The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 248 A Similar Experience

Rachel forced a smile as she spoke to Edward, "Trust me when I say I totally understand your repressed guilt of being absent from Chris's life and your eagerness to make up to her. It is beyond reproach that I tried to settle this matter up in Dream Garden. I just handled it on your behalf. There's a blood tie between Chris and you, no matter she accepts it or not."

Rachel looked at Edward with a concerned expression. "Edward, you should consider the fact that my relationship with Chris is a constant downward spiral. It is only getting worse. How can I possibly live with her with these never-ending quarrels and misunderstanding after our wedding next month?"

"With our wedding in sight, it is in my sincerest hope that before our married days... I can patch up my relationship with Chris so as to spare you the drama. You should not have blamed me for all of that!" Edward instantly felt a pang of guilt for slapping Rachel across her face. He then pacified Rachel with assuring words, "Rachel, you... you should have dealt with this matter more patiently than usual. After all you did spoil my entire plan of approaching Chris in an amiable manner. Did you know that? I had it all down to the wire."

"I knew it, but all my actions were a deliberate attempt to help you." Rachel moved towards Edward, "Edward, I admit that I was being over-zealous to handle the situation, and...."

"I just have to let you know that I am so very sorry...." Rachel lowered her head gently and slowly as an apologetic gesture, "I really didn't expect it to make the situation worse."

"If this is the case, there is absolutely no point of you nurturing guilt in your heart. I appreciate the intention behind your action." Edward gave an affectionate and warm hug to Rachel, resigning himself to Rachel's disguised manipulative nature.

"Do you really forgive me?" With tears rolling down her cheeks, Rachel looked up to see Edward, "After careful consideration, I have a suggestion. As Chris now has a vague knowledge of her family background, why don't.... we pay a visit to Lu Family tomorrow to clear the matter with her. Maybe we can bring her home. Edward, what do you think?"

"This is our last resort to make up to Chris...." Edward sighed, "Now I pray for Chris's safety and health, otherwise, I would never forgive myself."

Rachel snuggled up to Edward, with hopes of Chris disappearing forever bubbling in her mind, however, in the presence of Edward, she tried to put up a disguise of concern: "You do not need to worry about Chris. I am sure she will be safe and sound."

Sam closely followed Chris since her escape from Dream Garden. He was still unaware of what had happened. As Chris parked her car along the road, Sam came closer to her in a bid to express his concern. "What's going on, Chris?"

"Sam, I am ok, I...... I just need some space to calm down and catch a breath. Please leave me alone." Even though Chris was on the verge of a nervous breakdown, she tried to compose herself and talked to Sam with sense and reason, "Sorry, today.. I am afraid I will not able to meet your parents and pay my respects to them."

"It doesn't matter. I have already told them about your absence over a call." Sam smiled as he comforted her, "Chris, you should know that I am your boyfriend who is there to share your sorrows and woes. You know what they say shared sorrow is half while shared joy is doubled with the right company!"

"Sam...."

." Chris forced a weak smile, "I appreciate your kindness, but.... my problem is beyond your understanding."

With Chris consistently choosing to keep her worries to herself, Sam decided to take her to a pub hoping she would release her pent-up feelings, "You are free to drink away your sorrows in my presence." "Thanks I think I will appreciate that..." Chris looked at Sam with gratitude. All she needed was to drown her sorrows and troubles in pitchers of alcohol.

Nearing midnight, Chris who was drunk beyond recognition was being escorted home by Sam. Autumn who was long anticipating Chris's return hastened downstairs at the sound of Chris's groaning. "How could Chris hit the bottle like this?" Autumn was overwhelmed by stench of booze as she helped Chris retire into her room with Sam.

Gary felt relieved upon seeing Chris return after a long period of apprehension.

"Sam, how much did Chris drink?" Autumn asked in a worried tone.

"Please don't worry and think much about it. Chris had a very low capacity for alcohol." Sam put the quilt over Chris, closed the door and expressed his doubt to Autumn, "Autumn, what on earth happened to Chris. She was unwilling to tell me what happened despite me urging her!"

"She...." Autumn sighed as she recalled the entire account of what happened to him, "Sam, do not worry about Chris. She is overburdened by the thought of her problem. And I truly believe she will be fine once I talk it over with her tomorrow."

"Ok, now I must take my leave. I will come over to see her tomorrow."

Autumn planned to leave by air tomorrow afternoon, so on the morrow, she prepared a cup of honey water for Chris as soon as she woke up. Autumn knocked on the door and entered the room without waiting for Chris's consent with the cup of honey water in her hand.

"Autumn." Chris had a throbbing headache owing to the hungover, she looked terrible and utterly wasted, "What's up?"

"I bring you a cup of honey water. Please drink a little to refresh yourself." Autumn handed the cup to Chris and asked affectionately, "Do you feel better now?"

"I am fine." Chris forced a faint smile. As she was more alert, the entire scene with her newly found family background began to crowd her mind.

"Your situation... I have been made aware of." Autumn edged toward Chris and spoke in a comforting tone, "Actually.... it is not that horrible. We will surely replace a way out."

"Autumn, I think you do not share this experience of mine, so my innermost feelings cannot be understood by you." Chris spoke with a pale smile.

Autumn was somewhat challenged, as she understood Chris's dilemma more than anyone else, because she was equally troubled by the entire ordeal, "I am fully aware of your problem. Actually... I was just informed that Doctor Zhao, who have cured my grandma, is actually my biological grandpa and Abby, who you've met several time....is my aunt."

"What... this is so shocking!" Chris tried to swallow her shock about the revelation. In that moment, she believed Autumn was in fact the perfect company, "Autumn, you are not kidding, right?"

"Of course not! What would I get by deceiving you this way?" Autumn tried to talk Chris into accepting her own family background, as how Autumn accepted hers gladly after the initial disbelief and shock. Autumn believed Chris would also overcome her worries soon.

"I was as disturbed as you are when I learned of my family background, with aversion to Zhao Family." Chris was attentive to know how Autumn dealt with her experience and pressed to know more, "What happened later?"

"Well...." Autumn forced a smile as she continued, "Chris, do you think Gary and Charles are kind to you?" "Definitely!" Chris replied instinctively, "The two of them are more kind to me than anyone else in this world."