The Apple of My Eye

"Phoebe, why are you so shy? You are Josef's girlfriend. It's normal for you to hang out together. But I want to ask him. You have been in a relationship for so long, but he hasn't proposed marriage to you yet.

What does he want?"

Isla said, deliberately intending to provoke Phoebe.

Hearing that, Phoebe shook her head immediately. "Ms. Zhao, you..."

"Forget it. You are so scared. Don't worry. I won't do anything. I am approving your leave application. Have a good time. Don't come back until you have fully enjoyed yourself. Do you understand?" Isla looked at Phoebe, smiling through her eyes.

In fact, Isla was glad to see that Phoebe had found a good boyfriend. Moreover, the boy who was in a relationship with Phoebe was Aron's cousin. Isla was glad to know that they would become relatives soon. "Thanks, Ms. Zhao. I will take my leave now." Phoebe glanced at Isla bashfully and then bowed before she walked out of her office.

These days everything was going on very well, and Isla suddenly felt so light because she had nothing to do. Charles had been in Australia for several days. Why hadn't he brought Sher back?

At this thought, Isla felt that her heart became heavy all of a sudden. She was apprehensive that something was wrong with them in Australia. The next moment she found herself dialing Sheryl's number.

In Australia

Sheryl was watching the flowers in the garden from inside the villa, and Charles was playing games with the kids. She turned around to find her phone ringing. And as soon as Sheryl saw that the call was from Isla, she made an awkward face. As Isla's name flashed on her phone screen, she remembered that she hadn't contacted her best friend for a long time. She picked up the phone quickly.

"Isla, I miss you!" Sheryl knew how to persuade an angry person with a smile. No matter how mad Isla was at her for not being in touch, Sheryl knew that she could win her back with some nice words.

"Bad girl, why is it that I don't know that you miss me?" Isla pretended to be angry with Sheryl.

Sheryl certainly knew Isla wouldn't truly be mad at her. However, she must have felt unhappy.

"I miss you, really."

"Well, if that is true, why haven't you called me for so long? Haven't you made up with Charles yet?" Isla was not the kind of person to insist on a single point or endlessly beating around the bush. Hence, she got straight to the point.

Hearing Isla's words, Sheryl couldn't help but glance at Charles, who was not far away from her at the moment.

'Have I forgiven him?' she wondered.

In fact, she had never blamed him, but the series of incidents that happened between them left a certain scar on her heart that she had not yet been able to forget.

Since Sheryl remained silent, Isla could gauge at her state of mind. She heaved a deep sigh. "Sher, what had to happen has happened. Now, you need to move on. All the unimportant people are out of the picture. You should cherish the moment at present."

Sheryl was clear that Isla meant good for her and what she had said made sense, but still, certain things couldn't be solved by a mere exchange of words.

"Isla, you know what? These days I have realized this one point. In the past, there were Holley and Leila, and in the future, there will be Dolly, Sheila, and other women. Do I have to experience this with Charles every time? I am really not up for it." Sheryl was truly frightened.

Isla was left dumbfounded when Sheryl spoke about her inhibitions in such a black manner. She understood what her friend was worried about and wanted to tell her that it was no big deal. All these things would be gone. However, Isla could not find the right words to convey her assurance to Sheryl.

Sheryl's concern was not baseless.

"Sher, no matter what you want to do, I will always be with you." Ultimately Isla worded her heartfelt thoughts for Sheryl.

Upon hearing that, Sheryl felt comforted and was moved to tears.

She looked at Charles involuntarily. Had it not been for Leila, she might have stayed with this man and been loyal to him all through her life.

"Isla, take good care of Phoebe and the company. Thank you for always being there for me." Sheryl felt guilty every time she thought that Isla had to handle so many things in the company all by herself.

"Alright, you are welcome. Have a good time. Come back when you get tired." After that, the two friends spoke with each other for some more time before hanging up the phone.

Charles was playing with the kids and saw Sheryl sitting there with a blank expression on her face. He said to Clark, "Clark, when do you think Mommy will forgive me?"

"Daddy, Shirley and I will help you," Clark remarked with a sparkle in his eyes.

Hearing Clark's reaction, Charles laughed out loud and stroked his little head. "Clark, how will you help Daddy?"

Clark shared a shy and naughty glance at Charles.

After pondering for a while, he let out a laugh as if he had a brilliant idea in his little head. "Daddy, just make Mommy happy. Every time Shirley and I make Mommy angry, we will say lots and lots of nice words to her. Then she will stop being angry."

Charles listened to Clark's sweet voice. His son's naive and innocent advice made him laugh.

Clark was just a kid and naturally different from Charles.

But what the little boy had said certainly drove home the point that as long as Charles stayed with Sheryl, he would be able to win her back sooner or later.

The next day

Charles came to Sheryl's house as usual and happened to see Clark excitedly running to him.

"Daddy, you have come! Yay!" Clark ran to Charles and hugged his legs.

"Did you miss Daddy?" Charles lifted Clark in his arms.

Clark turned around and glanced at the stairs to make sure that Sheryl hadn't come out yet. Then he moved close to Charles' ear and whispered, "Daddy, Mommy will throw a party in two days..."

"A party?" Charles was rather surprised because he knew that Sheryl didn't like parties. Then why would she host a party now?

"Mommy said we have been in Australia for a long time now, and the kids in the neighborhood are nice to me and my sister, so she will invite the neighbors to our house..." Clark's voice was bursting with excitement.

Charles nodded knowingly.

"Daddy, please do come here then. Shirley and I will introduce you to the guests. Then, even if Mommy is angry with you, she has to admit in front of so many people..." Although Clark was just a child, he was remarkably receptive and sensible for his age.

Charles' eyes sparkled with joy as he heard Clark's words. He kissed his son.

"Good boy, I will listen to you and do as you said." And thus Charles agreed to be an accomplice in the ploy Clark had contrived.

When Sheryl came downstairs, she found Clark giggling in his father's embrace. This was what she always dreamed about. Her heart melted at seeing that the smile on Clark's face had returned. Yet she appeared to be indifferent as if all this was none of her business.

"Honey, have you gotten up?" Charles didn't conceal his love for Sheryl. Rather he greeted her intimately in a spontaneous manner right in front of Clark.

Sheryl hadn't expected Charles to behave like that and glanced at Clark, feeling awkward.

However, Clark was clever enough to save the moment. He chuckled as he covered his eyes with his hands, pretending that he couldn't see anything.