ENCHANTED LOVE, VOLUME 2 - Season 9 Episode 33

Sheryl stared at Peggy with utter disbelief. “Even though she is pregnant, that is not a reason at all for creating such trouble for others.” Sheryl looked at Peggy who stood right in front of her looking distressed and counseled, “Mrs. Garcia, I know how it is like to be pregnant. Even I have been through pregnancy. A pregnant woman can never be as vexatious as you said. The apartment is the dormitory arranged by the company for Sue. Now you come to live here, Sue has said nothing, but you still want to drive her out. Don’t you think that is unfair?”

“Sher, you have no idea what’s going on in our family.” Peggy smiled bitterly and said to Sheryl, “Since Doris is pregnant now, she is the most precious one in the family. When she has asked for one thing, we cannot turn down her request, otherwise she will get angry and lose her temper, which in turn will affect the baby in her womb. And what if she flips out? The baby in her womb will get hurt as a result. That is something that I can not tolerate at any cost.”

Peggy walked over, took Sue’s hand and said, “Sue, do you think it is better for you to move out for the time being? When…

When Doris has given birth to the baby, you can move back and do whatever you like. What do you think about that?”

“No way. If I move out now, would I ever have a chance to get back? Never.” Sue turned her face away from Peggy and replied with a sneer.

“It is your apartment, Sue. Surely you can come back.” Looking at Sue, Peggy seemed quite earnest and pleaded, “Sue, would you please… please do me a favor? Just after she gives birth to the baby, everything will be fine. I give you my words.”

“And where will I go? Where do you expect me to live till the time Doris delivers the baby?” Sue gave a sarcastic smile as she felt agonized and said to Peggy, “Have you ever considered about me? Where can I live after I move out?” Sue repeated.

“You…” Peggy made a very sweet face and turned to Sheryl who was standing just next to her and said, “Sher, if I am not mistaken, you are Sue’s friend, I think… she should be able to live with you for the time being, right? Sher, you just like a daughter to me. Would you please do me the favor? Will you please accommodate Sue to stay with you for a period of time? Is that okay?”

“What? How can you say that?” Sue returned with a frown, “Sher is also busy with work. She does not have the time and energy to arrange a living room for me.”

“Sher, do you think that is okay with you?” Peggy repeated with an expectant smile on her face, and she could make out from Sheryl’s appearance and gesture that she was too polite to turn her down. Peggy completely ignored what Sue said and turned around to ask Sheryl, “I know that I am asking for too much, but… but I really don’t know what to do. Sue is my daughter, Allen is my son. Both of them are my dear children. We can’t watch Sue to sleep in the street. Do you think so?”

“Uh, that is okay.” Sheryl really felt sorry for Sue and didn’t want her to sleep in the street. She turned to Sue and said, “Mimi, why don’t you go pack up your things now? You can stay with me tonight.”

“But…” Sue frowned and tried to protest saying, “Sher, you are…”

“Hurry up and go.” Sheryl waved to Sue. As Sheryl insisted, Sue did not say anything more but walked inside the room to pack her stuff.

The more Peggy watched Sheryl, the greedier she became. Seeing that Sheryl had agreed to her unreasonable request without much argument, Peggy was more certain that the relationship between Sheryl and Sue was unusually good. She could hardly control her greed to extort money from Sheryl. She glanced at her from the corner of her eyes and started to scheme for that.

Since Peggy had promised Doris to give her a large amount of money as wedding handsel, she was thinking of borrowing the money from Sheryl and having Sue repay it.

“Sher, it is so kind of you and I don’t have any word to thank you indeed. You have really helped me solve a big problem.” Peggy took Sheryl’s hand affectionally and said to her looking grateful.

“Mrs. Garcia, it is my pleasure.” Sheryl spoke with a smile and continued, “Sue is one of my friends. Friends should offer help to each other when they are in trouble. Isn’t it?”

