The Apple of My Eye

In the Dream Garden

After Charles left, Melissa and Nancy busied themselves with the preparation of presents for the children.

It took them about two hours before they were satisfied. They weren't taking chances. After all, the happiness of two children depended on it.

Melissa fiddled with the wrapping even after all they were done, smoothing out non-existent creases and arranging the bows to perfection. Nancy picked up on her hesitation. "Don't worry, Mrs. Lu," she assured her. "They will like the presents. I am sure that the kids will be happy with these."

Melissa nodded and gave her a small smile. Nancy was right. They had done all they could. Surely these were guaranteed to put a smile on the children's faces.

"All right. I'll be going now."

She bid Nancy goodbye and headed straight to Sheryl's apartment. Her chest was pounding with anticipation. She couldn't wait to see the two kids and their expressions when they saw what she had for them.

It was a weekend, and there was no hurry. She had taken her time packing things that she thought might be useful for today.

Sheryl's home was less than an hour's drive from the Dream Garden. But it took her two hours to arrive at Sheryl's home today.

Her car arrived at the same time Sheryl was taking her kids downstairs. The children were visibly delighted. Today was a good day. They were going to an amusement park. Melissa met them at the door. "Sher..." she greeted her warmly. Sheryl was surprised at her sudden arrival. The driver was standing beside Melissa, his hands full with presents. She had not expected her visit. She was flustered, but she held it in, not wanting to embarrass Melissa. Giving her a bright smile, she asked, "Aunt Melissa, what brings you here?" "I missed you and the two children," Melissa replied. She had an inkling of what the situation was, but she kept calm.

"You brought so many presents! Thank you very much," Sheryl beamed. Melissa and the driver's arms were full of gifts. She felt a little moved at Melissa's thoughtful gesture. She turned to her children and said, "Clark, Shirley, let's help grandmother carry presents. And remember what you have to say to her."

The children's eyes were wide with delight at the sight of the mountain of gifts. "All right, Mom. Thank you, Grandma,"

they said together.

Melissa felt her chest warm with the joy in their faces. It was contagious. Before she knew it, she found herself returning their smiles.

Sheryl had meant to go to the amusement park with the kids, but now that Melissa arrived, she was starting to consider changing for a third option.

Clark was visibly thrilled by his grandmother's presents. "Grandmother, I like the presents so much!" he said.

"Anything for you! Come on. Would you like to open them together?" The children squealed with delight. Melissa bent down to open the gifts with them.

Meanwhile, Sheryl stood quietly beside them and watched the joyful scene unfolding in front of her. All of a sudden, her smile vanished as thoughts of Charles fluttered through her mind.

She shook off the unwanted thoughts and turned to her children once again, taking in their smiling faces. "Do you still want to go to the amusement park?" she asked.

Clark's head shot up quickly at the question, and Sheryl barely managed to hold in a chuckle.

"Of course!" he said eagerly.

Sheryl couldn't help laughing out loud at Clark's enthusiasm.

"Alright. Let's go!" Sheryl said, taking the children's hands.

Melissa stood up and asked hesitantly, "Could I go to the amusement park with you?" She wasn't sure if Sheryl would agree, but she thought it was better for her to ask anyway. After all, she had already come all the way here.

Sheryl understood Melissa's desire to spend time with her grandkids, but ultimately, it was still up to the children. Turning to them, she asked, "What do you guys think? Do you want to go to the amusement park with your grandmother?"

"Sure!" Melissa's efforts had not been in vain. The children were gradually warming up to her, despite their troubled past. They were still unaware of what had happened between their parents, but Melissa had been especially kind to them lately. In their innocence, it was as if they had forgotten the bad things of the past and welcomed Melissa's presence.

With the approval of her children, Sheryl said nothing more and just nodded.

Melissa was elated that the children agreed. She took children's hands and led them to the car. She bent down to them, talking about anything and everything.

As they got out of the apartment, Sheryl's phone rang with a call from Phoebe.

"Aunt Melissa, you can go ahead to the car. I have to take this call," she told the older woman. Melissa nodded and proceeded with the children while Sheryl answered her phone.

"What's the matter, Phoebe?" Sheryl steeled herself. Something was wrong. Phoebe would not be calling her right now for nothing.

"Ms. Xia, there are some problems with the project of the Success Company. Mrs. Zhao is quarreling with the leader. Could you come here now?" she answered, sounding almost helpless. Phoebe had no other choice but to call Sheryl. She felt bad knowing that she was supposed to be with her children, but the problem was urgent, and it was something that was out of her control.

