The Apple of My Eye novel Chapter 821

"If you did not want any part of it in the first place, then why did you join?"

Sheryl bravely asked Roger.

"Because of life," Roger responded with a wry smile. He continued to explain, "Unlike you, my family background wasn't always successful or well-off. To be exact, we had our humble beginnings. To you, money isn't a big issue, but to me it was. Becoming a star is one of the fastest ways of acquiring money, so I…"

Roger took a glance at Sheryl before continuing, "But you know? When I've reached the peak of my career where everything and anything I want, I can get; when I've finally had so much money, I've begun missing my old life wherein there had to be a certain degree of struggle before getting what I wanted. What I've really always dreamed of is a life just like today where I am allowed to stop whatever I am doing and just be with the person I love -- we could light up a candle or enjoy a nice cake, just as simple as that. It's just that…"

Roger once again paused with a bitter smile on his face and then proceeded finishing his thought, "It's just that a wish as simple as that could never be granted to me."

Sheryl glanced at Roger, without expressing her opinion.

That is the nature of being human -- there is barely a time wherein there is no conflict, dilemma, or irony.

Even these three words are an understatement. To be more precise, it is greediness that the human nature runs on.

"Roger." A little voice called out Roger's name while they were in the middle of conversation. Sheryl slightly tilted her head and found a young girl rushing into Roger's arms.

"I missed you! Did you miss me?"

she asked while embracing Roger. It was as if she was throwing a tantrum and she did not mind that there were other people around them.

Roger frowned and said, "Helin, stop that!" The girl was named Helin He. She just wished to enjoy the warmth of being enveloped into a hug and refused to follow the wish of Roger.

She hugged him even tighter as if she was trying to morph her body with his. She replied, "No, I won't. We haven't seen each other for so long. Didn't you miss me at all?"

"Let go of me first," Roger demanded. He took a glance at Sheryl in embarrassment. For reasons he could not tell, he did not want Sheryl to witness the situation with Helin He. He wanted to get closer to Sheryl because he was afraid that she would misinterpret his relationship with Helin He. As a matter of fact, there was nothing between Roger and the clingy girl.

Despite the tightness of the hug, Roger managed to push the girl away and ordered her to sit down. "Don't get any closer," he demanded.

"Roger…"

Helin He fell sorrowful and asked, "What happened to you? You are being so strange."

Helin He was actually a famous hot star who was in the same company Roger was in.

While Roger climbed up the ladder of fame all by himself with his hard work, Helin He relied on her family's fortune. Her father held position on the Auspice Film Company and helped her clear the obstacles in the way of getting famous. She was privileged and had many opportunities served to her in silver platters.

Though their backgrounds greatly differed, Helin He fell in love with Roger. She would often describe it as love at first sight. Worrying that she would use her father's power to suppress him of his rights, which may be a major hindrance to his development in the industry, Roger could not turn her away. He could not reject her, but he did not accept her either.

If not for Sheryl's presence, Roger would have treated Helin He more nicely and he would have been more patient with her as if he were the older brother of a spoiled younger sister. He would satisfy her needs. But today was different since Sheryl was around. By instinct, Roger tried to draw a line between him and Helin He.

After reluctantly breaking away from Roger's arms, Helin He noticed that Sheryl was there. She realized this was the reason why her beloved Roger was acting so strange. She then eyed Sheryl from top to toe with her judgmental eyes as if she was inspecting her.

"Allow me to introduce her to you."

Upon realizing the awkwardness, Roger tried to break the ice by making things seem normal. He introduced Sheryl to Helin He. "This is Sheryl Xia, a model of BM Corporation."

Roger thought of so many ways to introduce Sheryl -- what she was the best at, what she did, how amazing she was -- but, he had to keep his admiration for her at a low-profile or else Sheryl herself would notice Roger's affection for her. He then gestured towards Helin He. "This is Helin He, a colleague of mine. She joined the company a few years later after I did."

"I'm aware," Sheryl smiled politely and said. "I have seen Miss He many times in TV Shows. She is the hottest and most popular star at the moment."

"Is she?" Roger smiled back yet Helin He was still dissatisfied despite the compliment given to her.