ENCHANTED LOVE - Season 8 Episode 34

“It’s not a bother at all. I’ll go prepare a meal while you all chat. It shouldn’t take long. I’ll cook your favourite sweet and sour ribs!” Amy offered.

Shirley’s eyes lit up at the mention of “sweet and sour ribs”.

“You little glutton!” Amy teased Shirley affectionately.

“Shirley, shall we go and look for Rick? I’m sure you can’t wait to play with him.” Arthur smiled at Shirley.

“Yes! Let’s go!” Shirley clapped her hands excitedly. It had been a long time since she had played with Rick.

There were now only two people left in the living room — Abby and Sheryl.

Seeing the look on Sheryl’s face, Abby knew that something was bothering her. She couldn’t stop herself from asking, “Sheryl, what’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

“I’m fine.” With great difficulty, Sheryl forced a smile and tried to change the topic, “So, I heard that Rick has a weak heart, is that true?”

“Yes, that’s right.” Abby sighed and continued, “I went into premature labor and poor Rick was born with a heart condition. To be honest, Rick was already at high risk then. I hated myself so much at that time. Fortunately, Andy managed to find a matching heart for Rick and he underwent a successful operation overseas. Now, other than his weak constitution, Rick is a normal, healthy boy. So, there’s a little less guilt in my heart.”

Abby’s words hit Sheryl with a wave of guilt. She’d never expected her absence to affect so many people. Even while she had been gone, they had still been thinking of her. It filled her with warm happiness knowing that this family had so much love and care for her.

“Are you okay? Why the sudden question?” Abby could sense that something was not quite right, but just couldn’t put her finger on it.

“No, it’s no big deal. I was just wondering,” Sheryl replied faintly.

“No, there’s something you’re hiding from me,” Abby insisted. And then it hit her. She leaned forward keenly. “Sheryl…”

She looked at Sheryl with widened eyes.
Could it be? Had Sheryl regained her memory?

Sheryl looked into Abby’s eyes and nodded slightly, confirming her suspicions.

Abby was momentarily stunned into silence, almost unable to believe it. After a long while, she finally recovered her composure and asked, “Sheryl, Do you remember everything?”

“Not everything,” Sheryl replied softly, “some of the details are still foggy.”

“So…” Abby hesitated, considering her next question carefully. “Have you told him about it?”

“Not yet,” Sheryl knew that Abby was referring to Charles. She too, hesitated before admitting, “Actually, I came by for a reason… I know Andy has a lot of contacts. I can vaguely remember that I was pregnant with twins and I was hoping he could help me investigate the whereabouts of my other child.”

Abby’s face grew serious and she told Sheryl, “Actually, I already asked Andy to investigate long ago, when you first went missing. But… He kept insisting that he couldn’t find anything.”

“Really?” Sheryl frowned with suspicion.
Just then, Andy returned. Abby glanced up at him. “Ah, perfect timing. You can ask the man himself for the details.”

Abby motioned for Andy to join them, explaining quickly, “Sher’s memory is returning. She wants to know some details from three years ago. You stay here and chat with her, I’ll go help my mom with the food and tell her of the good news.”

“Oh… Really?” Andy showed no signs of happiness or excitement at the news, which made Sheryl feel suspicious.

Abby didn’t notice anything and rushed to the kitchen in excitement, eager to update Amy about the revelation. Andy turned to Sheryl and asked, “Do you recall what happened?”

“Yes.” Sheryl nodded gently and before she could open her mouth, Andy continued in a rush, “I’m so sorry about my actions. I had no choice, I was going through some hardships.”

“Hardships? What hardships?” Sheryl was confused. She had no idea what Andy was talking about. She waited for Andy to continue speaking, sensing that he was going to share an even bigger secret of catastrophic proportion.

“You know that Rick was born with heart disease. I was going to wait for things to settle down before telling Abby that you were alive, but Anthony was the one who found the matching heart for Rick. I was forced to agree to his terms and conditions of not disclosing your whereabouts, in return for saving Rick’s life.” Andy grimaced and said, “Rick is my son. I had to prioritize him and not let his life go to waste, so…”

“Enough!” Sheryl cut off Andy’s words with a steely look in her eyes.

Anthony again! Why did everything seem to be linked to Anthony!?

“Answer this question. Where is my other child?” Sheryl asked Andy earnestly.

“Do you not know?” Andy was surprised. Sheryl herself had been the one to tell him that Leila had taken the other child, but since she was now asking him again, it was obvious that she had not fully regained her memory.

He looked back at her and lied, “I have no idea.”

Sheryl looked at him doubtfully and asked, “Are you sure?”

“Of course. One hundred percent.” Andy nodded and continued, “My people’s efforts to locate the little one proved to be depressingly futile.”

Sheryl struggled with her suspicions for another minute or so, and finally resigned herself to believing his words.

The return of Sheryl’s memory was a cause of celebration in the Murphy family. Amy tried to get her to stay after dinner but Sheryl politely declined.

“Grandma Amy, it’s getting late, and we should really get going. Don’t worry, I’ll drop by again when I have some spare time,” she reassured Amy, while holding her hands comfortingly.

“You promise?” Amy’s eyes filled with tears, as she couldn’t bear to part ways with Sheryl. “Well, be sure to remember your words and please come by more often.”

“Of course.” Sheryl smiled and told them, “You all should get back into the house because it’s quite a chilly night.”

“I’ll give you two a ride back,” Abby offered.

Initially, Sheryl was reluctant but Abby insisted, saying, “It’s too late for you and your daughter to returning home alone. Let me and Andy send you home.”

Finally Sheryl agreed. During the ride home, Abby remained silent the whole way. As soon as they got home, she headed straight for the shower. Andy stayed out on the veranda and smoked. After two cigarettes, he called Anthony, only to be left unanswered.

He sensed someone watching him and turned around to see Abby right behind him. “Ahh! Why are you so silent? You nearly gave me a heart attack!”

“What’s the matter, are you feeling guilty?” Abby asked with a knowing smile.