Ch. 1666..1670
Chapter 1666
The second floor was very spacious and offered a good view of the coast. Everyone was already seated and preparing to order
Sherry found a random seat for herself and tried to calm her restless beating heart.
There was a great tension threatening to implode within her. Her mind was racing and recalled the image of John and Caprice looking at her downstairs. She noticed how genuinely excited Caprice was to finally see her.
She must have hurt Caprice by choosing to ignore her, her heart was weighed with remorse. Her heart throbbed.
Even her employees noticed something off with her and expressed concern. “What’s wrong, President Sherry? Is everything okay?”
Sherry quickly composed herself and made up an excuse. “I haven’t been feeling very recently, but it's nothing to worry about. Go on, order something to eat, don’t mind me.”
well
“Alright, we just wanted to make sure that you’re okay. Are you still upset about what Miss Ada and the other two Sagers said about you back there?”
“Hehe... They are the ones who should be upset. Did you see the look on their faces back there?” “That’s true, ha!’
“We're lucky to have President Sherry on our side, they are measly ants compared to her.” Everyone was gossiping merrily, it was shaping up to be a good dinner.
Sherry smiled weakly, her mind was somewhere else.
Shortly after, a crew of waiters arrived with countless platters filled with barbecue,
seafood, drinks, and more.
Although Sherry was their superior, she was very down-to-earth and therefore had earned the respect and trust of her employees. They were all very fond of her.
The way that they all prioritized bringing food and drinks to Sherry’s plate before they began eating was a testament to her influence over them.
Sherry only took a handful of bites before she lost her appetite.
She suddenly got up and excused herself. “| need to use the bathroom, my stomach hurts. Enjoy the food everyone, no need to wait for me.”
With that, she hurried down the stairs.
Coincidentally, the crew of Ada, Aiden, and Caden were just coming up the stairs as well. Ada immediately scowled at the sight of Sherry.
Although Aiden and Caden were still upset, they flashed a practiced smile at her regardless. Aiden asked, “President Sherry, where are you going? | was just coming up to have a drink with you.”
Entertaining them was the last thing on her mind, so she quipped rather crossly. “I’m going to the toilet, are you going to follow me?”
Aiden was taken aback by this and answered dryly, “No, that’s alright, I'll wait for come back.” He courteously stepped aside to make way for Sherry.
Sherry darted past him and went down the stairs to the first floor.
Aiden scoffed behind her back, then he continued up the stairs.
Caden and the others followed him.
It was only Ada left in the middle of the stairway, she eyed Sherry suspiciously.
Why was she in such a rush to the toilet?
you
to
Besides, there was a toilet on the second floor, why did she have to go to the one on the
first floor?
Sherry arrived on the first floor.
She darted her eyes toward the table where she last saw John and Caprice.
They were still sitting there.
John was very vigilant and noticed her as soon as she stepped out of the stairway.
There was a brief look of shock in his eyes, then his lips curled, and smiled gently at her. Despite his soft temperament, Sherry felt nothing but terror.
She eyed the man warily, then she looked at Caprice who was in his arms.
The child was snacking on a piece of vanilla cake, taking tiny spoonfuls at a time. Judging by the look on her face, she did not seem to be in a good mood.
John gently stroked her hair and whispered something in her ears.
Immediately after that, Caprice turned toward Sherry, her eyes bulging with excitement. Sherry smiled stiffly. Caprice’s eyes lit up, she looked like she was trying to suppress every cell in her body from calling out after her mother.
Sherry quickly approached them.
Chapter 1667
Sherry observed the sullen look on Caprice’s face and greeted her rather rigidly. It had been a while since her sudden disappearance. “Hey, Caprice. It’s Mommy.”
Caprice answered stiffly, “I know.”
Sherry explained, “I’m sorry about just now, it wasn’t intentional.”
Caprice’s eyes quivered. “Okay.”
She seemed appeased, even if just mildly.
Sherry wanted to take Caprice into her arms but was very reluctant because John was holding her.
It was uncomfortable enough for her just to be in John’s presence. She could not stomach having to get another inch closer to the man.
She frowned and looked at Caprice longingly.
She tried to pluck whatever courage she had left in her to approach John to take Caprice when suddenly, John himself released Caprice.
He ruffled the child's head and urged her, “Go on, go to Mommy.”
He said this as he looked at Sherry. There was something different about him now.
Sherry frowned and averted her gaze as she turned to Caprice.
As soon as permission was given, Caprice took off on her short legs and ran toward Sherry. Sherry bent over and took Caprice into her arms and hugged her as tight as she could.
