mutual feeling!

Feeling despair, Charles was disappointed as he replied coldly, "I have been busy these days. Work and accompanying my mother have taken over my daily schedule. Anyway, I am too busy to do anything else!"

Sheryl bristled upon hearing Charles' reply. Clearly, he was patently lying to her with his cheap excuse. She knew that it was easy for Charles to meet a person; it was just a matter of organizing his time. But Charles refused to do so.

"Really? Don't even have time to deal with our divorce?" Sheryl's words came out cold as ice.

Charles was astonished.

"Really? Are you serious?" Charles' tone sounded even colder. His ego was bruised. Charles' reply left Sheryl heartbroken, but now wasn't the time to show her frailty.

Pausing, she took a deep breath to be sober and calm.

"Yes!"

"Well, very good! Let's meet at the Bureau of Civil Affairs tomorrow!" Charles' heart sank at Sheryl's positive response. To show his determination, he also gave her a swift answer without hesitation. Then his heart ached at once.

Before Sheryl could completely realize what had happened, the line went dead.

She could only hear a series of beeps that came out from the receiver. Her heart was struck by the noise. She felt like it was out of control. It seemed like it was about to stop beating. Her heart had now turned hollow, as if she had lost everything.

Placing her hand onto her chest, she tried to alleviate the feeling.

To her surprise, Charles had agreed to divorce her. She didn't see that coming at all!