The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1649 We Could Be Friends

Actually, Lewis hadn't left Sheryl at all in the past few days. He would slowly drive behind her just to unnoticed watch her, yet never dared to approach her.

What had happened that night had clearly been an accident, but it was made to look like Lewis was responsible for it. Though he had been framed, Lewis couldn't help but feel guilty as he thought he had cheated on Sheryl and betrayed his own promise.

"How have you been doing?" Lewis hesitantly walked towards Sheryl, breaking the ice.

Always tailing her without her noticing, Lewis already knew that she was fine, but he just didn't want to prolong the awkward silence and decided to approach her.

"I'm fine. How about you?" Sheryl sighed with relief as she observed that Lewis wasn't acting as passionate and obsessed as he was before.

He was still in love with Sheryl, but after what happened that night, he had to learn the hard way how to suppress his feelings.

Those changes really made Sheryl feel comfortable enough to not be too worried again. At least now, they could try to reconnect and be friends.

"I am truly sorry for all the trouble I have caused you before." Lewis decided to give up on pursuing Sheryl. When it had sunk in that she didn't love him, he had gotten himself drunk and found himself sleeping with another woman. It was a huge mistake which he couldn't afford to make. Because of what he had done, he realized that he really didn't deserve Sheryl. Wouldn't it be better for both of them if they chose to only be friends?

Lewis felt at ease. He had finally figured it out.

It was already a blessing that he could see Sheryl every single day. He couldn't ask for more.

"Please, don't say that, Lewis. I know you didn't mean to bother me that way. But I do have to be clear with you. We are just friends and will stay this way." Sheryl decided to come clean. Otherwise, it would still be awkward for them every time they saw each other.

As a hopeless romantic, Lewis used to think that Sheryl would one day fall for everything he had done for her. But now, he realized that all he did was burden Sheryl. He believed that his feelings were always too much.

Even though Lewis knew about this before, hearing it from Sheryl made it sting harsher.

"Yes, we're friends," said Lewis as he tried his best to hide his sorrow while forcing a smile.

Sheryl knew she was being cruel to Lewis with every remark of friendship, but she had no other option. Especially now that Lewis had finally stopped chasing her, she needed to seize this chance and lay down Lewis' limitations. She didn't want to be subjected to any misunderstanding or obsession again.

"Uh-huh." Sheryl nodded and smiled at Lewis before she asked, "By the way, why are you here?"

"I... I came here to see a friend. Then I saw you, so I decided to stop by and send my regards. How's Charles doing?" Lewis glanced at Sheryl as he spoke. When he mentioned Charles, emotions of both anger and frustration rose in him, yet he managed to keep those to himself. He couldn't help but be furious for what Charles had done to Sheryl, yet she ended up choosing Charles anyway, which made him sad. But Lewis, always a good sport, tried his best to hide his feelings.

Sheryl was sensitive enough to notice Lewis' pain even if he tried to suppress it with his facial expression. He surely didn't look well, and she thought that Lewis was desperate to end this conversation. "He's doing great. I guess he will wake up very soon. Well, I better go now. Your friend is definitely waiting, too." Sheryl wrapped up the conversation and nodded at Lewis, pretending that she hadn't seen through him.

She didn't want to see Lewis suffer further.

They nodded at each other, said goodbye, and parted ways.

Sheryl didn't even look back and kept on walking, while Lewis stood still and watched her leave. He didn't get into his car until Sheryl had totally disappeared from his sight.

When Lewis was about to get into his car, a nosy woman showed up suddenly talking to him out of nowhere.

"What? Are you giving up now? You're such a quitter." It was Leila. She hadn't expected that she would see Lewis and Sheryl at the same place.

Leila couldn't forget when Sheryl had slapped her, so she was plotting revenge against her. She had been hiding around a corner, waiting for Sheryl to be alone so she could follow her and teach her a lesson. She hadn't expected to see Lewis at all, so she let it pass today.

Apparently, she'd heard the whole conversation between the two.