She was immediately filled with an urge to cry when she felt the familiar warmth of Caprice against her body. The softness of her skin and the smell of hair brought back memories from another time.
She walked out of the restaurant with Caprice.
They walked down the beach, her attention was fixed on Caprice the entire time. “Caprice, my baby, I’m so sorry, Mommy shouldn’t have ignored you just now.”
Caprice was a sweetheart, she looked into Sherry’s eyes and saw how sorry she was to have done that. She pardoned her graciously. “It’s alright, Mommy.”
She gently brushed Sherry’s eyes with her fingers and consoled her. “Mommy, don’t cry.” Sherry smiled. “I’m not crying because I’m sad, I’m just so happy to finally see you.” Caprice smiled.
She was just as cute as Sherry remembered her.
Sherry planted countless kisses on her cheeks.
Caprice returned the favor and kissed her mother’s cheeks repeatedly as well.
Sherry smiled from ear to ear, she was filled with joy.
They had reached the beach by this point and sat down on the smooth surface of the sand. Caprice rested cozily in Sherry’s arms and asked with a tinge of worry, “Mommy, are you going to be busy again?” Sherry assured her. “No, not right now.”
“Why don’t you come home with me and Daddy?”
Sherry did not know how to react.
Caprice nuzzled against her neck and said, “I miss you so much.”
Sherry felt a throb in her chest. “And | miss you very much too, Caprice.”
She could hardly fall asleep at night without Caprice, she looked at her pictures every night.
Caprice tried to persuade her. “Then come home with us, Mommy. We can be together every day.”
Sherry winced at the suggestion, she fell silent.
It was impossible for her to go back.
She refused to have anything to do with John again for the rest of her life.
However, there was a silver lining. Caprice was in Coastroack.
An idea came to Sherry.
After a while, she said, “Caprice, Mommy has no choice but to stay here. I’m probably never going to go back.” Caprice was saddened to hear this.
Sherry quickly offered an alternative. “But there’s another solution for you to be together with Mommy forever.” Caprice’s eyes grew wide at the prospect and asked curiously, “How?”
Sherry announced gleefully, “You don’t have to go back, you can live here with me.”
Caprice was caught off guard by this proposal.
Suddenly, a chuckle broke out from behind them. Standing only two meters behind them was John.
Sherry spun around the moment she heard his familiar voice.
John asked with a wry smile, “So, you want Caprice to stay in Coastrock with you?”
Chapter 1668
Chapter 1668 Sherry frowned and looked at him warily, her voice was brittle and icy. “Yes.”
Coastrock was essentially her territory. Since John had brought Caprice here and handed her over on a silver platter, she would be foolish to not seize the opportunity.
John observed her intently.
Sherry peered behind him to ensure that he had no bodyguards accompanying him.
Without warning, she lifted Caprice off her feet and prepared to run away.
It was now or ever, she was taking Caprice.
“Sure,” John said suddenly.
Sherry was caught off-guard by this. She did a double take and questioned her hearing for a second, "What did you say?" "| said okay, you can keep Caprice here." John confirmed that she had not misheard.
Sherry was not expecting this so she looked at John skeptically.
Why would he be so gracious?
Even if Madam Stockton had woken up and revealed to him that everything that happened was perpetrated by Julie, this was an unreasonable maneuver. Even if he realized that he was the one in the wrong this entire time, would he truly be willing to give up on Caprice?
John noticed the thoughts racing through her mind and said, “If Caprice is staying here, then so am I. All three of us will relocate to Coastrock.”
Sherry scowled at him.
She objected adamantly. “Go back to where you came from, | just want Caprice."
John smirked. “And what if | want to stay here?”
"Then I'll have someone chase you out of the city! ”
John smirked and immediately grew bold and cocky. “I'd like to see you try.’
Sherry sensed danger so she pulled Caprice closer toward her and prepared to take off.
John barely moved in spot and did not seem worried about Sherry getting away from his clutches at all. He suddenly stoically warned her. "Just so you know, | have ten bodyguards hiding in cover around this area right now. The moment you try to run, they will get you and bring you back to me.”
Sherry hesitated. She became furious and hissed sharply. “You b*stard, what the hell do you want from me?” John’s demeanor suddenly switched, he had grown stern and solemn. "! want you to come back to me."
Night had fallen upon them, the sea breeze was getting stronger and tossed Sherry’s hair over her shoulders. Caprice’s tiny braid danced in the air like a string while strands of hair spilled across her forehead.
