The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 241 Isla’s Dilemma

Wendy clasped Autumn's hands and expressed her anxiety. "Autumn, thing are not what you think they are...."

"1

"Enough Wendy, stop making up things!" Autumn let go of Wendy's hands and expressed her contempt, "I have learned a lot from your tricks and they are no longer going to work on me. From now on, we are no longer family. Consider me dead and never let that get off your mind."

"Autumn..." Arthur stopped Autumn, "I don't want to be this harsh. However... if this is the only way to show you my pure intentions and that your grandmother and I really want to make up for everything."

"I know." Autumn nodded gently and said to Arthur, "But I can't decide right now, not like this. I need to think things through."

Autumn was already willing to meet Arthur and talk to him and she was trying her best to accept the truth, but this is too much information to process all at the same time.

After Autumn left, Wendy did not hide her displeasure at Arthur. "Arthur, you already ruined my life two decades ago. Now you are still here meddling with my business. There is no justification for you to bear such a grudge against me!"

"Sit down and let's talk." Arthur replied with a sarcastic laugh. Since the fake mask of friendliness had been ripped off, they might need to settle everything, once and for all.

"What on earth do you want?" Wendy was confident that her mask of good manners was necessary to please the Zhao family to whom she was to become a part of. However she couldn't figure out why Arthur hated her so much.

"Wendy, my son Bowen passed away because of you. But that was all in the past now. I came here only to remind you of the fact that Autumn is my granddaughter. If you still do something bad to her, expect a world of pain from me." Arthur would be powerless to deal with the situation had Charles not made it better for Autumn.

"And you think you can scare me like this?" Wendy let off a sarcastic laugh. In the past, she had to seek Arthur's approval, in all obedience. However, as time passed, she felt it less and less necessary to be meek and submissive in front of him, "I dare tell you that Autumn bears an inexorable bond with me. She should treat me with care and support that befits a daughter. It is my inherent right to expect that from her in the future."

"It seems that you are still bound to your delusion. You know well that this whole situation is to your disadvantage." Wendy was making a fool of herself and Arthur was rubbing it in. "If in the past you could do whatever you want to hurt Autumn, now I suggest that you think twice.... Autumn is Charles's wife and my granddaughter. You will get nowhere if you keep troubling Autumn. She now have the backing of two influential families." Arthur did tell the truth and his words carried weight.

"You... You are going to stand up for Autumn then?" This agitated Wendy.

"And why not?" Arthur replied with a cold smile, "She is my granddaughter who deserves my unwavering support and care!"

"Do not forget that I will, by all means, be hard on you if you trouble her again." Although Wendy is Autumn's mother, Arthur will not be considerate about it. After all.... Wendy was to blame for the untimely death of his son.

From the coffee shop, Autumn went straight to Cloud Advertising Company. She intended to work to get her mind off the complicated situation that she is suddenly a part of. Autumn ran into Isla at the entrance busy on a call. "Listen here! It is none of your business. I have more important matters to deal with. Do not call me unless it is a matter of life and death. Do you understand?"

Isla hung up the call, rolled her eyes to the ceiling and let out a silent scream. After she had let off some steam, she saw Autumn coming in her direction. "Autumn, I thought you were staying home. Why are you here?"

"Too bored to stay home and do nothing. I thought I should check on the proposal. How is that going, by the way?" Autumn asked.

"Nearly completed. Autumn, I am so sorry but I I have to leave and go on another blind date that my mother set up. I really hate it. But I have to go. See you later." Isla looked at her watch anxiously. "Another blind date? You just had one! How did that go?" Autumn was somewhat against such aimless blind dates. Since Joanna's recovery, Isla had been occupied with her job and blind dates.

Isla replied, "Thanks for reminding me! From the previous one, the guy was handsome and from a prominent family. But during our conversation, he had annoying references to his mothers. I couldn't stand it." Isla looked at her watch again "Anyway I have to go. I will discuss with you on the proposal when I come back in the afternoon."

"Ok." Autumn nodded gently. She went straight to her office and was about to check some reports when her phone rang. It was Charles. "Arthur told me you left the coffee shop. I thought maybe you went straight home and called there, only to learn that you weren't. So where are you now?"

"I am at work." Autumn felt at ease listening to Charles's voice over the phone, "I have to live up to your expectations, so I should be working hard."

Charles smiled by himself. "My original intention was to divert you rather than to tire you."

"I am fine. You do not need to worry about me." Autumn smiled gently, "I have to get back to work, goodbye for now."

Right after the call, Autumn tried her best to deal with the overload of tasks, however she was also laden with anxiety. Then Isla knocked on the door. She was back from her blind date. Time does fly really fast when you are preoccupied by so many things.

"I know that you forget to eat when you work. I brought you a meal, come and eat a little." Isla opened the food box with a smile and motioned for Autumn to join her.

Autumn massaged her head to refresh herself. She has not taken a good rest because of too many annoying things to deal with.

"So, how did it go. Did you meet your Mr. Right today?" Autumn tried to stir gossip while eating.

"You are gossiping even during a meal."

Isla looked at Autumn, with mild jealousy: "Frankly speaking, I admire your marriage and how Charles loves you beyond measure. I am dying to meet a good man like Charles!"

Autumn thought Aron was the one for Isla. On a second thought, she decided not to mention Aron before her, and gave her reassurance "A good girl like you are bound to replace your Mr. Right. You should wait and he will come to you one day. But I think that going on such endless and useless blind dates is not the best way to go."

"I am fully aware of the futility of blind dates!" Isla sighed and continued, "You are the luckiest to meet Charles despite being forced to do so. However I am too old to be in a position to choose the best man. I have to rely on blind dates."

"Isla, you...."

"

"I know what you want to say." Isla replied with a smile, "Now I must please my parents and go on blind dates arranged by them. Anyway there is nothing for me to lose. "

"Well, as long as you are happy. Now, about the proposal. I have to discuss it with you.." Isla changed the topic of their conversation "We could meet all the conditions in favor of Hoada Masahiro, though the resulting quotation would render us least profitable."

"Let me look over the proposal." Autumn dropped her chopsticks and dived into the proposal.