The Substitute Bride

The shock brought by Sheryl's words kept Anthony rooted to the spot. His mind got crowded with too many thoughts at once. 'What does she mean by asking me to leave alone? Does it mean she has decided to stay here? Does it have something to do with Charles? Does she get back her memory?' Fear clutched his heart as he looked at Sheryl's cold face. Finally finding his voice, he asked,"What do you mean by that? Does it mean you're not leaving with me?"

Lifting Shirley higher in her arms for a more comfortable position, she said impatiently,"I have promised to be a contract model for BM Corporation. I'm not going back to America."

In reality, Sheryl didn't sign the agreement yet. She had decided earlier to follow Sue's advice and discuss it with Anthony first. If he disagreed with her decision, she had made up her mind to turn down the offer.

However, finding out that Anthony bought their tickets without consulting her first made her change her mind quickly. She felt disrespected and that enraged her. 'This is an important decision. Although I was nearly convinced by my boss, I have decided to talk it over with Anthony. Why did he have to interfere in my affairs and make a decision without consulting me?

It was not his decision to make. It only means one thing, he has no respect for me.

Sometimes people say things in the heat of the moment without meaning them. But from the bottom of my heart, I was serious. I wanted to stay in Y City.'

Her words dropped like a bombshell for Anthony. He seized Sheryl's arm to hold her back. Sheryl was startled and the sleeping Shirley almost fell from her arm. Fortunately, the sudden movement didn't wake Shirley. She gave Anthony a glaring look.

Dropping his hands to his side, Anthony clenched his fists. "You're not staying to be BM Corporation's model. You're staying because that man is here, aren't you?" he accused harshly.

Anthony was a proud and confident man. However, he had a feeling that Sheryl wouldn't choose him over Charles when she remembered her past. He knew he should have a serious talk with her. At the moment, he couldn't restrain his anxiety and anger. Sheryl had promised to go back to America before coming to Y City. The fact that she was now going back on her words frustrated him and inflamed his anger. He sneered at Sheryl,"In order to be with that man, you are willing to give up all that you have achieved in America. You're desperate to come back, aren't you?"

Behind his accusing words, Anthony was worried. He wasn't sure that he had really won Sheryl's heart. His sharp words were designed to test her real thoughts.

His words cut straight into Sheryl's heart. Her face reflected the hurt that she felt at Anthony's words. She was heartbroken and angry.

She opened her mouth but no words escaped her throat. There were no words to describe the desperation she was feel

perfect and he can't do anything wrong, while putting all the blame on me, ' thought Sheryl.

Pulling out her phone, she sent a message to Anthony asking him to check in at a hotel and rest. After sending the message, she turned off her phone. She spent the whole night tossing and turning on the bed, unable to sleep.

It was almost dawn when she finally succumbed to sleep. When she woke up, she found that Sue had left with all her belongings. Unlike Sheryl, Sue slept like a log. When she woke up, she decided to move to the apartment that BM Corporation had allocated to her. She was too embarrassed to face Sheryl.

She remembered ashamedly that she had blamed Sheryl fiercely and sided with Anthony last night.

Meanwhile, Shirley who had slept soundly the night before, woke up bright and early. She had tried on the dress that Sheryl bought for her and was spinning on the bed. Sheryl watched Shirley with amusement and reminded her gently,"Be careful. You may fall down."

"Sher, does my dress look nice?" Shirley asked happily, still twirling on the bed with her new dress, waiting for her mother's compliments. The sound of the doorbell startled Sheryl. After a short hesitation, she got up to open the door. There was no need to guess who was standing outside. She knew that it could only be Anthony.

She looked at him coldly and asked impatiently,"What's the matter?"

"I just dropped by to bring breakfast for you and Shirley. Just have some food." Anthony seemed back to his normal self, calm and gentle unlike last night when he was wild and accusing.

However, what had already happened couldn't be ignored. It was impossible for anyone to pretend that nothing had changed.

The same went with Sue. There was no taking back the words that she said last night, when she was under the influence of alcohol. Although Sheryl didn't say anything, Sue couldn't pretend that nothing had happened.