The only source of light came from the streetlights adjacent to the beach. Tiny spots of light reflected in John’s eyes, he stood unyielding and seemed genuine in his intention of wanting Sherry back to his side.
Sherry was baffled by this display and broke out laughing.
“Hehe.” She collected herself and asked, "Young Master Stockton, you want me to come back to you? Do you think | have a death wish?”
Go back with him? Just so she could be imprisoned like a slave and be subjected to endless torture! John frowned and expressed sullenly, "| misjudged the situation back then.”
Sherry roared sharply. “Stop telling me about the past!"
John obliged. “Alright, | won't mention it." Sherry glared at him sharply. “And | don't ever want to see you again!”
This was not the first time she had said this. She had expressed the same sentiment back when she split her head and had blood gushing out like a faucet! Yet, this man had mocked her then and refused to take her to the hospital. She would rather die than go back with him!
Meeting him was the worst thing to have ever happened to her in this lifetime! John grimaced sourly, his eyes still fixed on her. Sherry’s irritation grew with every passing second, she wanted to cuss him out and tell him to move out of her way.
Before she could hurl a string of obscenities at him, Caprice suddenly interjected for the very first time. "Mommy, stop being so mean to Daddy.”
Sherry immediately stifled the boiling rage in her. Caprice turned to Sherry, her eyes watering. "Daddy misses you too, please don’t chase him away.”
She did not know what happened between her parents nor could she fully comprehend the exchange the two had, but one thing she knew was that her mother seemed terrifying just now when she was screaming at her father.
Sherry took a deep breath and adjusted the pitch of her voice to a gentle whisper, "Caprice, I'm sorry, did Mommy scare you?" Caprice nodded.
“It wasn’t intentional, Mommy promised to stop being mean to Daddy.” She assured Caprice.
Chapter 1669
Chapter 1669 Caprice pouted softly. “Okay.”
Sherry took a deep breath to calm her nerves. She ignored John entirely and proceeded to sit on the sand again as if nothing had happened.
Caprice lay quietly in her arms and looked at her with her large, pearly eyes, then she cast a glance at John who was standing nearby.
He was not up to anything at all. He only stood motionlessly and stared at Sherry’s figure from behind. Caprice frowned.
She did not know what went wrong between her parents.
She asked Sherry directly, “Mommy, did you fight with Daddy?”
Sherry seemed affected by this question and answered with a faint smile, “No, we didn’t fight.”
This only filled Caprice with more questions. “Then why were you so angry at Daddy?”
Sherry wanted to tell her that things were more complicated than a simple fight.
He tried to kill her.
She knew better than to blurt out something that would cause her to worry and said, “You wouldn’t understand even if Mommy told you. One day you'll get it when you’re older.”
There was not much else Caprice could say to refute this point, but she was still trying to remedy the situation. “Could you please make up with Daddy and not be angry at him. anymore?”
Her voice was angelic and soothing as always. Standing a short distance behind them, John’s expression suddenly shifted.
Sherry looked at Caprice, deep with emotions, and told her, “Mommy promises to stop being mean to Daddy, but | can’t promise that we'll make up.”
Caprice was upset by this. “Why can’t you make up?”
“It's very complicated, you wouldn’t understand even if | told you.” Caprice’s dejected reaction made Sherry feel guilty for being so blunt. She gently patted Caprice’s head and tried to console her. “But you don’t have to worry at all, Mommy will always love you.
This was not enough to console Caprice, she whimpered, “But | want Mommy and Daddy to make up.”
Sherry grimaced and did not answer.
It was impossible for her and John to reconcile their differences. She chose to remain silent to not hurt Caprice’s feelings. After failing to get a proper response from Sherry, Caprice sighed faintly.
Adults were so complicated.
She lowered her head to the ground and began drawing circles on the sand to distract herself, she looked entirely downcast. Meanwhile, John’s figure was still towering over them.
When he looked at Sherry’s figure, the light in his eyes dimmed.
They would never make up?
She had gone and said it so bluntly to Caprice of all people. This was proof of how unsalvageable the situation was.
It did make sense, however.
The first time he wronged her was nine years ago. Then, three years ago he had her locked up in the house for more than a year. The straw that broke the camel's back was the recent episode where his actions had almost led to her being burned alive. He thought that if he was in Sherry’s shoes, he would feel the same hatred.
It only made sense that she hated him with all her being.
It was unreasonable to blame her for not wanting to make up after all that had happened. Despite all that, he was not going to let her cut him out of her life completely.
Don’t even think about getting married to another man!
Nobody said anything for a long time and at one point, he sat on the beach as well. Sherry joined Caprice and played around in the sand.
