The Apple of My Eye

Sheryl smothered a retort, which was on the tip of her lips. In fact, it was a long time since the two children had seen their grandma or their father. Sheryl thought it was inhuman of her to refuse them

permission to see each other, especially of the circumstances.

Sheryl looked out of the window irritably. She didn't want to do this, but she had no choice. The traffic jam would last at least another half an hour, so it was better to fulfill their wishes today. Sheryl decided to drive off to collect Clark and Shirley from the Dream Garden later today.

"Oh, I see... Okay, that is fine as long as they are at home in time," Sheryl finally gave her consent.

"Great! I'm so happy, you know. I'll let you go now, so you can get some rest. See you later," Melissa replied immediately with a bright smile.

"I'll fetch Clark and Shirley myself after dinner, Mom,"

Before Sheryl got the last word out, Melissa had hung up the receiver.

At that moment, Melissa was preoccupied with the two children. It was understandable that she answered Sheryl in a rather preoccupied manner.

The second Melissa saw Charles walking out of the kindergarten gate with his two children, she couldn't pay attention to anything else.

"Clark, Shirley!" Melissa called to them gleefully as she pushed the door open and got out the car.

"Grandma! Look, Clark! Grandma is also here!" Shirley exclaimed in excitement. She grinned from ear to ear when she saw Melissa.

Shirley's relationship with Melissa had been enriched by spending some time together recently. At that moment, she could hardly contain her excitement as she saw her Grandma Melissa again. "Grandma, how are you?" Clark asked respectfully, of Melissa. But Clark's face remained quiet as he held Charles' hand.

"It's so nice to be together with my two grandchildren. Grandma misses you so much!" Melissa started forward to take Shirley and Clark in her arms as her eyes shone with tears.

Charles' heart was touched when he saw his mom become very emotional at that moment. In fact, when he saw his two children walk out of the classroom minutes ago, he also got very emotional. But no one could tell. As a man, he was restrained from outwardly showing his emotions.

Shirley and Clark had done a double-take when they saw their father, unable to believe it was actually him. However, a second later, they had jumped with joy and thrown themselves into his arms. The power of blood ties was very great and could not easily be worn out by time for Clark and Shirley.

Seeing his children hug their grandmother made Charles' eyes moist with tears.

"You two are a little thinner than the last time I saw you. Does the food at the kindergarten taste that awful? Is that it? You should inform your teacher if you don't have enough to eat," Melissa kept asking questions.

Clark and Shirley listened patiently to their grandma.

"It's time to go, Mom," Charles said to Melissa after he had cleared his throat.

"Time to go? I want to spend more time with my two grandchildren!" Melissa retorted as she gave Charles a cross look. She then held the hands of her two grandchildren and said, "Let's go home and have dinner together. How does that sound Clark and Shirley?"

"Mom," Charles said helplessly. He knew that Sheryl's domestic helper would soon be here to collect the children. If they brought the two children home without prior notification, the domestic helper would surely get frantic.

"What's wrong? Don't you want to bring Clark and Shirley home for dinner? I have already told Nancy to prepare our dinner. You know, she can produce a delicious meal from very simple ingredients," Melissa retorted at Charles again. She presented herself as the victim, but, in reality, she had already planned all of this ahead of time.

"Mom, you know Clark and Shirley live with their mother, and they have dinner together. Sheryl's domestic helper will be here any moment to collect Clark and Shirley from their kindergarten class. If we bring them home today without prior notification, the domestic helper will surely be surprised and scared,"

Charles hopelessly explained to his mother. He didn't know that Sheryl had already been discharged from the hospital, so he thought Sheryl's domestic helper would be here soon to collect Clark and Shirley. "You worry too much, my son. I called Sheryl earlier, and she has agreed that we can bring Clark and Shirley home for dinner," Melissa said with a smile.

"What?! You said you already phoned her up?" Charles asked incredulously. He was surprised at his mother's words.

"Do you think your mother is a liar, son? Come on. Let's go home, Clark, Shirley. Grandma has got some delicious food and amusing toys for you!" Melissa said as she nodded at Charles. Shirley jumped up and down with joy at hearing her grandmother's words.

"Grandma, does my mom really know about this? Mom will blame us for not coming home on time," Clark asked. He remained quiet, waiting for an answer.

"Yes, Clark, your mom has already agreed. I called her half an hour ago. Now let's go home, everyone. Grandma will take you back to see your mom after dinner."

"Alright," said Clark. "Let's go home, Dad," Clark added with a smile as he looked into Charles' eyes.

At that moment, Clark's boyish smile had touched Charles' heart. His eyes became moist with tears while he was looking at his children.

'How long has it been since I last saw Clark and Shirley smile so happily?

I feel like I have been waiting for their smiles for over a century. So many times, I have been telling myself to close my mind to them, including Sheryl, but it's impossible! I love them so very much. I cannot close my heart towards my family!'

Charles thought to himself. He hopped into the car with his two children and his mom.

"What's going on? Have the two children run into any trouble?" Damian asked Sheryl. Damian could feel something was wrong with Sheryl, but he didn't know exactly what.

"It's nothing!" Sheryl blurted out. Sheryl was trying to calm down, but she could only shake her head. Just now, Melissa called her about picking up the children and having dinner with them. And now she would have to pick the children up from the Dream Garden. Her first thought was that Charles had asked Melissa to do so.

But then she thought about it further, 'How could that man be so affectionate and indecisive at the same time?

Since he had already been so cruel and had not come to see the two children for so long, how could he arrange all this so carefully this time?'

"Well, what then?" Damian asked. He saw Sheryl didn't want to say anything more.

"You don't need to drive to the kindergarten now. You had better take me home," Sheryl said as she made a bitter laugh.

"Huh? I don't understand. What's going on now? Are you now saying that we don't need to collect the two children after all?"

"Exactly, Damian. Charles' mother has already taken them to Dream Garden, my ex-husband's place," Sheryl added.

"What?" Damian cried out. He found this situation to be unsettling. His reaction to the matter was so great that Sheryl became suspicious. He quickly added, "Why wasn't I told about it earlier? Did they tell you at such short notice?"

Sheryl nodded.

"Is this normal? I don't understand." Damian couldn't help adding, "You are the mother of these two children. They should have told you in advance."

"Honestly, Damian, it's nothing. Please, just drive me home. I feel exhausted now."

"When will Clark and Shirley come back home? Or should we pick them up?" Damian asked politely.

"I'll pick them up after dinner," Sheryl replied.

"Well, if that's the case, why don't we go to dinner first? I would like to go with you to pick them up after dinner," Damian hesitantly suggested.

"That's so kind of you, but... I think I had better go home for dinner, then I'll pick them up myself," Sheryl declined Damian.

"What for Sheryl? I'd love to treat you to a good meal at a restaurant. I'm just trying to apologize to you. You know, I am so sorry for the unpleasant meeting last time," Damian said, finally finding an excuse for asking Sheryl to dinner after racking his brains.

"Really, Damian, it's okay. My domestic helper has already prepared the meal,"

Sheryl declined again. She thought it would not be appropriate for her to have a meal together with Damian at a restaurant. At that moment, Sheryl's mobile phone was ringing again.