The Substitute Bride

"What's going on between them?" Anthony repeated his question, with eyes full of anxiety. When Sue still didn't answer, he clutched her hand even tighter and pleaded,"Please tell me what's going on between Sheryl and Charles."

"Ouch! Anthony, you're hurting me," Sue cried in a coquettish manner. Before Sue could say anything more, she fell into a deep slumber. She must be really drunk. Anthony felt so helpless. He couldn't do anything but sit on the couch and stare at the sleeping Sue. He didn't realize he had been sitting there the whole night pondering about Charles and Sheryl.

Fate was deliberately playful. He had been hiding the truth from Sheryl for many years hoping that it would help him win her and have her forever but just all of a sudden, she would be back to Charles. All his efforts had gone to waste.

In the mountains

In the middle of the night, Sheryl fell asleep. Charles just watched over her. At dawn, while Sheryl was still fast asleep, Charles secretly left to look for someone who could help him repair the car. Fortunately, he was able to find a mechanic who was already awake. When he came back to the car with the mechanic, Sheryl was still asleep. She only woke up when the car was almost done.

Somehow, she slept well despite the not so pleasing environment.

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she opened the door and got out. She noticed that Charles was not alone. Without any knowledge about car repairs, she innocently asked Charles,"How's it going?"

"It's almost done," Charles answered while looking at her lovingly. It was only 5:30 in the morning and the temperature in the mountains was biting. Sheryl's face turned pinkish with the cold. When Charles noticed it, he thoughtfully urged her,"You wait in the car. It's too cold outside."

Sheryl nodded and then took off Charles' coat to give it back to him. "Put your coat on."

"I'm not cold. You just wear it," Charles refused. He then gently wrapped the coat back on her shoulders.

Sheryl waited for roughly twenty minutes inside the car before the mechanic could finally fix it. Charles gave the mechanic a few hundred dollars before the man thanked him and left. When Charles entered the driver's seat, he

rable look and continued,"I don't understand why Sheryl is so perfect in your eyes. She has done so many things behind your back but you're just turning a blind eye. You should know that better than anyone else."

"You shut up!" Anthony shouted frigidly. "Sher would never do anything to betray me."

"Really? In your heart, Sheryl is the goddess of perfection. No matter what she does, you'll always forgive her. You can accept everything about her. But now, why are you so angry when you hear something about her and Charles? Admit it, Anthony. You can allow Sheryl to do anything except associating with Charles. You feel threatened by Charles, right?" Sue continued with a sneer.

"I told you to shut up! Didn't you hear me?" Anthony couldn't contain his anger anymore. Sue's words definitely irked him.

However, Sue had been angered as well that she couldn't stop anymore. "You have always refused to acknowledge Sheryl's inappropriate relationship with Charles. But you know in your heart that Sheryl never really loved you. And since she met Charles, things started to get out of hand. She might not admit it, but for her, Charles is clearly more important than you."

"That's my own business. What does it have to do with you?" Anthony replied coldly. "Sher is indeed a perfect woman for me. I trust her with all my heart and I'm sure, she would never do anything to betray me. But you intentionally denigrate Sher in front of me. Don't you feel sorry for her?"