The Apple of My Eye

Chapter 532 Charlie Dropped Out Of School

Seeing Sheryl approaching with drinks and a hamburger in her hands, Charlie got the answer to his

question. However, he still wanted to hear it from her.

Looking at Charlie's morose expression, she explained,"Hey. I just bought some food for you."

At her words, a big smile spread on his face. Suddenly, Sheryl realized that Charlie must have thought

she had left him without saying goodbye.

Somehow, she found herself liking this remarkable boy. Instinctively, she felt a strange connection with

him and a strong urge to take care of him.

Teasingly she asked,"Why were you looking nervous just now? Were you afraid that I left without telling

you?"

Blushing slightly, Charlie avoided Sheryl's gaze. "Of course not! I don't care about you," he said trying

to sound uncaring.

"You don't have to admit it if you don't want to." Feeling pleased, Sheryl smiled to herself secretly. She

knew that he cared about her although he tried to act indifferently.

Spontaneously, she gave Charlie a big hug and asked him happily,"Are you hungry? Please eat before

the burger gets cold." Sheryl placed a wrapped hamburger in Charlie's little hands.

Normally, Charlie was very strict in food and never ate junk food like hamburgers. But this hamburger

was bought for him by Sheryl and he didn't want to refuse her. The affection in her eyes when she

looked at him made him happy.

Sitting down beside Sheryl, he took a small bite from the hamburger. He was surprised to learn that it

tasted good and began to eat earnestly.

"Do you skip school often?" Sheryl asked him curiously. Opening a can of soft drink, she put it beside

him.

Looking a little embarrassed, Charlie nodded and said,"I've already learned the knowledge taught in

school. I prefer to spend my time on what I like."

That sounded incredible coming from such a small boy, but she knew he was telling the truth. The book

she saw him reading was too advanced for his age.

Looking at Charlie sternly, she said,"If you already know what they taught at school, you should tell

your mother. Don't skip school again, otherwise, your teacher and your mother will worry about you."

Sheryl knew that she could reach Charlie with her words, so she tried to persuade him not to make a

habit of skipping school.

Tilting his head, he looked straight at Sheryl and said,"My mom doesn't care about me."

Comparing Leila and Sheryl in his mind, he felt closer to Sheryl, a woman he just met by chance. He

wished in his heart that she was his mother instead of Leila.

His words tugged at her heart. Sighing gently, she said,"Anyway, what you did was wrong. Do you

understand?"

Charlie thought for a while and said,"Yes, I understand."

"That's my boy!" Sheryl said with a bright smile. Sheryl lovingly ruffled Charlie's hair. Somehow, Charlie

welcomed her gentle touch and didn't feel it repulsive like Leila's touch.

Looking at Charlie, she could tell that he was a well-mannered boy. He ate his food carefully and

quietly like a nobleman. Suddenly, a picture of Shirley popped in her mind and she stifled a laugh. Her

daughter's behavior was the least ladylike. Shirley and Charlie were poles apart in terms of personality

except they were both smart and too mature for their age. NôvelDrama.Org holds this content.

Smiling to herself she knew that if she told that to Shirley, she would no doubt argue with her.

"Did you like the hamburger?" Sheryl asked Charlie, pleased that he finished all the food that she

brought him. Looking at her watch she told him,"It's time to take you back to school."

Reaching the gate of the kindergarten, Sheryl gave Charlie one last hug and a kiss on his cheek. As

she was about to leave, Charlie turned and asked her,"Will you come to see me again tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow?" Sheryl echoed, gazing down at Charlie's hopeful face. She truly liked this boy. But he was

not her son and they just met by chance.

She didn't like to part with him but she never thought of coming to see him tomorrow. His question

caught her off-guard.

When her foot got better, she would resume rehearsal and finish the show. Then she would return to

America.

"You don't have to come if you don't want to," Charlie said, disappointment evident in his downcast

eyes. When he saw Sheryl's hesitation, his heart beat heavily and he felt like something was blocking

his throat. It was a strange feeling for him.

"Charlie…" Sheryl called his name softly. "I came to Y City for work and I'm free today because I

twisted my ankle. I have to get back to work when my ankle gets better. Our conditions are similar. You

can skip school for a few times but most of the time you have to attend school, right?" she asked him

seriously.

Charlie stared at Sheryl with a longing look on his face. Sheryl sighed. It was so hard to refuse him

anything when he looked at her like that. Taking out a pen and paper from his bag, she wrote down her

number. Then she said,"Okay, this is my phone number. I promise I will come to see you when I have

free time."

"Hmm... Can I call you if I miss you?" Charlie asked shyly. It WAS the first time he let his guard down

with anyone and he felt uneasy. He didn't like depending on anybody even Leila, his mother. But it was

different with Sheryl; he felt so bad at the thought of not seeing her again.

"Sure, you can call me anytime," Sheryl promised him. Then she added,"If you call me and you can't

reach me, it means I'm still at work. I promise that I will call you back if I miss your call. Is that all right

with you?"

Charlie smiled and nodded. "Okay, let's make a deal by entwining fingers." He used to feel it was too

childish to make a promise in that way. But somehow he wanted to do so with Sheryl.

They entwined fingers solemnly. Charlie entered the gate of the kindergarten feeling happy and finally

acting like a normal three-year-old.

Meanwhile, Leila came home early and started preparing a big dinner for Charlie. She wanted to talk to

him about Charles during dinner.

Still feeling full from the hamburger he ate in the afternoon, Charlie just picked at his food.

"Are you all right, Charlie? Why aren't you eating your food?" Leila asked. It was the first time she saw

Charlie eating without appetite.

"I'm all right," he answered. His attitude towards Leila was totally different from the way he treated

Sheryl. He said indifferently,"I'm going to my room now."

"Wait!" Leila called sharply after Charlie. Charles had been avoiding her recently. He delegated most of

his works that he needed to finish with Leila to David. She was getting frustrated. She wanted to talk to

Charles about Charlie, but he never gave her a chance.

She had decided to tell Charles everything and introduce him to Charlie. But before that, she had to tell

Charlie so he would know what he should do tomorrow night.

"Charlie, I want to tell you something…" Her words were interrupted by the ringing of the phone. It was

Charlie's teacher. The teacher complained about his truancy today and warned Leila that if Charlie

continued skipping school, then he would be expelled. She told Leila to take the matter seriously.

Charlie was obviously listening to her conversation with his teacher. Thinking that he would have to

change school anyway once he was reunited with his father, Leila turned back to the phone. "I have

been busy recently and that's the reason why I sent Charlie to your kindergarten. If you will order him to

quit school for such a trivial matter, then I think I have no need to continue letting him stay there. I will

send him to a better kindergarten when the summer vacation is over," she told the teacher haughtily.

Leila put down the phone and turned to look at Charlie. "You don't have to go to school tomorrow."

Charlie's face lit up at the news. "Okay!" he answered with pleasure. Finally! Charlie nodded his head

in agreement. He never wanted to go to school from the beginning. Now his wish was fulfilled. He could

spend his time on what he liked.