Sue didn't want to reveal all the stories of her family drama. She was ashamed, more than anything, to ever talk about it, especially to Sheryl. If she did, it would be inevitable that she'd get Sheryl into another mess, and she thought she'd done enough to cause her suffering.
She cast an indifferent gaze at Sheryl, and her tone suddenly became cold. "We're not friends anymore, Sheryl. Have you forgotten? I was the third wheel between you and your boyfriend. I destroyed your relationship with him. Why are you still acting so concerned about me? Shouldn't you hate me by now?"
The more kindness and care Sheryl gave her, the more uncomfortable Sue felt. She couldn't wrap her head around it.
Sue once thought she could've drawn a final line between Sheryl and herself, and they'd never have anything to do with each other again. It was futile, to her surprise. Sheryl didn't act resentful, or irritated. Instead, she said flatly, "The thing with you and Anthony... I've never thought about blaming you. Not for a second. But if you really don't want me to intervene, then I won't do anything about it."
She paused for a moment. "I just want to tell you that if there's anything, anything at all, that I can help with, then let me know. Please. Even if you forget everything else that happened between us, just keep this in mind, alright?"
"That's enough! I don't need your pity! I don't need it. Not from you, not from anyone!" She sneered as she said the words. "It's getting late. I'm going home now." She simply turned around and left.
None of Sue's outbursts and resistance made Sheryl's worry fade. Sheryl didn't want the conversation to end like that. "I know you're a person of high self-esteem. I'm not surprised you don't want to talk to me, that's fine. I can't blame you. But Sue, you're not alone now. You've got a boyfriend to support you. If anything becomes too much, you can always ask Anthony for help. He'll help you, I know it."
As she said it, Sue didn't turn around once. She only sped up her pace when Sheryl finished talking.
As soon as she was out of sight, Charles came over. He walked over to Sheryl. She was in a daze, her face looking a little blank as she stared at the door. "What happened, dear? Are you bored?" he asked curiously.
He frowned, and tried to look into her eyes and lighten up her mood. "Wait a second. I'll bring you home after I finish sending off my business partners."
"Thanks, but there's no need. It's fine." She wanted Charles to stay, and he knew it. He was fully aware that such a social occasion wasn't her cup of tea. What he offered wasn't possible, anyway, and she knew it. The absence of a semi-famous model wasn't a big deal, but Charles, ever the outstanding figure, couldn't just disappear from an important party. The consequences wouldn't be worth it.
He was the leading man of the occasion. The party itself might not be so significant, but the number of potential business partners made it crucial to his network. She didn't want to cause any trouble for Charles' business.
She put on a smile and did her best to look like she was in a light-hearted mood. "I'm okay, Charles. Don't worry about it. I can stay here."
"You look pale, though. Are you sure?" Unconvinced, he looked anxious about leaving her there. "Why do you look so worried? Is it too tiring for you?"
As he said it, his hand found its way to Sheryl's forehead. He wanted to check her temperature, but Sheryl moved out of his reach.
At the event, there was no doubt that Charles was under the spotlight. All the attendants had their eyes on him. Sheryl, however, wanted to avoid becoming a topic of gossip because of their relationship, so she kept away at a safe distance to avoid any rumors going around.
Feeling Charles' worry, she smiled again, rather tightly. "I'm really alright, Charles. I'm just a little bit concerned about Sue."
"Sue?" He frowned upon hearing her name. As someone who liked being in control, he had another model in place, in case anything happened. Even if she didn't show up, his conference wouldn't have been affected.
"Why are you worrying about her?" he asked.
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