The Apple of My Eye novel Chapter 549

Although excited, Sheryl was also fidgety as she was waiting for Charlie in the parking lot of a restaurant. She was worried that he might get entangled in the middle of the same horrendous road traffic she had experienced the last time. She knew that with that kind of chaos, the possibility that Charlie would lose direction while on his way to meet her was huge. Little did she know that Charles accompanied and drove Charlie to their rendezvous.

Charles carefully drove toward the entrance of the restaurant's parking lot. As soon as he entered, he quickly spotted an open slot. He reverse-parked his SUV and pushed the 'Engine Off' button on the car's dash board. An hour before they headed to the meeting place, Charlie already showed him from his cell phone the photo of the woman they would meet. He was stunned to see that the woman that Charlie named Sheryl was his wife, Autumn. He was so intrigued by the coincidence that he was more anxious than Charlie to meet her.

Nervousness and extreme eagerness enveloped Charles. He tightly held the car's steering wheel for support. He was just seconds from finally seeing his wife. Ironically, his ever burning desire to be with Autumn again somehow eluded him.

Charlie scanned the parking lot with his eyes looking for Sheryl. It wasn't long until he caught a glimpse of her. Charlie excitedly got off from the rear seat of the SUV and rushed toward Sheryl who was patiently waiting for him. Charlie greeted heartily,"Sheryl, nice to meet you again."

Ecstatic, Sheryl lovingly hugged Charlie and chuckled,"Nice to meet you too, kiddo!" Sheryl and Charlie were not able to contain their happiness upon seeing each other. The pleasant exchanges of actions and words of affection were comparable to a mother and son who didn't see each other for a very long time. Charles who remained sitting in the driver's seat finally laid his eyes on the woman. At that moment and with a bit of a distance from both Charlie and Sheryl, Charles was greeted with a very familiar face: simple, refreshing and unforgettable.

'She is Autumn. Her face... her body... her voice. I can't believe it. She is my wife!' Charles wondered in his mind.

Charles was extremely jubilant at the uncanny reunion with Autumn.

But, he could not also deny that such an unusual reunion was not easy. It brought back a lot of memories about Autumn. The good and bad times they both shared filled his heart with melancholy.

In a pit of happiness, Sheryl briefly lifted Charlie up after the blissful greetings. She spoke to Charlie in a blaming tone,"Charlie, I really hope that you have informed your mom of your whereabouts lest she be very worried."

"Sheryl, I've found my dad," Charlie quickly responded in an effort to placate Sheryl. Charlie seemed pouring his childish affection to Sheryl. He held her hands, looked at her eyes and gleefully uttered,"Sheryl, you have nothing to worry about. It was my dad who drove me here."

"Really?" Sheryl was somewhat stunned and inquired,"Where is your dad?"

"There he is." Charlie, in an assured voice, pointed at the direction of Charles's car. He then dragged Sheryl to the parked vehicle to show her his dad. At that moment, Charles saw them as they approached. He then lifted himself from the driver's seat to straighten his suit. His hands trembled as he was seized with severe nervousness.

Charles decided to meet Charlie and Sheryl half-way. He opened the car door, and got out hesitatingly only to see Sheryl already standing in front of him. Her well-poised manner and elegant look splattered on a face of a perfect stranger like him. Sheryl disinterestedly gazed at him and nonchalantly waited for him to speak.

In Charles mind and heart, he wondered, 'How could my dear Autumn treat me like this? She treats me like someone quite irrelevant and insignificant?'

Charles awkwardly avoided being close to Sheryl. Charlie who was holding Sheryl's right hand quickly sensed his father's uneasiness, He decided to do the introduction for the two of them. "Sheryl, he is my dad, Charles Lu.

Dad, this is Sheryl Xia, my dear friend." Then, Charlie with a big smile on his face jokingly added," May both of you please dance?"

Sheryl burst into laughter at Charlie's humorous introduction. Actually, Sheryl and Charlie considered each other as best friends despite their age disparity.

"It's nice to meet you, Mr. Lu." Sheryl braced up to shake hands with Charles. "My name is Sheryl Xia, Charlie's friend."

"It's my pleasure to meet you too Miss Xia" Charles coyly stretched out his right hand to meet Sheryl's. The familiarly tender feel of Sheryl's soft hand brought Charlie back to his hallucination. He secretly vowed, 'I will not lose you again, my beloved Autumn.

My persistent efforts and undying commitment to you will soon be paid off.'

Charles was too lost in his reveries that he forgot to draw back his hand for a long time. He maintained holding Sheryl's hand. Sheryl already felt uncomfortable by the long hand shake. She candidly sensed an ulterior motive from Charles.

Sheryl surmised that Charles, for that moment, was treating her like a prey.

Charles suddenly read the discomfort on Sheryl's face. He was taken aback and instantly let go of Sheryl's hand and apologized. In a fleeting moment, he recovered and then smilingly questioned,"Miss Xia, are you a native of Y City?"

At Charles seemingly probing question, Sheryl's eyes twitched and her face visibly showed a growing suspicion. Sensing Sheryl's uneasiness, Charles immediately explained his good intention,"Please don't get me wrong, Miss Xia. I asked because you are Charlie's friend. I just want us to talk more and know each other better."