ENCHANTED LOVE, VOLUME 2 - Season 9 Episode 41

Sheryl went to bed thinking how to start this topic with Charles. However, she woke up the next morning only to find that Charles was waiting for her downstairs. When Amy saw her coming down, she smiled. “Morning Sheryl! We were just about to call you. Charles has been waiting here for quite a long time. Go, change your clothes and freshen up soon.”

“Oh! That’s a pleasant surprise. So what brings you here?” Sheryl looked at Charles with a perplexed face and smiled.

“Since you don’t visit me, I thought of paying you a visit,” Charles replied her making a pity face for himself. Shirley was very delighted to see him and was seen to be clinging on to him. Charles continued, “Did you forget it? Clark has his name changed today. So I’m thinking about organizing a gathering to celebrate. And, It’s been a while since the last time we met!”

All of a sudden, Sheryl felt as if she had been pulled out from some kind of a trance. She felt guilty as a mother for having neglected her own son. Recently she had been so much engaged in Sue’s matters. Poor Charlie, she thought. No, Clark, she corrected herself. The whole thing about changing his name had completely skipped her mind.

She blamed herself for that.

She told Charles, “Just wait for me. I’ll get changed and meet you soon!”

Then she rushed upstairs and broke the news to Sue. She wanted to invite Sue to join the gathering, but Sue rejected, saying that it was not suitable for her to attend their family feast.

Sheryl had no choice but to give up.

When she came downstairs, she saw Charles and Shirley playing happily with each other. Shirley’s giggles filled the room and Charles’ face was glowing to his daughter who had fun with him. The loving picture of the father and daughter warmed Sheryl’s heart, and she couldn’t help grinning.

“Let’s go!” Sheryl walked towards Charles and said to them.

Charles took Shirley in his arms and started walking to his car.

The venue was at a fancy restaurant in the downtown. Its VIP room was big enough to hold more than twenty people. They also invited Gary, Chris’ family, and Isla’s family. The kids were having fun with each other once they met. Isla was looking for the right opportunity to speak with Sheryl. She glanced at Sheryl, and then to Charles who was receiving guests. Isla was curious about their current situation. She walked towards Sheryl and took her hand in her own.

Then she took a few steps with her and asked, “Sher, how is it going between you and Charles? When do you plan to be together? You see, you have cleared the air already, and the kids were also found.

Why do you refuse to budge? It’s time to move on. In my opinion, you two would better be together as soon as possible. You love him and he loves you. So what are you waiting for?”

“You are right! I always tell Charles the same thing,” Chris cut in abruptly. She said to Sheryl, “It will only be better for both of you if you just move on together.

And not just that, the kids will also find a complete home for themselves. Come to think of it, they were the ones to suffer the most in the last three years. Poor kids! The new term will begin soon. How should they answer if other kids ask them about their parents?”

The conjugal attempt made by Isla and Chris made Sheryl both upset and amused. She stared at Isla and said, “Isla, even if Chris doesn’t understand me, I always think that you do. You know my reasons, don’t you?”

“Of course I do!” Isla heaved a sigh. “You can’t forget what happened in the past, so you can’t accept him right now. And you also think that three years in between had been enough to change everything, right?”

“Isla, since you know it already, then why…” Sheryl creased her brows and asked.

Before she finished her sentence, Isla interrupted with a frown, “This is only what you assume, Sheryl. It is just a one-sided thinking. Three years is a long time to change many things, but not the way Charles loves you. You know him very well. If he could stay single and away from women for three years for your sake, then you can imagine how much he loves you!”

Isla watched her expression and continued, “There were so many women trying to flirt with or seduce Charles in these years. But he rejected all of them. He has suffered enough in these years. What else do you ask for?

Sher, I know you love him too. In this case, how does it matter if you take the initiative from your side? I suggest you think it over, for the sake of yourself, Charles and your kids.”

“She’s right, Sheryl,” Chris started. “We have seen Charles clinging on to your memories every moment. He completely shunned the company of women to the extent that I even doubted whether my brother changed his sexual orientation after you disappeared. Therefore when I knew that Leila had a baby with him, I was overjoyed. I even tried to fix them up. God! What a mistake! I almost messed up everything!

He still blames me because of this even today! You don’t know how happy I was when I saw you back. I really think that my brother was finally saved!”

Chris couldn’t help breathing a sigh. “Now you are in front of him, but you don’t want to move back to our home. He is like a poisoned man who can’t get the cure that is so close to his hand no matter how much he tries.”

“Chris, please don’t talk like that. You know this is not what I mean,” Sheryl replied. “I just need some time to think it over.”

“I know, Sheryl,” Chris continued. “I totally understand what you are concerned about. But you need to know that my brother respects you from his heart. He understands you very well.

Once he told me that he is willing to wait for you no matter how long it’ll take for you to make up your mind. He has waited for three years already, and he doesn’t mind waiting longer.”

Chris paused. “Today I just want you to know that my brother will also agree to live in separate rooms with you as long as you are ready to come back home. If you still can’t make a decision, maybe this arrangement will help you to think ahead. Come back to our home for a while and then you are free to move out at any time. If you really do so, you will be giving Charles some hope. What’s more, you can even adapt to living together with him. It’s good for both of you.”

“But…” Sheryl hesitated. Even though Chris’ suggestion was really a good one, she could not convince herself to accept it at the moment.

She gave them a bitter smile and said, “Let’s talk about this later. I have something to deal with right now, so I can’t move back.”

Sue just moved into Murphy family. At this time, if she moved in to Dream Garden, how would Sue feel? Wouldn’t she think that they were trying to drive her away?

She knew Sue was a sensitive girl and she didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable.

“You are really…” Isla sighed helplessly. Today both she and Chris made great efforts to persuade Sheryl to step forward. However, she shrank back every time when they saw some hope to bring her back into Charles’ life. She just refused to look forward. They couldn’t change anything. What else could they do?

Isla gave the final attempt. “If you don’t treasure Charles, I’m sure you’ll regret in the future. Take action now before it’s too late! Don’t wait until he is taken by another woman. In that case, I won’t sympathize with you even if you cry in front of me!”