The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 774 Sheryl’s Boss

"Oh, are you crying? I am sorry it was just a slip of tongue. Charlie and Shirley have been kidnapped and you must be worried. Oh, I shouldn't talk about that at all. I am really sorry! Please forgive me," Holley apologized sincerely as she drew a tissue paper out of the tissue box and handed it to Sheryl. She pretended to be compassionate toward Charlie's and Shirley's terrible suffering. On the other hand, in her heart, never had she felt so happy before. Sheryl's pain had always made her happy. She thought, 'Well done Leila! I am so happy that you kidnapped Charlie and Shirley. Charlie is probably safe, but I am sure Shirley won't be treated kindly at all. My dear sister, I will also do my best to torment you. You will pay the price for what I have suffered. My life has been ruined and thus, you won't even live a happy life either.'

"It really doesn't matter. I am anxious and worried about Charlie and Shirley. I never thought such bad things would ever happen to them. Miss Ye, I am sorry I haven't been more welcoming to you," Sheryl replied as she shook her head to show she didn't mind Holley's words at all. She knew her boss was just showing solicitude to her employee. Although she was not clear why Holley had treated her much better than her other colleagues, she was grateful especially when she was in terrible suffering. Holley's visit made her feel much better. Her stress surely needed to be shared. She was indeed, in need of a shoulder to cry on.

"Don't say that! I came here to visit you, not for a warm welcome. Just lie down and rest. Only after you recover, you can look for your daughter. You agree with what I am saying, don't you?" Holley stopped Sheryl who was trying to sit and said solemnly. However, this time she wasn't pretending. She really hoped Sheryl, would get better soon to suffer more pain.

"Alright." Sheryl nodded and laid down on the bed. After a short consideration, she asked curiously, "But Miss Ye, where did you get the news from?" She was not a fool. 'It's impossible for Charles to tell my colleagues especially my boss about our kids' kidnapping. But, Holley knew that news. Why? It's weird, ' thought Sheryl.

As Holley heard the question, her face became pale. Since Leila called to inform her that she had taken Charlie and Shirley away, a feeling of ecstasy stopped Holley from thinking clearly. She came to the hospital in which Sheryl was staying before she knew what she was doing. She was stoked to see Sheryl's appearance.

As expected, Sheryl was stricken with anxiety and immersed in grief. This scene was rejoicing for Holley.

As the saying went, extreme joy begot sorrow. She wasn't expecting being asked about the source of the news. There was no time to think out a perfect explanation. She stammered after a short hesitation, "The whole company is yapping about it. It is not a secret." She knew the words were not convincing, but there were no other words that sounded better. It was hard for her to think of a better explanation in such a short time span.

"The whole company knows about that?" Sheryl retorted. She didn't believe a word Holley said. She thought, 'Charles won't tell my colleagues about that. Why does my boss know this news?' She never suspected Leila would tell her boss about what she had done. After all, they were thought to be strangers. The truth was that Holley was a co-conspirator herself.

"Of course," Holley replied stiffly. To defuse the tension, she changed another topic and said tenderly, "Sher, I came here for two reasons. First, I want to make sure you are okay. Second, if you need my help, don't hesitate to call me. I will always be ready to give you my hand." She had been making very friendly gestures. Her words sounded sincere, while in fact she wouldn't give Sheryl any practical help. Stabbing Sheryl in the back was the only thing that she would always love to do.

"No, thank you," Sheryl said with bitter smile. She thought, 'No one can help me. My only hope is Leila's call. I hope she can call me as early as possible.

Since Leila kidnapped Charlie and Shirley, she will ask for something or call me or Charles to tell us her demands. Why doesn't she called yet? If Shirley talks to me even a word, I won't get so worried about her.'

Every time she thought of Shirley, she had to fight back tears. When she realized Holley was still here, she forced a smile and said, "No one can help me."

"Don't worry. It's worthless. You'd better take good care of yourself and recover as soon as possible. Mr. Lu will find the children," Holley acknowledged and said encouragingly. She stared at Sheryl's pale face and was enjoying every second of this. Although She didn't know where the children were, she was sure they were not having a good time. Whether they could come back to Sheryl depended solely on Leila's attitude.

"I hope so," Sheryl replied, smiling sorrowfully.

Before they continued their embarrassing conversation, the door was pushed open. It was Amy. She hadn't seen Holley before, so she asked, looking at Sheryl, "Who is this lady?"

"Grandma, nice to meet you. My name is Holley Ye. Sheryl and I work in the same company," Holley said politely, wearing a sweet smile. She stood beside the bed looking at Amy with all due respect. Beautiful as she was, she looked lovelier when she smiled. She tried to make Amy feel good about her. After all, Amy had seen her before when she was Yvonne. She thought, 'I hope Amy won't recognize me. Or my revenge will fail. Lucky for Sheryl to be born in Zhao family. Her family is rich and everyone cares about her. Without her family, I would surely, have been the winner in the competition for Charles' love.' Her hate towards Zhao family was not less than that towards Sheryl. She blamed for all the painful experiences she faced to both Sheryl and Zhao family. Never would she learn to ponder her own mistakes. "Grandma, this is my boss. She came to visit me," Sheryl said to Amy, pointing at Holley.

