Chapter 1991 How Should I Address You


    After Sheryl walked out, Melissa let out a huge sigh of relief. ''It''s the right time, '' she thought. She was


    dying to find out who the man was.


    It was the usual meeting where employees reported their progress. The meeting wound up at a fast


    pace, and Sheryl took her time to clean up everything. As soon as she was settled, she began to work


    on the task that was to be assigned for the next month.


    Melissa quickly snuck out of Sheryl''s office and began to inspect the meeting room. Sheryl was


    engrossed in the discussion, and Melissa grabbed the opportunity to do what she''de for. She


    immediately walked into the office and looked at the flower intently–trying to find any clues. A minute


    had passed–she hadn''t found anything yet.


    The gorgeous flowers didn''t catch Melissa''s attention–it was the person who''d given it to Sheryl that


    bothered her. As she wondered who it could''ve been and right at that moment, she stumbled on a card.


    Some words were scribbled on the card, but it didn''t bear the name of the sender. As she studied the


    writing style, Melissa concluded that it was perhaps from a man.


    Melissa felt that it was pointless, staring at the flowers, and she walked out. She was disappointed that


    she couldn''t find any clues that would lead her to the man. Feeling defeated, she went back to see


    Sheryl.


    Sheryl had wrapped up the meeting and was working alone.


    "Are you done with the meeting?" Melissa was standing at the door, beaming at Sheryl.


    Sheryl gave a quick nod and continued with her work as Melissa took a seat.


    Melissa had thought that she should ask Sheryl directly about the man, but every time she gathered the


    courage to confront Sheryl, she would decide against it–and ultimately, she swallowed her words.


    It was lunchtime, and Sheryl was still busy with her work, until Phoebe walked in, and reminded that it


    was lunch break already. "It''s time to have lunch. Are you hungry? Want to have lunch together?"


    Sheryl asked Melissa.


    "I''d love to. I hope it''s alright." Melissa didn''t want to bother Sheryl too much. She felt that her behavior


    and actions had a lot to do with Sheryl''s rtionship with her son. She didn''t want to be the reason for


    Sheryl''s detachment from Charles.


    "Absolutely. What would you like to have?" Sheryl and Melissa walked out of the office together.


    Melissa was surprised by Sheryl''s question. She thought she should suggest Sheryl''s favorite food, but


    that was when it hit her–she knew nothing about Sheryl. She didn''t know what she liked and disliked.


    Melissa was instantly drowned in shame. She''d been Sheryl''s mother-inw for years, yet she knew


    nothing about her. She hadn''t paid enough attention to her son''s wife, after all.


    "How about Vietnamese food? They''re your favorite, aren''t they?" Sheryl suggested casually.


    That was enough to strike Melissa''s guilt. Sheryl had known her very well, but she''d never given much


    thought to her.


    "I''m so sorry, Sheryl. We''ve been together as a family for years. Yet, I don''t even know what you like to


    eat," said Melissa as tears clouded her eyes.


    "Oh, please don''t say that. It isn''t a big deal." Sheryl had no idea how tofort the old woman. It was


    indeed her fault–she had never cared for her. But what could she say?


    Should she be mad at her for being cold to her and her kids? Should she ask her all the questions that


    had been buzzing in her head all these years?


    She didn''t deserve what she''d gone through, but she''d remained quiet. That was Sheryl–regardless of


    the troubles she''d endured, the problems she''d faced, she didn''t have the heart to use Melissa.


    "Sher, would you have stayed with Charles if I''d never done those things?" Melissa finally let out what


    had been weighing on her heart for so long. She had mustered all her courage to face her past, which


    was haunting her. She''d been quiet for so long, besides the simple apology she''d asked the other night.


    But that wasn''t enough–how could it be? She knew that it wasn''t over, and she had to talk to Sheryl


    about it.


    "Whatever happened between me and Charles was because of us. It''s got nothing to do with you. Stop


    ming yourself," said Sheryl nonchntly. "I know a good Vietnamese restaurant nearby. Let''s go


    there." Sheryl didn''t want to talk about any of this.


    She knew why Melissa was here. However, she''d put an end to the chapter that was in the past and


    had finally bid goodbye to Charles after a lot of struggle. She didn''t want to be reminded about the past,


    about what she''d gone through. It would only hurt her and make her weak.


    Melissa felt it wasn''t right to talk about it further and remained silent.


    Luckily, the restaurant was only minutes away. So, they weren''t killed by the awkwardness.


    Sheryl ordered exactly what Melissa would''ve wanted to have.


    While they were sitting in silence, waiting for the food, Melissa felt that there couldn''t be a better time to


    ask about the flowers.


    "Sher, you''re doing a wonderful job at work. Do all your clients like you?" Melissa finally asked.


    Sheryl shook her head in amusement. "Not really. However, this client is special. I did a favor for him,


    so he''s trying to pay me back."


    "Whichpany is it?" Melissa pushed it a bit further.


    Sheryl raised an eyebrow, annoyed by the rude question. "I...I don''t mean to be nosy," Melissa hurried


    to exin. "It''s just that I''ve partnered with severalpanies. I just wanted to know if it''s one of them.


    This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I''d be able to help you partner with their firm in the future."


    "Thanks, but that won''t be necessary. This isn''t an important client after all," Sheryl declined politely.


    Melissa was embarrassed that Sheryl was aware of her moves.


    Her attempt to find out about the man had failed yet again.


    "Sher, you must try this. It''s my favorite." Melissa tried to fill Sheryl''s bowl.


    "No, thanks, I can do it myself." Sheryl forced a weak smile as she rejected Melissa''s offer.


    They ate in silence.


    "Where are you going?" Sheryl finally asked after they had finished eating.


    "I think I''lle to the Cloud Advertising Company with you. I''ve nothing to do anyway." Melissa was


    afraid that Sheryl wouldn''t want her toe.


    Sheryl nodded. "Okay!"


    They walked together, but both of them could sense the awkwardness. Melissa made a mental note not


    to talk about the flowers again. She remembered Sheryl''s reluctance when they spoke about it.


    "I''ll wait outside. I don''t want to bother you here," Melissa said.


    Sheryl looked at Melissa for a brief moment and nodded her head. She didn''t believe her. "Take care of


    Mrs. Lu and make herfortable," Sheryl ordered her secretary.


    "It''s okay. I''ll manage." Melissa swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat when Sheryl called


    her ''Mrs. Lu''. She knew that Sheryl had drawn a line between them and that she was miles away from


    crossing it.


    "Alright." Sheryl walked inside.


    The secretary walked out, and Melissa stood there, lonely, looking at Sheryl.


    Sheryl was surprised to see that Melissa was still standing there. "Is something wrong?"


    "Can you please stop calling me Mrs. Lu?" Melissa pleaded. Her eyes filled with pain.


    Sheryl was taken aback by Melissa''s words. She smiled and nodded in agreement.


    Melissa''s face rxed, finally, and she walked out of the office with a smile.


    The door was closed, and Sheryl was alone in her office. She stared at the door, thinking about what


    had just happened. She let out a huge sigh and thought to herself, ''How should I address you,


    Melissa? Should I call you, Aunt Melissa?''