The Substitute Bride

"Stop it! Isla, stop talking nonsense! I know you want to defend me and I know you resent the fact that Charles once betrayed me, but he's my husband. Can I ask you to stop nursing a grudge against him?" Sheryl felt annoyed. In the past, she had successfully avoided lashing out at her best friend. This time, however, she failed to put up with Isla's tone and had to ask her to put Charles' and Leila's offense in the past.

When Isla saw that she had upset Sheryl, she immediately covered her mouth with her hand. With an apologetic smile, she softly said, "Ah, I was only kidding. Why are you mad? All I meant to say was that you don't have to worry. The doctor hasn't reported anything bad about Charles' condition. Right?"

Sheryl relaxed her shoulders and dropped her head. After a moment of silence, she said, "I'm not mad. I just didn't want to lie to Nancy. But I didn't want to worry her."

"Then you just have to keep it from her. What she doesn't know won't worry her. You should take it easy as well. Don't worry too much about Charles. I remember you telling me about the promise that he made, that he would never leave you. Remember?" Isla reminded Sheryl in an attempt to cheer her up.

Sheryl stared into Isla's eyes. Despite her confusion, she gently nodded, letting her friend know that she was going to be fine and that she was staying optimistic and hopeful.

Isla decided to respectfully change the subject. She said, "Oh, Sheryl, I think it's time for you to call the kids. They might be asleep if you call any later."

"That's right! I would've forgotten if you hadn't reminded me!" Sheryl was immediately brought back to her senses. She shifted her weight, took out the phone from her pocket, and dialed Joan's number.

Joan was putting the kids to bed when she received Sheryl's call. She beamed and said to the kids, "Hey, sweeties! Guess who's calling! It's your mom!"

"Oh! Let me talk to her!"

Shirley shrieked in excitement. She leaped, attempting to grab the phone from Joan's hand. The latter gently handed it to her. In a sweet voice, she asked, "Mom, when are you coming home?"

The question rendered Sheryl speechless. In a hurry, she thought up an excuse. "Mom still has a lot of work to do with your auntie Isla. I can't make it tonight. You have to behave and listen to your brother while Mom's away. Understood?"

"No! I want to see you. I miss you so much!"

Shirley hadn't seen her mother the whole day. As a result, she felt

he uninvited Sheryl, making her way to Charles' room.

Melissa blocked Sheryl's way as she looked at her coldly. It was already past midnight, and there were few people around the hallway. With Melissa in the way, it was not easy for Sheryl to pass. Sheryl had turned back and was ready to give up when she suddenly felt someone grab her by the arm.

"What are you doing here?" Melissa grumbled. A look of irritation clouded her face.

Sheryl didn't know how to respond. She didn't want a public altercation with Melissa. At that point, she just had to wonder, 'Why does Melissa treat me like an enemy every time we run into each other? Am I not Charles' wife? Not her daughter-in-law? Why does she have to treat me this way all the time?'

When Sheryl was younger, she had learned that one day, she would have to get married. And when she did, she could come across a terrible mother-in-law. She had heard that this was a nightmare for most women. In her youth and innocence, Sheryl had simply hoped that kindness could solve any misunderstanding. This notion did not seem to work on Melissa.

"Obviously, I'm here to see my husband." Sheryl no longer backed down. She had done nothing wrong, but Melissa's anger seemed not to need any reason.

"Is that right, Sheryl? You always say that you love my son, but look at him now! Is this how you show your love for him? Since you two got married, how many bad things have happened to him, to this family? Do you know how much damage you've caused this family? Don't you feel even just a little guilty?" As shameless as she could be, Melissa started to criticize Sheryl with her own, twisted truths.