'Anyway, I've always known that Melissa will never acknowledge me. It's not that bad. If I accept that, I won't need to rack my brains to try and please her, ' Sheryl thought.
Without another word, she followed Nancy into the kitchen. While the latter made tea, she stole several glances at Sheryl. Every time she tried to speak, something stopped her.
Preoccupied with her own thoughts, she initially didn't notice Nancy's anxious expression. When she snapped out of her trance and detected the hesitant look on Nancy's face, Sheryl asked in confusion, "Do you have something to tell me, Nancy?"
Going on alert, Nancy looked up to check the kitchen door, making sure they weren't heard. With a tense look on her face, she leaned in closer to Sheryl and lowered her voice saying, "After you left this morning, I overheard Mrs. Lu…"
Briefly, she filled in Sheryl on what happened. Out of good will, she reminded Sheryl, "I could tell Mrs. Lu doesn't take a liking to you. She might give you a harder time later. You must be careful."
The other merely nodded in reply. Having lived under the same roof with Melissa for a while, she learned a thing or two about her.
'Melissa is an arrogant, stubborn, pretentious woman, and she loves being flattered. That's why she gets along with Leila so well.
Her biggest problem is her sharp tongue and quick temper—she couldn't tolerate losing an argument. Perhaps she got angry about what I said to her last night. She didn't know how to vent her anger, so as a result, she just blurted all her complaints out when she was alone, ' she analyzed.
In spite of that, Sheryl didn't believe that Melissa was as vengeful as Nancy described her to be. 'No matter how much she hates me, she is unlikely to really hurt me or get me into trouble, at least for the sake of Charles and her grandchildren, ' she continued to muse.
Stroking the back of Nancy's hand, Sheryl tried to say something to set the other's mind at ease when Melissa's yelling suddenly reached their ears. "Where is our tea? We've been waiting for so long. Did you forget my order?"
Immediately, Sheryl called back, "Please wait a minute."
To satisfy the other two women, Nancy prepared the tea and put the cups and teapot on a tray, ready to be served.
In the living room, Melissa nodded at Leila while the latter gave her a subtle smile.
Behind Leila's back, her hand was balled up into a clenched fist. A hint of anxiety flashed in her eyes. 'Will this plan really work? I'm not so sure…' she thought and fidgeted in her seat.
In a second, Nancy emerged into the living room with two cups of tea and Sheryl followed behind her.
Serving Melissa and her guest, Nancy poured the tea into two exquisite teacups before taking several steps backward. "Mrs. Lu, Miss Zhang, please enjoy your tea."
Knowing that Nancy would otherwise stay and take care of things, Sheryl gave her a nod, signaling that she could leave.
In this situation, Sheryl didn't want to give Melissa any chance to scold Nancy so unreasonably again. Lately, when Charles' mother was in a bad mood, the maid was always on the receiving end of her fits.
Understanding what Sheryl meant, Nancy left the living room.
Lifting her eyes slightly, Melissa secretly cast a glance at Sheryl. The next second, she reached out and rubbed her temples, grimacing in pain.
At the sight, Leila instantly got up and rushed to take a seat next to the woman. Worriedly, she said, "Aunt Melissa, you don't look so good. Are you all right?"
Upon hearing this, Sheryl noticed that Melissa didn't look well. 'She was good and energetic when I went to the kitchen. Why does she look sick all of a sudden?' she wondered in confusion.
With a frown, she inquired, "Mom, did you get a headache?"
In a weak voice, Melissa answered, "Yes..." Rolling her eyes to look at Sheryl, she continued, "Somehow my head is killing me. Since Nancy isn't around, you go upstairs and get my medicine."
"But…" Sheryl hesitated. Melissa's words of forbidding her to enter her bedroom rang clear in Sheryl's head.
"Aunt Melissa, how about I go and get it for you? Please tell me where I can find it," Leila instantly offered.
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