John smiled as he watched the pair of mother and daughter enjoying their little games.
The entire time, Ada was hiding from a safe distance and witnessed the entire interaction between John and Sherry. She grew wide-eyed as she watched Sherry play with Caprice in her arms and John sitting behind them.
She had never met John and Caprice, but when she followed Sherry after she went downstairs, she overheard Caprice calling Sherry her mother. She had heard the things Sherry said to the man.
If her assumptions were correct, that child in Sherry’s arms was her daughter and that unfathomably handsome man was his ex— husband!
This entire time, Sherry was married and had a daughter! The implications were clear, she could feel her heart beating faster, and she found herself grinning devilishly from ear to ear without realizing it.
As it was, she was already testing Madam Sager’s patience. If everyone in the family found out that she was married and had a daughter this entire time, she could say goodbye to her chances of ever being part of the Sagers!
Chapter 1670
Ding!
Sherry was building blocks of sand with Caprice when the phone in her pocket rang.
It was one of her employees calling her, they were probably wondering where she had been this entire time. Caprice heard the phone ring as well and promptly stopped playing as she cast a
ruminative look at her mother.
She did not want them to part just yet.
Sherry wanted to prolong their time together as much as she could as well. She picked up the call and promptly informed, “Hey, something urgent came up so I’m going to have to leave early, no need to wait for me.”
Her employees were understandably disappointed to hear this and expressed, “But President Sherry, we haven't even got the chance to drink with you yet.”
Sherry smiled faintly and said, “Sorry, I’m not feeling well today. | don’t think I'd be able to drink with you all even if | didn’t have to leave early.”
“Alright then, be careful and make sure you get home early and get a good rest.”
“Sure, have fun and remember to send the bill to me.”
n
She hung up after that and gazed into Caprice’s marbly eyes that were looking back into hers as if caught in a trance. She asked worriedly, “Mommy, are you not feeling well?”
Sherry eased her worries with a quick smile. “Don’t worry, Mommy is very healthy, | just had to make up an excuse so they understand why | can’t go drinking with them.”
Caprice was relieved to hear this.
Sherry’s heart melted when she noted how much affection Caprice had for her. She lifted Caprice in the air and planted a kiss on her cheeks. “Come on, Caprice, let’s build a sand castle.”
Caprice gleefully obliged.
They continued playing in the sand, ignoring John’s presence the entire time although he was just a short distance behind them. John silently gazed at Sherry and observed her frail figure, his brows tightened.
The two continued playing until late into the night.
Most of the tourists on the beach were gone by this point.
Caprice was exhausted from playing and had fallen asleep in Sherry’s arms.
Sherry sat on the beach and quietly stared at the rolling tides. She wanted this moment to last forever.
That was until John interrupted her moment by approaching her.
She instinctively tightened her grip around Caprice and was immediately on guard as she eyed John cautiously.
John did not seem offended by this and instead told her, “It’s getting late, you should take Caprice back and get some rest.” Sherry was taken aback by this.
John smirked tauntingly. “What? You don’t want to take her?”
Sherry immediately rose and asked again just to be sure, “You want me to take Caprice back home with me? Are you sure about that?”
John smiled briskly and assured her. “Yes, I’ll come pick her up when you go to work tomorrow.”
Having received permission from John, there was no way Sherry was going to let go of Caprice now. She immediately walked off the beach.
John trailed behind her, keeping a respectable distance.
He walked Sherry until she reached her car and put Caprice in the passenger seat. After that, he returned to his car and the two vehicles headed back to Sherry’s place, with John acting as an escort.
After their tail lights were no longer visible from the parking lot, several figures emerged from the shadows. Ada smiled cunningly and said with a tint of excitement in her voice, “Aiden, Caden, did you two see what | see?”
Aiden and Caden were hiding in the bushes with her as well. They gazed in the direction where the cars drove off and looked delightfully surprised by what they had witnessed as well.
Aiden smiled and expressed, “I can’t believe it, she was married and had a daughter this entire time!”
Caden stuffed his phone back in his pocket, he had made sure to take several pictures as evidence. He suddenly raised a curious point. “Why were they driving separately though?”
Ada speculated. “If that man is her ex-husband, then | suppose he drove here himself to bring their daughter to meet her mother. They were probably trying to be careful because they didn’t want to be seen together.”
Caden seemed wholly convinced by this line of reasoning. Ada prompted. “You two have to hurry up and tell everyone about this, especially Grandma and Uncle.”
She wagered that by tomorrow, everyone in the Sager family would have caught up on this shocking discovery.