The Apple of My Eye novel Chapter 747

"So... does it mean that Shirley is my sister from now on?" Charlie was clever enough to get the point.

He looked at Shirley with growing affection because she was very nice and he liked her a lot.

"Of course," Charles smiled as he replied and continued, "I will treat both of you with the same love and affection. Do you understand this Charlie?"

"Okay, I am very happy." Charlie nodded and his eyes brightened up.

Sheryl came back with the water and brought with her a group of people into the ward.

Charles dropped the box at the sight of Sheryl's family which included Arthur, Amy, Andy and Abby. Abby tried to avoid eye contact with him as if guilty.

Charles had continued to send some holiday gifts to the Zhao family during these years. The contact between them had gradually lessened as the whole family bore a grudge against him when Autumn went missing.

Amy was particularly unhappy at the sight of Charles and Charlie. She did not wish Charles to pester Sheryl after the long separation.

She blurted out, "Charles, you ought not to have come here!"

"Grandma Amy." Sheryl felt duty bound to speak up for Charles. She knew Amy's anger was partly out of love for her.

"Charles has taken good care of Shirley last night. He has been with me and supported me through this whole ordeal. He deserves our love and respect. Please do not blame him anymore." Sheryl tried to change Amy's attitude.

But Amy ignored Sheryl and spoke coldly to him, "No more of your hypocrisy and duplicity! Leave this place right now! We do not need you!"

Sheryl was somewhat upset by Amy's rudeness to Charles.

At that moment she was standing between them and could feel Amy's hatred for Charles.

Amy glanced at Sheryl and continued, "You should rely on your family rather than someone who has harbored ill will against you. You do not need his help to take care of Shirley. We will be with you and help you!"

"Mom..." Abby thought it was necessary to let Andy clear the air. Charles was not really at fault — he had just been careless to lose Sheryl.

She was overcome with a growing guilt over Amy's accusation against Charles who remained quiet.

She forced a smile and said, "Mom, Charles should bear the joint responsibility for Sheryl's missing but there is someone else who is the bigger culprit. So do not just blame Charles anymore!"

"Abby!" Andy, sensing something drastic, immediately stopped Abby from saying more on this.

"What is the matter with you?" Amy sensed something amiss from Andy's and Abby's interaction with each other. They tried to act normal on the surface but she sensed a simmering weirdness and strain in their relationship.