“Sue is really lucky to have such a good friend like you,” Peggy spoke with a big smile on her face. Then she stood beside her fidgeting with her hands as if she wanted to say something but was hesitant.

Sheryl marked her gestures but remained silent. She knew that Peggy must have something else to say to her. Finally, after pondering for a while, Peggy opened her mouth again.

“Sher, to be honest… I have one more favor to ask from you,” Peggy spoke, pretending to be awkward.

“Mrs. Garcia, please go ahead, I will see what I can do to help you.” Sheryl smiled again and continued, “You are Sue’s mother. It will be my honor to be able to help you. I mean it. Please tell me what do you want me to do?” Sheryl was completely oblivious of the capricious motive that hid behind Peggy’s overtly polite and gentle face.

“Well…” Peggy heaved a sigh, bringing upon a grave look on her face. “It is like this.” Peggy gave a wry smile and talked to Sheryl, “Sher, as you see, Doris’ abdomen is bulging day by day. I have also discussed it with Sue that we should help Doris and Allen to materialize their wedding ceremony as soon as possible. But you know, all the money Sue has earned in these years has been used up by my son, leaving her no savings at all.”

Peggy sighed and went on, “However, Doris is not that easy to deal with. She is demanding and asks for a high handsel. It will cost more than five hundred thousand, coupled with the cost of holding a wedding ceremony. Sue said she would try to find a way to collect the money. Even though I love my son and I’m more partial to him, still, I can not let my daughter bear such a heavy burden. As a mother, how can I expect Sue to arrange such a large sum of money? I am sure you can understand.” Saying these words, Peggy looked at Sheryl, narrowing her eyes to understand her state of mind.

“Five hundred thousand? That is an obscene amount of money.” Sheryl sneered, “Mrs. Garcia, does it cost so much to have a wedding in the countryside these days?”

“Not really.” Peggy coughed as she did not expect this kind of a reply from Sheryl. A mark of embarrassment flashed across Peggy’s face. She remained silent for a while and then continued, “Actually, it is all my fault. The other day when I was having a chat with Doris, I casually mentioned to her that Allen has a sister living in the urban area.

Then she just put her foot down to hold their wedding in the urban area. She also said if I didn’t promise her, she would not have a wedding. So, I had no way but to agree to her. What can I do?”

“Well, Mrs. Garcia, it’s really very hard for you.” Sheryl nodded her head, looked at Peggy with some contemplation and said, “I can understand your feeling.”

“That’s all my fault, and I have such a son, good for nothing.” Peggy bit her lips to show embarrassment and looked down at the floor for a moment. Then she took a deep sigh and continued, “I thank God for blessing me with such a sweet and caring daughter to help me solve some difficulties.”

She took a glance at Sheryl, smiled and then looked ahead as she continued, “But five hundred thousand is not a small expense. I really have no way out and don’t know what to do, so I am here to beg for your help. Do you think you can find out a way to help us?”

“My help?” The word ‘help’ struck Sheryl as a whip as she straightened her spine and looked at Peggy with a surprised face. She immediately asked, “What do you mean by that, Mrs. Garcia?”

No matter how kind-hearted and benevolent Sheryl was, she could not promise to take out five hundred thousand to help anyone. Moreover, it was too ridiculous for Peggy to make such a request to Sheryl. That too when they just met for the first time today.

Peggy realized that she had perhaps quoted an unrealistic figure. Then she tried to cover up by saying, “Yes, I know it sounds odd that I am making such a demand to you. But I’m so afraid that I really don’t know what to do.” Peggy glanced at Sheryl and said in a pleading manner, “You are Sue’s best friend. I really don’t know who else I can turn to for help, except you.”

Peggy once again heaved a sigh, “You are from Ylanbu, and I can tell that you were born in a wealthy family. I am not asking you to give me the five hundred thousand. I just want to borrow it from you, so… can you find a way to lend me five hundred thousand?” Peggy stared at Sheryl with a lot of expectation in her eyes. Sheryl looked at her and was rendered completely speechless.