ENCHANTED LOVE, VOLUME 2 - Season 9 Episode 44

As any ordinary couple would do, Charles and Sheryl went out for a little stroll hand in hand down the street. The weather gave them a calm day, which seemed rare given the recent string of events.

The peace was shortlived, however, when Sue came to Sheryl’s mind. She stopped in her steps and pulled Charles back and sighed. “Charles, I’m counting on you… with Sue. You know that, right?”
Charles smiled warmly in response, wanting to reassure her. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll do anything to sort it all out quickly so you can move back home with me.”

Hearing his words, Sheryl felt red creeping up her cheeks.

It was Sheryl who planned to send Charles back home, but somehow, she was to be sent back to her place by Charles, and even with all that had happened, she found herself feeling nothing but affection for Charles because of it. When their stroll came to an end, she gave him a long stare.

“You’ve had some wine. You shouldn’t drive.”

“I know. I’ll call a car to bring me back,” he responded with affection. The air around them was warm and familiar. When they gazed at each other, they hid smiles in their eyes.

With Charles’ promise, Sheryl nodded in relief. “Alright then. I should get back now.” It was a reluctant parting. On the way to the door, Sheryl had to look back at the man before entering the house — and he wore a warm smile for every turn she gave. Even as she finally got herself inside, her heart was still beating because of his words.

Sheryl jumped a little when the light in her bedroom suddenly went on. Sue’s presence took her off guard, as she thought Sue would still be in her room. With someone else around, Sheryl had to calm her heart down and conceal the bashful smile threatening to surface. “It’s getting late. Why are you still up?”

“I was waiting for you,” Sue smiled as she said it. She stared at Sheryl with a suggestive look.

The latter had to pretend to be busy sorting and tidying things up to avoid looking at the other girl. “Why were you waiting? You didn’t have to.”

“Just wanted to make sure you didn’t forget to remind Charles about my dilemma, but maybe that’s too much to remember when you’re indulging in love.” Sue’s tone was teasing, and she smiled mischievously at her friend.

“What… What are you talking about?” Sheryl said hastily, her face growing red with embarrassment. “I do not indulge in…”

“Please, I just saw you two,” Sue teased. “You were both so reluctant to part ways even for a night,” she chuckled. “You’re such a woman in love.”

She then took Sheryl’s cheeks in her hands and cooed, “Look at you, your lips are all swollen. The next time you make out, please remind Mr. Taylor to have a little more control. You’re a model, after all, you still need to keep up your image.”
Hearing her words, Sheryl subconsciously touched her lips, earning a burst of laughter from Sue. At that moment, Sheryl realized she had been played hard.

She groaned in embarrassment and annoyance and pushed Sue down onto the bed to ‘sort her out.’

“Sure enough, the IQ of a woman in love is zero,” Sue continued.

“Shut up you…” Sheryl teased back and put an angry tone in her voice, even if her face said otherwise. “You tease me like this after I just did you a favor? Well then, tomorrow I’m calling Charles, and I’m telling him to ignore all your problems, and you’re on your own!”

Coming down from the high of laughter, Sue surrendered, “Stop, stop, you’re not indulging in love. I admit it.” A genuine smile replaced the teasing laugh. “Sher, I really am happy for you.”

With a sigh, she continued, “I know you told me you didn’t care about my relationship with Anthony a while back, but I was still worried. When I saw how happy you were with Charles, though, I finally believe it.”

Sheryl looked at her then. “My relationship with Anthony is completely over, Sue. You really don’t have to care about it anymore.”

Sue nodded this time — she had finally stopped resisting. “I know.”

Lately, Sue had to deal with Peggy’s and Allen’s torture, and she didn’t have time to think about her relationship with Anthony. Having moved into the Murphy family house still had her missing him dearly. She loved him deeply, after all.

She couldn’t forget him at will, even in the midst of all that was going on.

“It’s getting late. Time for bed.” Catching a flash of sadness on Sue’s face, Sheryl knew that Anthony crossed her mind.

With a deep sigh, she attempted to comfort her, “As for your relationship with Anthony, I can’t make any decision for you. But I just want to make sure you don’t do anything you’ll regret.”

“I see,” was all she said. Sue pushed Sheryl into the bathroom. “I know what I should do.”

That night, insomnia plagued Sue. In the morning, she went to the company with dark circles under her eyes.

Peggy and Doris were unexpectedly already there, waiting for her at the door.
It only brought a frown upon Sue’s face. “What are you doing here?”

“Give me some money,” Peggy simply demanded, as if it was a mundane request. “I’m taking Doris for a body check. Hurry up and give me money.”

Sue arched brow and looked at Peggy incredulously. “Do you think I’m an ATM? Why should I give you money for her pregnancy test?”

“You wicked bitch, shut up!” Peggy’s voice was almost yelling, then. “You don’t want to force me to sort you out here in public. Doris’ child is your nephew, so what’s wrong with asking you for money?”

She sneered, “Look, what a heartless woman. Don’t you care for your family?”
“Nephew?” Sue’s eyes went cold. “Even his parents and grandmother don’t care about him. I’m just his aunt. Why should I care?”

“You…” Peggy was livid and even raised her hand in anger. “Why are you making it so difficult? Greedy bitch. No man would be willing to marry such a wicked woman like you.”

“Shut up.” There was no warmth between the two. If it weren’t for Peggy’s and Allen’s sudden intrusion into her life, she could probably be with Anthony already.

She hadn’t blamed them outright, yet Peggy went ahead and insulted her in such an unexpected way. It triggered something deep within Sue, and the blame finally surfaced. “If I can’t find anyone for me in the future, it’s all your fault!”

“My fault?” She only sneered at the remark. “You dare blame me? Don’t talk until you find a real man.”

“Sue.” Just as Sue was about to give a retort, Anthony’s voice pierced through the tension in the air. They all turned to see Anthony approaching. It made Sue feel anxious, when the other two were staring at the man and wondering who he was.

He’d been looking for Sue for a while. He had even visited her home but didn’t dare go upstairs. After several days of waiting for her, he couldn’t figure out her whereabouts. Finally, he took a chance to look for her at the company and found her with a stroke of luck.

The moment he saw her, he felt like all the weight on his body had lifted. He relaxed in relief.

A few days ago, they parted on bad terms, but all that mattered to Anthony was that he could find her safe and sound.

As he approached though, Sue found herself worrying. Afraid that Peggy would find out about her relationship with Anthony, she dug up some bills from her purse and shoved them at Peggy hurriedly, just to end the whole interaction, before rushing into the company.

Fortunately for Sue, the Kline Corp. had strict policies about people getting in and out, so Anthony could only watch as she rushed in.

Sue’s face stayed pale as she escaped into the office. Since Charles picked Sheryl up for breakfast, the latter had arrived earlier than Sue. Her friend’s rushed entrance was worrisome, so Sheryl approached her right away.

“Mimi, what’s wrong? Was someone chasing after you?”