"Alright. I'll be there," Sheryl replied. A sigh escaped her. Just a few minutes earlier, the day was going without a hitch, but it was as if her problems were determined to gate-crash what was supposed to a perfectly good day with her children. Her brows furrowed as she thought back on Phoebe's words. Why was Isla arguing with the leader of the Success Company?

She turned to Melissa and her children. What now? She had promised the kids that they would be going to the amusement park today.

Melissa noticed Sheryl's troubled expression and immediately knew that something was wrong.

"What's the matter, Sher?" Melissa got out of the car and asked.

"Aunt Melissa, an employee just called to inform me that there are some troubles with my company, so I really have to go there now," she said, then turned to look to the direction of the car. "But I have promised the kids that I would take them to the amusement park today. I don't know how to tell them. They'll be so disappointed." Her shoulders slumped forward at the thought of her children's smiles vanishing once they found out. They had been looking forward to this trip.

Melissa looked at the children, who were almost bouncing with excitement inside the car, and then back to Sheryl's crestfallen face. She understood her conflict. After thinking for a while, she said with a smile, "Let me explain it to them."

Sheryl followed her to the car.

"Clark, Shirley, Mom has something important to deal with. Would it be alright if it would just be grandma with you today? We can play and look around all you want," she said gently, trying to coax them into agreeing.

Shirley was visibly upset. "No, no! Mom promised to go to amusement park with me! She has to keep her promise," she insisted, her lips curling into a pout.

"Shirley, I also want to go with you. But there is something wrong with the company. They need me there to deal with it. I am so sorry, Honey," Sheryl apologized, holding back her tears. What Shirley said was true. She had made a promise, and she was breaking it now. How would her children be able to trust her if this kept up?

"Shirley, please trust mom. You know she didn't mean to break her promise. Besides, grandmother and I are still here. We can play with you. I'll keep mom's promise instead. If she deals with the problem, then she can come to join us later." Clark smiled to his sister, trying to lighten her mood.

With her brother's words, Shirley was finally calm and nodded.

"Okay. Let's go to the amusement park with Grandmother." Shirley agreed, looking at Melissa.

"Thank you, Sweetie. You're such a good girl," Sheryl stroked Shirley's head, still silently apologizing.

She kissed the two children's foreheads and watched the car as it drove out of her sight.

When she could no longer follow them with her eyes, she drove straight to the Cloud Advertising Company.

She had no idea what had happened. Her anxiety was building up inside her with every passing minute. In her haste, it took her only a few minutes to get there.

The first thing she saw once she stepped inside the company was the receptionist's expression. Even that alone was enough to tell her that something was terribly wrong. "What happened?" she asked even before she was completely in front of the desk.

"Ms. Xia, you have to go upstairs now. Mrs. Zhao is arguing with the clients," the receptionist explained, her voice distressed.

Sheryl nodded her head and went upstairs.

She heard the echoes of indignant voices even before she reached the room. Isla was screaming.

Meanwhile, the leader of the Success Company merely grit his teeth in fury.

Sheryl walked as fast as she could and stepped inside the room.

"What's the matter?" Sheryl stood in front of Isla.

As soon as Isla saw her, her eyes went sharply to Phoebe.

Phoebe trembled under the intensity of her gaze and explained in a hushed voice, "You were fighting with our client. I had to..."

"Are you Sheryl?" The leader of the Success Company addressed Sheryl, pointing an impolite finger at her. It was clear as day that he was looking down on her.

"Yes, I am. What's wrong?" Sheryl looked at him squarely, ready to hear their explanation.

"Why don't you ask Mrs. Zhao here, since she has been giving us the VIP treatment since earlier. You can just see how much she cares for the project," he sneered sarcastically. It was unbecoming for a man who wore such expensive clothes to be speaking in such a discourteous manner.

"Sheryl, don't even bother talking to him! We won't accept their project. Phoebe, please show our esteemed guests out." Isla hadn't expected that the situation would blow up to this intense of an argument. Now, even Sheryl had been dragged into it. She wanted nothing more than to send these men and their troubles away.

Phoebe was more than willing to comply. She turned to the representatives of the Success Company and gave them a polite bow before gesturing to the door. "Our sincerest apologies, but it seems that this meeting will no longer proceed. Please be careful on your way out." She held the door open, waiting for them to leave.

"You will pay for this," the leader of Success Company growled, his eyes full of threats.