The Apple of My Eye novel Chapter 2000

"My Lady, Mr. Lu asked me where you've been," Nancy said, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Don't worry, I didn't tell him you went to Sher. But I think he knows you're up to something." Nancy was biting her lip, her eyes inadvertently shifting as she frowned, not at all liking what was happening.

Melissa, however, remained passive. Understanding the tone of Nancy's voice, she walked to the study, and her heels scraped the floor. She'd handle this.

"Charles, what can I do for you?" Melissa steadied her gaze, arms lying casually on her sides as if the earlier interaction hadn't occurred.

"Mother, have you been busy these days?" If Melissa was an expert at keeping a straight face, Charles was equally great. In fact, he might even be better. As he stared her down, suddenly, a part of her found it difficult to lie.

"No. Why?" She furrowed her eyebrows, tilting her head as she crossed her arms.

"Nothing. You weren't having dinner here these days, so I had to ask." He shrugged. Charles smiled, trying to redirect her attention, in the hopes that she'd slip up.

Melissa grinned back. "Oh, I went out with my friends for dinner. Sometimes, we'd even play cards and lose track of the time. That would explain my absence." She relaxed, feeling the lie slip out her lips effortlessly.

Slightly annoyed that she didn't fall for it, Charles decided to take another route. He took a step back, and bluntly asked, "Did you go see Sheryl?"

There was silence, as Melissa processed what he had just said. 'How could he have known?'

"Ah, I..." Melissa hesitated, but one look at her son's eyes made her speak. It was pointless now anyway, and it seemed as if he had already found his confirmation. She sighed. "I just went to see my grandchildren. Am I not allowed to?"

"Are you sure you just went to see the kids?" Charles raised his eyebrows skeptically, not the slightest bit convinced by her words.

"Yes," Melissa emphasized. "I just went to see the kids. I didn't disturb Sheryl." Melissa looked firmly at Charles, daring him to respond.

Knowing that was all she was going to say, Charles nodded, changing the topic by saying, "Well, who did you have lunch with?"

"W-why? Have you sent someone to spy on me?" she sputtered out.

"I'm not stupid, Mother. Now, what the hell did you do?" He gritted his teeth. He wasn't planning to lose his temper, but all these re-directions were already making him frustrated.

"I didn't do anything. I just had dinner with...Henry. Am I not allowed to now?" Melissa was hesitating now, refusing the look her son in the eye. Though she had brought up Henry, she decided to keep Jackson to herself, not wanting to cause any more trouble.

"Enough. Stop lying! Someone saw you beat up a man in a western restaurant. Do you know about that?" Charles didn't want to put a finger on his mother, but this time, she was being impulsive. It wasn't like her.

Knowing that lies or hidden truths were getting her nowhere, Melissa couldn't help but sigh dejectedly and sat down across from Charles. She gave him a pointed look, giving herself a minute to compose herself.

Melissa told her son everything that she had known or at least guessed at.

"Do you think I wanted to do that? Jackson was continuing to win Sher's heart. I was, I was getting worried. If you don't win her back, she will become somebody else's bride!" Melissa snapped back, feeling her face heat up from the entire ordeal.

A part of her wondered if her son had already given up on Sheryl for Vicky.

That woman was no good, but after her suicide attempt. Could she have won Charles over?

It was something that Melissa couldn't piece together as much as she tried.

Hearing Melissa's words, Charles wore a straight face and remained silent.