"It's none of your business." Lewis hadn't had much contact with Leila before, but he knew that she was the one who had leaked their videos and pictures to the paparazzi. Therefore, Lewis knew clearly how cunning and unreasonable Leila was, so she was a perfect enemy not to mess up with.

He then shot a cold glance at Leila, ready to leave.

But Leila didn't intend to let Lewis off the hook that easily.

Lewis furrowed his brows and threatened while raising his voice, "Leila, I am not Sheryl. I don't know you, and you don't know me. If you want to mess with me, you will pay the price. And I am sure you don't want that to happen."

Leila was glad to see how she triggered Lewis.

With such angst, she was convinced that the man standing in front of her still loved Sheryl dearly. Otherwise, he wouldn't be that frustrated.

Despite her mini win to annoy Lewis, Leila couldn't help but get irritated by the fact that he loved Sheryl. Why did every man in this world love Sheryl? But no matter what she did, she just couldn't win Charles' heart.

It was so unfair when she considered that correlation.

And because of Lewis, Leila was more jealous than angry at Sheryl, who tended to have everything in her favor.

"Why are you smiling?" Lewis was confused when he saw the smile on Leila's face. Clearly, her face was swollen because someone had slapped her, and he really wondered how Leila could still smile as if nothing had happened after being slapped.

Leila then came up with a plan and decided to include Lewis in it. She had to get Lewis involved.

"I'm laughing because you are a quitter. You dare not to pursue the woman you love..." Leila kept talking and teasing him. Her goal was to get on Lewis' nerves so that he would change his mind and continue bothering Sheryl.

"Shut up," Lewis snapped at Leila, reasonably annoyed by her pushiness.

Leila finally stopped talking, so Lewis seized the chance to blurt out, "Leila, do you think you know me? Do you think I will get angry just because of your stupid suggestions? Do you think I will change my mind and continue to chase Sheryl so she would worry once more? It doesn't work on me. So shut up and go away!"

Leila was a little embarrassed because Lewis completely saw through her.

Seeing Leila zip her lips, Lewis continued, "Let me warn you: you'd better leave Sheryl alone. Otherwise, you will pay the price."

Lewis turned around and calmly walked away, leaving in peace.

Of course, Leila was frustrated because Lewis wasn't easy to deal with. She thought Lewis would grow to hate Sheryl because she didn't love him back. However, Leila was wrong. Lewis' love towards Sheryl was unconditional, in that he was willing to let her go, so she could be at peace with the life she chose.

Leila knew that she had underestimated Lewis' capability to compartmentalize work from feelings. After all, he was the CEO of Blue Cloud Technology, and he surely knew how to manage his feelings without being affected by Leila's senseless words.

Leila stomped her foot in anger and left.

Also at the hospital, Cassie was waiting for patients at the hospital's gate. There she saw Leila and Lewis talking to each other, and it worried her. She was afraid that Leila was brewing trouble for Sheryl again. Since the ambulance hadn't arrived yet, Cassie decided to call Nick.

"Cassie, you can rest assured that Lewis won't give in to what Leila might have asked him to do. I know what kind of person Lewis is, and I am sure that he won't do anything to hurt Sheryl. I guess it's just Leila trying to executing one of her plans to cause trouble, even using Lewis, but I am sure that he can handle Leila. Let's not bother Sher with this. She already has enough on her plate." When he heard what Cassie said, Nick did feel worried but chose not to be affected by it. He clearly knew that Sheryl had no feelings towards Lewis. Therefore, even if Leila wanted to team up with Lewis to further her ill-gotten plans, it wouldn't affect Sheryl at all.

As long as Sheryl knew what she wanted and was determined enough, no one could stop her from being with Charles, even if it was Lewis or Leila or Melissa. "Uh-huh, I won't tell Sher." Cassie nodded her head in approval.

"I will pick you up for dinner tonight." Nick brought up another subject, in an attempt to distract Cassie's attention as he didn't want her to be affected by Leila.