The Substitute Bride

Sheryl was taken aback. She asked Sue in a doubting voice,"Are you very sure?" She paused, reflected and then said flatly,"Sue, you are reading too much into this. Perhaps they just look alike. Charlie told me he didn't have a father."

"Maybe you are right, Sheryl," Sue replied. Inhaling deeply, she said with a sigh,"I would pity the child if he were that man's son."

Sheryl decided to move on. "I'm going to have dinner with Charlie. Would you like to join us?" She invited Sue with a pleasant smile.

Sue shook her head as she lazily replied,"Much as I would love to, I think I will pass. I'm so very tired after several days of rehearsal. I need to get some rest."

"Well then, see you later!" Sheryl said giving a small, cheerful wave. She took Charlie's hand and walked briskly towards the door. Charlie turned around and courteously told Sue,"Goodbye, Aunt Sue!". Sue's face reddened when she heard Charlie call her "Aunt Sue".

As they walked out, a concerned Sheryl asked Charlie,"How did you get here? Does your mother know that you are here?" Frowning to herself, she thought, 'Although he is smarter than most kids, he is just a little child. It is dangerous to be out alone with the bad guys roaming the streets.'

Charlie looked up at Sheryl and proudly said,"I checked the route online before coming here. I boarded bus No.12 from the front of my house. I then got off and took bus No.7. After five stops I reached the hotel."

Sheryl stared at the boy, dumbfounded. 'He is such an amazing child. So logical and capable of handling himself when he is just three or four years old. I marvel at his mother. She has raised such an excellent child, ' she exclaimed inside.

Charlie had no idea what Sheryl was thinking. If he knew her thoughts, he would have told her that his intelligence had nothing to do with Leila.

Leila never paid much attention to his studies. He learned more from watching TV than from his mother.

In Shining Company

Leila stared anxiously at Charles' office door. These days she seldom saw or met Charles. He rarely came to the office. Even today he was coming only

heryl sent Charlie home after dinner. The boy was sitting on the couch watching TV when Leila and Charles arrived at her apartment.

As he parked his car, Charles was on his guard. Frowning, he asked,"Why did you bring me here?"

He had driven Leila to her apartment once before, so he recognized this place. He wondered, 'Leila told me she would show me the evidence. But it turns out that she brought me to her rental house. What game is she playing at?' he wondered warily.

"Don't tell me the great Charles Lu is afraid now? Come on!" Leila sneered in a mocking voice. "Don't worry. You are not drunk today, so I can't trick you to sleep with me or do anything else. I brought you here ony becasue I want to show you proof."

Perplexed, Charles furrowed his brows and followed Leila upstairs.

He was extremely curious about the proof Leila kept talking about.

"Charlie!" Leila called from outside her apartment. As she pushed the door open, she found Charlie watching his favourite cartoon. As she stared at his face, her lips curved into a triumphant smile.

She was confident that her plan would work. Her son looked so much like Charles.

Leila turned around and welcomed a waiting Charles,"Come in, please." She moved aside to let Charles hesitatingly enter. As soon as Charles entered the room, he caught a glimpse of the back side of Charlie's head and innocently asked,"Is this your son?"