The elevator arrived with a "ding" and everyone tried to rush into it to run away from the scene which was about to unfold. They called out to Sheryl and Isla, "The elevator is here. We are leaving now. Bye!"
Others echoed, "Yes, it's time for us to go." They were trying to avoid the embarrassing situation. The elevator was overloaded and some of them couldn't get in. They decided to take the stairs rather than wait for the next elevator. Sheryl watched their ridiculous show without saying a word.
Rachel saw everything from her booth, and she smiled proudly. This was the kind of effect that she wanted to see.
But she wanted Sheryl to witness this with her own eyes. She wanted to destroy her happiness and her trust in Charles. Thinking about Sheryl's reaction when she saw them together, she couldn't hide her smile.
"Charles, how do you feel right now?" asked Rachel gently. She acted innocent, as she slowly gave him a massage. She added, "Is this pressure okay with you? I learned this method while I was filming the traditional Chinese medicine movie a long time ago. It was written in the script that this massage to the chest would dispel the effects of alcohol. I'm not sure if it's effective or not. Do you feel any better?"
"It doesn't work," said Charles coldly. After they entered the booth, Rachel asked him to lie down because that would spark wild theories in people when they saw them. It would have been more effective to the development of her plan. But Charles wouldn't listen to her and sat on the sofa instead.
She was annoyed that he had not cooperated with her. Besides, she even had some difficulty having him stay in the booth with her.
"That's how this massage works. You won't feel any immediate effect after the massage, but it's the most harmless treatment for your body," said Rachel in a convincing tone. She wanted Charles to stay in the booth as long as possible so that more people, especially Sheryl, could see them in the same room, being intimate with each other. 'My poor Sheryl, how would you feel when you see this?' Rachel thought and smirked happily.
There was music playing in the booth. The combination of the dull light and the soft music gave off an aura of romance.
It was not possible to hear what they were talking about from outside the booth, but from Rachel's smiling face, it would be evident to anyone that she was really enjoying her time with Charles.
She was so close to him that it looked like he was holding her in his arms. He did not reject her at all.
Isla was about to rush into the room to catch his cheating on Sheryl, but at that very moment, when she stepped out towards the booth, she was pulled back by Sheryl very quickly.
"Isla, don't enter that box!" Sheryl requested. Sheryl was pretty thin and always looked so weak. Isla wondered how she had such explosive strength to pull her back like that!
"Sher, do you understand the situation here? Why won't you let me in? He is inside this booth! With another woman! That malicious woman!" said Isla disappointingly. Isla had thought that Sheryl would be the first one to confront those shameless people because it was her right to do so. But Sheryl chose to stay outside the booth.
"Isla, please don't let me lose the last of my dignity! I beg you not to go in there, please! I don't want to see her swaggering before me. I don't even want to talk to them!" said Sheryl in a bleak voice. She was shivering, desperately pulling Isla back. She clung onto Isla's hands as if she was clinging onto a floating wood as she was drowning. Isla was providing her with immense comfort just by staying by her side.
Isla didn't want to stimulate Sheryl anymore, so she held her tightly and comforted her. She said, "Don't be afraid, Sher. Whenever and wherever you need me, I will always be there for you. I will never leave your side." She felt sorry for Sheryl. She was a very good friend, a great mother and a loyal wife. Why would Charles make her suffer this way?
"Then, leave with me. I don't want to stay here any longer, not even for another second. It makes me sick to even think about them," said Sheryl firmly. Her breath was shallow and her heart was heavy. She felt like she was about to pass out any second now. She might lose her head if she stayed there a minute longer.
She felt like she would suffocate to death. She kept wondering why her beloved husband would stay with the woman who wanted to set her up and embarrass her in front of the whole city.
And Charles knew very well that Rachel was the one who wanted her to lose her reputation. He knew that she was an evil woman! Even after knowing everything about her, he still allowed her to sit next to him in such a flirty manner.
What was he thinking? Did he still love Rachel? Sheryl did not want to know the answer to that.
"Okay, let's go. Don't think about them anymore," Isla agreed. She thought that Sheryl might feel better if she left the place soon. Isla could not bear to see Sheryl's saddened face, so she changed her mind temporarily. After all, Sheryl's happiness was the most important thing to her. It was not the proper time to show up in front of them.
Sheryl and Isla had to wait near the box for the elevator to come. Sheryl tried her best not to look at them, not even a glance. But she could feel Rachel's challenging look. She knew that Rachel had been paying attention to her ever since she had arrived near the booth.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: His Real Wedded Bride