Chapter 14
Chapter 14
It was already ten o'clock at night when Charlotte returned home after a long day at work.
It was pitch-black in the house. None of the lights were left on in wait for her.
She fumbled for her house slippers in the dark, but just as she put her flats into the shoe cabinet...
The lights in the living room suddenly flickered on, and the successive bangs of party poppers invaded her ears.
Immediately after, Sheryl brought the carefully prepared cake up to Charlotte with Anne's assistance.
"Happy birthday, mommy!"
"Happy birthday, Lottie!"
Welcomed with the warm scene in front of her, Charlotte was so moved that she teared up. Today was her birthday.
"Mommy, you're one year older. You're a big girl now. Don't cry," said Sheryl with a stern expression.
Charlotte was instantly amused by her precious daughter's witty words.
As per regular birthday routine, Charlotte made a wish and finished cutting the cake.
Sheryl scurried back to her room and cheekily brought out a box from the room.
"Mommy, here is a gift for you."
Looking at the exquisite gift box in Sheryl's arms, Charlotte subconsciously assumed it was Anne's arrangement, but Anne looked rather dumbfounded.
With elation written all over her face, Sheryl looked at Charlotte giddily and urged, "Mommy, quick, open it, and have a look."
Following Sheryl's instructions, Charlotte opened the box and the jade-colored dress laying in it startled her.
"Mommy, I'm sure it will look good on you," Sheryl promised confidently.
Judging by the fabric of the dress, Charlotte had no doubt that this dress was worth quite a fortune.
She was not as pleased as Sheryl had imagined. Instead, she turned to speak to Sheryl with a straight face.
"Stand still. Where did you get the money to buy this dress?"
She knew that Sheryl had a habit of saving her pocket money by avoiding unnecessary spending, but the little allowance she gave her was far from enough to buy clothes.
Subsequently, Anne retrieved the dress and took a look at it. Realizing it was limited edition, she was at a loss for words.
Charlotte's demeanor turned Sheryl a little nervous. She squeezed her small hands together and asked, "Mommy, don't you like it?"
Her large, beady eyes softened Charlotte's heart, and she couldn't bear to blame her daughter. Still, thinking about her future, she could only maintain a straight face.
"I'm asking you whether you were the one who bought this dress."
Seeing the grim expression on her mother's face, Sheryl cowered slightly. "It was me. If mommy doesn't believe me, there's a handsome mister who can bear witness."
'Handsome mister?'
Charlotte and Anne exchanged a curious glance.
"What 'handsome mister'? Didn't Mommy instruct you never to take other people's things? Why are you so disobedient! What if he's a bad guy?" The more Charlotte thought about it, the more she felt that something was out of place. Her anger rose sharply.
Sheryl had never seen her mother so cross before. She couldn't help but break out in a wailing fit.
"I just wanted to buy a lovely dress for Mommy. Mommy is so beautiful, but the clothes you wear are old and worn. I didn't take anything from handsome mister. I really bought this one on my own." From NôvelDrama.Org.
Charlotte's heart suddenly ached for her, and she was overwhelmed with a mixture of many different emotions. Consumed by guilt, she pulled Sheryl into an embrace. "I'm sorry, Sheryl. Mommy shouldn't have lost my temper at you."