The Substitute Bride

"Really?" Sheryl asked surprised. "Do you really think this place is better than America, Shirley?" Recent events had made Sheryl actually reconsider her current circumstances. However, she wanted to find out how Shirley felt about it too.

"Yes, I like here," replied the little girl. She kept thinking to herself, 'America is just so different. But here... here I have my friends, like Amanda and Charlie. Also, they are all like me, with my skin color, facial features and dark hair, different from those children in America who are all blondes.'

"Tell me, if we were to live here and never come back to America, would you like it?" Sheryl continued. "Or if you had to attend school here, could you get used to it?"

"If we stayed here, could I play with Amanda?" asked Shirley. Her sweet voice and innocent look made it look like she was asking to stay, not just considering it.

Sheryl stood no chance against her cuteness. Her heart melted, and she quickly replied,"Absolutely, my love." Shirley hesitated to confirm for a few seconds, but once she finished processing the offer in her little mind, she nodded in agreement. "Okay Mom, I am willing to live here."

Sheryl cared a lot about her opinion. She didn't want to do anything that her little daughter would not feel comfortable with.

So hearing her say those words sealed the deal for Sheryl as well.

"Autu…… Uhm... Miss Xia?" Isla called out to her from behind. Sheryl had taken Shirley out to a locale near Cloud Advertising Company. That was also where Isla regularly went to, during her afternoon tea break.

"Miss Zhao?" said Sheryl after taking a second look at her. A few seconds earlier, her eyesight had quickly brushed over Isla's image failing to register who she was. The previous night Isla had worn an exquisite dress, giving her a completely different allure. But at that locale, standing in front of her was different Isla, a competent, professional businesswoman in a suit.

So it took Sheryl a few moments to discern who she was.

"What are you doing here?" inquired Isla quite excitedly. She was so excited that she even grabbed Sheryl's hand while asking that question. However, Sheryl was not too receptive to her gesture.

Gently pulling her hand away from her, Sheryl answered,"I was just taking Shirley around. This is her first time in China." She then tried to reciprocate Isla's kind interest by asking back,"And you Miss Zhao? What are you doing here?"

"My company is near here. And I am coming out to buy some tea or food for my employees. They really appreciate these small attentions. But, I'm so glad that I ran into you," Isla exp

n't say such words again. There is no doubt that person is Autumn. You too will know once you see her."

Chris dared not continue her argument, but was still reluctant about accepting Autumn's existence.

This mysterious Sheryl who seemed to be her long-lost sister-in-law was starting to intrigue her more and more.

In a different corner of the town, stepping out of Leila's house with his head hung low, Charles wasn't sure what to do about Charlie. His pleadings had really affected him. He couldn't stand seeing his son locked in.

Fortunately, Leila hadn't taken his phone away too. So as soon as Charles arrived at work, Charlie called him. With a hopeful whisper, the boy requested,"Dad, could you pick me up tonight?"

"But… she locked you in, didn't she? How would you get out?" Charles wondered. He too had thought of taking Charlie away by force, but feared that Leila would be angry enough to hurt the boy if he tried.

Charlie giggled through the phone and said,"I secretly hid away one of the keys, but I didn't want her to suspect anything; so I kept quiet earlier."

"Good boy!" stated Charles proudly. His smile had returned to his face, and his heart filled with hope and ambition. This time, he was going to get Charlie out, and never allow Leila to get close to him again.

He had to... for the kid's own sake.

Outsmarted by the boy, Leila unsuspectingly went to bed that night. She could have never imagined that Charles and his son would collaborate against her. When she woke up, Charlie's room was empty. He was nowhere to be found. Panicked and frustrated, she couldn't think straight any longer. She rushed without any hesitation to the hotel where Sheryl was staying to hold her accountable for Charlie's disappearance.