The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 114 Private Chat

Autumn was about to turn around and leave when she heard a familiar voice come from behind her. "Ye, why don't you come upstairs?"

"I was just passing by." Autumn smiled at Leila who was standing behind her. Several days passed and Leila had changed completely. Leila had behaved and dressed in an innocent manner before, but now, she looked different. Now, she was more like Yvonne.

Besides, the expression in her eyes was different.

"Why're you here?" asked Autumn indifferently. "I don't think you're off duty at this time of a day."

"Mr. Lu said he would be working late tonight, so he asked me to buy some food for him." Leila gave Autumn a big smile. "Mr. Lu doesn't know how to take good care of himself. He asked me to buy some bread, but he needs real food. Am I right, Ye?"

Autumn remained silent. She frowned when noticed Leila talking about Charles, glowing with happiness, just like Yvonne.

"Ye, are you with me?" Leila patted Autumn on her shoulder. "What's wrong? Are you all right?" asked Leila.

"I'm fine," said Autumn, shaking her head. "Aren't you gonna buy food for Mr. Lu? Go ahead."

Autumn felt convoluted. She felt uncomfortable when women talked about Charles like that.

"I almost forgot that," said Leila. She checked time on her wristwatch and said, "I should be leaving. I heard that a new restaurant nearby had just recently opened, offering some really delicious porridge. I might have to wait in line if I'm late. See you later."

Before she went too far, Leila looked back and shouted, "Ye, I haven't expressed my thanks to you for helping me with my work. When I have time, let's grab dinner together."

Autumn felt a strange sense of alienation and disappointment as she watched Leila disappear into the distance.

In the past, those matters wouldn't have affected her, because she knew that she would leave Charles sooner or later. Now that they had established a more intimate relationship, she wanted to see herself standing beside him more openly in the eyes of the public.

She hated the fact that Charles's assistant was the one to buy food for him.

When she got back home, she found that Chris was already there. Nancy had cooked dinner for Gary and Chris only. She frowned when she saw Autumn coming home, but she still greeted Autumn respectfully. "My lady, since you haven't told me that you would be coming home for dinner, so I...".

"Never mind, I'm not hungry." Although Autumn felt uncomfortable about Nancy treating her like that, she still forced a smile on her face and greeted Gary and Chris politely. Then, she went upstairs. Chris blocked her way upstairs. "Yvonne, can we have dinner outside? I want to ask you something," asked Chris sincerely.

"Alright," answered Autumn. She agreed hesitantly.

Chris chose a hot pot restaurant for them. Due to the high temperature indoors, Autumn took off her coat and scarf. Chris smiled wryly at sight of the marks on her neck.

Autumn shot an embarrassed glance at Chris sitting opposite to her. In her mind, she blamed Charles for his recklessness.

After they ordered the food, Autumn poured a glass of orange juice for Chris and asked, "Why are we here? Tell me what you want to know."

Chris hesitated for a moment before she opened her mouth and asked, "Yvonne, I apologize for misunderstanding you. I'm really sorry."

"Don't mention it. We're a family and we should look after each other," said Autumn, with a soft smile on her face. "Besides, I know why you did that in the first place. No girl would like it if her lover had another woman in his heart."

Chris put on a bitter smile and said in a soft voice, "Yvonne, do you know that I fell in love with Sam at first sight? I wanted to see him, so I tried to approach him in every possible way. When he got sick, I took good care of him. Besides, I even went as far as playing up to his mother. My naivety caused me the belief that one day he would realize that I was there for him, always."

She stopped for a moment and continued, "But later I came to realize that he was in love with another woman, a woman whom he would never forget or let go, no matter how long it took." Chris smiled wryly. She had never expected Sam to be in love with her sister-in-law. Due to this reason, she couldn't be mad at neither Sam nor Autumn.

"Chris, my conscience is clean. I have nothing to do with Sam," said Autumn hastily, trying to explain herself. "Sam's a good guy, and I actually think that you both have a lot in common. If you love him, please don't give up on him under any circumstances."

She smiled and added, "As for his infatuation with me, it will be gone sooner or later. Trust me on that."

"I believed that before," said Chris, disappointed. "But unfortunately, I have tried hard and failed. From now on, I might have to give up on him. I no longer want to delude myself with thinking that he will love me."

After the small chat with Autumn last night, for the first time, Chris realized that she was deeply in love with Sam. Now that the woman Sam loved was married, she was willing to give him another chance. So she bared her heart to Sam. However, she was refused by him ruthlessly and conscientiously.

She thought she would be utterly disappointed. On the contrary, she was relieved from the burden of love.

"Yvonne, I believe my relationship with Sam has come to an end. From now on, we're just friends. There will be no love involved," said Chris, as she winked at Autumn. "If possible, you and Charles can introduce me some eligible guy. I'm old enough to get married and start my own family."

"Have you completely given up on him already?" asked Autumn with admiration. Chris had chosen to forget her love for Sam. She had attempted to win his heart, but failed. Now it was time to move forward. "What else can I do?" Chris smiled bitterly. "I have already invested too much on Sam. I tried hard, but he never loved me. There's no need for me to look for any more trouble. Besides, It's time for me to move on and replace someone else."

The young people always think of love above anything else. When they get older, they will desire for a more stable relationship and the harmonious family life.

Sam could give her neither, so she had chosen to give up.

"In that case, as far as I'm concerned, you better resign from HKind Group so that you don't feel uncomfortable meeting him there again." Autumn's proposal was refused by Chris. "I know both you and my brother want me to work for Shining Company. But as I have said before, my ambitions and specialty fit the requirements of HKind Group. So I won't quit."

Autumn sighed at Chris's stubbornness, and decided to drop the topic. "Since you have made up your mind, I won't hold you back. Whatever you want to do, you have my full support," she said.