"Your boss?" Amy stared at Holley and echoed Sheryl's words. She thought, 'She looks so familiar. But when and where did we meet?' It was hard for her to prove her guess, so she gave up. Amy took a stool from the corner and said flatly, "Just take a seat and go on with the conversation."

"No, thank you. I am here to make sure Sheryl is getting better. I am leaving for some business," Holley waved her hand and refused. Her goal had been achieved. She witnessed Sheryl's pain and was satisfied with it. There was no need for her to stay. Besides Sheryl had been alert to her kindness and her question about the children's kidnapping was difficult to answer. So, Holley felt it would be better for her to keep a certain distance from Sheryl.

Holley turned her gaze at Sheryl who was on the bed and said softly, "Sher, the most immediate and important thing is your health. Just take some rest and regain your health. Don't worry about your work. Am I clear to you?"

"Thank you, Miss Ye," Sheryl replied and was lost in thought when Holley left the ward.

'After I came to Y City, I met Holley. She is my boss' girlfriend. We didn't know each other before. Why did she treat me better than others? She has been kind to me. But I suspect she has a hidden motive.' Sheryl didn't accept gratuitous kindness. That was why she had been cautious about Holley's approach.

Amy had been looking for Holley's face in her memory, but she failed. It seemed she had never seen Holley before. She asked with uncertainty, "Sher, who is she? She looks familiar to me."

"Familiar?" Brow furrowed, Sheryl repeated Amy's word and thought for a while. 'Holley looks like no one that I know,' she thought. She said, looking up at Amy, "Maybe she had plastic surgery. Plastic faces are nearly identical all the time. Maybe that's why she looks familiar to you." After all Holley had stayed in Korea for a long time. It was likely for her to have a plastic surgery so that she could become more beautiful.

"Maybe," Amy said with hesitation. She stood beside the door looking at Holley's figure until she turned right at the end of the passage. 'Sheryl's boss was suspicious. Maybe I should investigate about her background. The real story may not be as simple as it appears. I hope she won't do anything to hurt my granddaughter. She has already suffered a lot,' thought Amy. But, little did she expected that Sheryl's boss was Yvonne, Sheryl's own sister.

Holley left Sheryl's ward and walked downstairs to the parking lot. As soon as she entered her car, she dialed Leila's phone number. The line was connected. Leila said anxiously, "What's the matter? What should I do next?" She had been frightened to be caught by the police or Charles these days. It was hard for her to make a detailed plan about what to do next. Holley's call was in time for her. She was desperate to ask her for advice.

"Calm down. You need to calm down first. This is important. You got two hostages. Why are you so afraid?" Holley said slowly but persuasively. Leila was a good help on her way to take revenge from Sheryl. Helping Leila meant helping accomplish her own goal.

"Why don't you understand?" Leila twisted her lips and said. She had regretted her behavior the moment she took the kids away. But it was too late because she had already committed a mistake! She said, looking for comfort, "I regret having kidnapped the children. If I continue down this road, the results will be lethal. Charles will send me to jail as soon as he finds me."

"Why are you so scared?" Holley sneered. She encouraged Leila, "You have two winning cards. There is no need to be scared of Charles."

"It is easy for you to say. Keep yourself in my shoe for once lady. Do you think I can escape from Charles? He is powerful and rich. I guess he will find me soon," Leila said with contempt. Her kidnapping the children was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing. Now she had been worried about the serious consequences. But she could do nothing to make it right now. There was so much going on in her head right now. She was eager to know Holley's advice instead of her useless comfort.

"That's none of my business. Leila, if I were you, I would call Charles and tell him my demands. You have two children as your hostages. What are you worried about?" Holley said with a sneer. She thought, 'Leila is really a fool. Charles and Sheryl care about their children, so they will promise anything to get their children back.'

Leila narrowed her forehead and asked with hesitation, "Do you think that will work?" She was not sure if her demand would be fulfilled or not. In fact, she didn't even know what to ask for.

"Just try and you will get the answer, won't you? I went to visit Sheryl just now. She has been looking forward to your call. Leila, you have her daughter now. She has been admitted to the hospital. If you work harder, you may..." Holley said patiently. Her sentence wasn't finished; she knew Leila could comprehend the hidden meaning. She thought, 'Leila has been dreaming of being Mrs. Lu. If she is not too fool, she will surely grasp this opportunity. If she can have an affair with Charles and marry him, Sheryl will be pissed. That's what I wish to see.'

"I see," Leila replied happily. 'Sheryl is in the hospital. That's great. I have been trying my best to make Sheryl suffer. Now my goal has been partly achieved, 'thought she. An evil smile got on Leila's lips.

"Yvonne, we are on the same team. If I got punished for what I have done, you wouldn't ran away from it. Is any of this sinking in?" Leila threatened. After a pause, she added, "I have kidnapped the children. If Charles don't let me go unpunished, I will give all the information about you as well. I will tell him you are behind the kidnapping too. Moreover, I will tell him you are Yvonne. Just think about what he would do to you then." She knew Holley was worthy of trusting because they had the same enemy, Sheryl. Regardless, she threatened Holley to assure her safety.

"If I were you, I wouldn't do that," Holley said without any emotions. After a second, she added, "I have told you, I am Holley, not Yvonne." She had told Leila she was Yvonne to win her trust. Although she was threatened by Leila, she was sure it was just a serious warning and would cause no harm.