The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 1474 Dad's Accompany

"Hi, I'm Cassie. I'm a friend of Isla. We've known each other for-"

Before Cassie could finish her words, Isla came out of the restroom and stood by the doorway. "Cassie? Why are you here?" Isla asked in surprise.

"Isla, I'm here for work of course. It's my shift today. By the way, what's up with you? Why are you in the hospital? Is there anything wrong? Do you feel uncomfortable? What happened? Let me check your vital signs," Cassie asked a series of questions so quickly that Isla couldn't even answer any of them. After a while, Cassie walked towards Isla with a tray in her hands. She put the tray on the bedside table and stood beside Isla.

"I just have a stomachache. It's nothing new, I'm used to it. But it suddenly became serious last night. It hurt so much that I didn't sleep for almost the whole night. I was so tired, so I went to the hospital." Isla had finally answered Cassie's questions from a while ago. Then, Isla beckoned Cassie to come closer, as if she was going to tell a secret. "Cassie, have you seen Aron? You've heard a lot about him, but you've never met him yet, right? How did it feel to meet someone like him? Were you disappointed?" Isla teased her on purpose.

A slight blush appeared on Cassie's cheeks. "Aron is such a nice and handsome man. How could I be disappointed with meeting him? Isla, I think you've gotten the right man for you. He's a keeper!" Meanwhile, Aron, who was still there, heard the jokes between the two women. He felt so shy and embarrassed in front of them, but he couldn't leave because the two ladies talked nice things about him. It was going to be rude if he left so suddenly.

"Isla, I think you haven't had breakfast yet, so I think you should eat something first before I give you a thorough check," said Cassie. "Good. I just washed up and went straight here so I didn't have the time for breakfast.

How about you? Did you have your breakfast? How about we have some together?" Isla asked. "That's nice, but no thank you. I'm on my shift. I'm not allowed to eat while working.

What are you doing, Isla? You're tempting me to break the rules!" Cassie said with a laugh. "Really now? But maybe you're right. I can't let you have trouble with management.

Alright then, I'll have breakfast first. Please wait a moment for me, my dear doctor," Isla said and smiled. Isla stretched a bit and walked towards the dining table. Aron had already prepared the tableware, and was carefully pouring fish soup into Isla's bowl.

When Isla was seated, Aron handed her the bowl of soup and said, "Be careful. Eat it slowly. It's still hot." He smiled and sat as well. Although the air was a bit awkward, his actions were all natural to him. "Okay, got it," Isla said softly.

On the other hand, Cassie looked at them as they ate. They reminded her of the time when she was with Nick.

'At that time, Nick and I sat together at the same table like them. We would have meals together and talk about new things in our lives. But it was I who filled his bowl with the dish he liked and often reminded him to be careful of the hot soup.

When I did all those things, I thought it was natural. I didn't feel that it wasn't right. But now, when I see how Aron treats Isla, I realizes that my relationship with Nick was unfair. All those times, Nick had never taken care of me. I can see that now in the small details in our lives. I did a lot of things for him, but he never did anything for me. It was always a one-sided path.

Everything I've done for him is now in vain, but I can't blame anyone for that. I have to blame myself for being so blind then,' Cassie thought.

A soft, bitter laugh escaped her lips as she looked away.

In the Lu family's house

The sun was barely out yet, but Charles and Sheryl were already up. They walked towards the children's room with their hands clasped together. They wanted to wake the Clark and Shirley up. After Sheryl opened the door, she didn't expect Clark to be up already. He sat on the edge of the bed. He didn't look like he had just woken up as his eyes were clear. It seemed like he had woken up earlier than them or he didn't sleep well that night.

Charles and Sheryl couldn't imagine that their son didn't get to sleep that night, especially Sheryl. She walked quickly towards her son and sat beside him, her arm placed around his body. "My little prince, why are you up so early today?" Sheryl asked softly. Her eyes were full of love and care as she looked at her child.

Just like what she guessed, Clark didn't get to sleep long that night. He had a nightmare. When he tried to sleep again, the nightmare came back. He dreamed of getting kidnapped, while his mother and sister were beaten up by his grandmother.

In his dream, he wanted to save his mother and sister, but he felt wisp-like tendrils restrict him. They entangled his whole body and held him so tight that he couldn't move a step. He tried to escape, but the more he tried, the tighter the tendrils held him.

When all was in vain, he could only sit on the ground and watch his mother and sister get beaten in defeat. He lost all his strength, and his tears flowed down his cheeks.

Then suddenly, his nightmare stopped. He woke up from the dream, but his face was pale and he still felt the fear. He sat up on the bed and began to breathe fast. The terror and sense of powerlessness felt so real that Clark thought he couldn't get away from them even when he was up.

He decided that he wouldn't tell his mother, or else she'd be so worried about him.

"I was thinking that I'm going to school today, so I have to get up early," Clark calmly answered Sheryl. However, some of his actions gave him away.

Clark didn't notice it, but his mother did. He scratched the bed sheet with the nail of his little finger.

It was a sign that he wanted to comfort himself and reduce his anxiety, so he did that.

Sheryl had always been a careful and observant mother, so she wouldn't miss Clark's small habits.

She figured that Clark was trying to hide his anxiety in order to comfort her. A lump formed in her throat, so she couldn't say anything at all. Finally, she managed a smile and said nothing.

'If Clark doesn't want to talk about it, then I won't ask him again. I will never let Melissa abuse him and Shirley in the future, no matter what,' Shirley thought.

"Alright, then. Clark and Shirley, you both get up from bed and brush your teeth. I will send you to school after breakfast," Shirley said. Somehow, Shirley was able to speak softly and calmly. Charles' head popped up from the door out of the blue. "Dad is also here, I will go with you," he said with a laugh.

Sheryl saw what Charles did, and felt so attracted to him. Charles was like the boy who lived next door and was secretly loved by all the young girls in the street. He had an energetic and bright smile that it seemed like he could stay young forever. Sheryl realized that by just looking at him, she couldn't help but smile happily. He was like a star, the light that illuminated her life.

"No! I don't want Dad! Dad only loves working. He doesn't love us!" Shirley complained.

She jumped next to Charles and pretended to accuse her father of something. Her lips formed an angry pout and her hands went up wildly in the air, like she wanted to strangle her father's neck. Charles laughed bitterly. He also put on a sad face and told Shirley, "But Dad needs to work so that Dad can give you a better life."

Shirley looked at his face and she felt like she was going to cry. "But I think if I can see Dad and Mom every day, that will be the best life. Dad, can you be less busy? Can you be with me and Clark for a longer time?" she lamented.

Guilt and affection filled Charles at Shirley's words. He was busy with the company's cases that for some time, and had indeed forgotten to take care of his family. He thought that he could make it up to Clark and Shirley in some other way, but at that time, he realized that nothing was more important than he staying with them.

'That's right. Their childhood is only for a couple of years. By the time they grow up, maybe they won't need my company anymore,' Charles thought to himself.