The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 356 Down Payment Only

Exasperated, Aron said, "I already told you I bought the house myself!"

He couldn't believe how difficult it was to talk to Albert's family. It was as if the people he was talking to were crazy.

Fiona kept needling him. "Who knows?

Word of mouth is never a guarantee." Her next words left Mike and Joanna with no alternative. "Father, Mother, we want to make this easy for you. You either allow us to live here, in this house or... you buy a house for us. Those are your only choices." Looking at the couple with a glint in her eye, she added, "The decision is yours."

Before either one could reply, Fiona quickly ordered Colin, "Take your luggage upstairs and choose a room."

He said okay and proceeded to follow his mother's order, lugging his heavy bags up the stairs. Seeing their family quarrel always upset Mike and Joanna. How they wished everyone would just get along with one another! But since that was not likely to happen, they knew the only solution to prevent fights was to buy a house for Albert and Fiona.

Before Mike or Joanna could speak, Aron raised his hand and said, "Okay, I want to make a proposition..."

He glanced at his grandparents before turning to his uncle and aunt. "You can go buy a house you like. And I will take care of the down payment. However, the rest of the payment will be your responsibility." Aron didn't want to put Mike and Joanna in a difficult position, so he made a compromise. 'If a house must be bought, so be it. But I will not allow my grandparents to pay for it!

Contrary to what they may be thinking, my grandparents do not have a lot of money. "Down payment?" Albert blurted out. "You have got to be kidding!"

His face turned pale just thinking about owing money. A life in debt was something he would not be able to endure.

Fiona, however, decided to play it smart. "Okay."

She patted Albert's arm to assure him. "Aron wants to buy a house for us to show respect. We had better accept his kindness." To her nephew, she said, "We will look for a house tomorrow." "All right, "Aron nodded to acknowledge her. He hoped things were settled and there would soon be peace.

Albert, Fiona, and Colin headed upstairs. Colin wanted to stay in Aron's bedroom, so he asked his cousin, "Could you let me sleep in your room? Anyway, it is just for one night." Fiona further pushed and said, "Be considerate with your family. We are your guests after all."

Her statement made Aron snap. "Guests, are you?

So now you realize you are just guests," he said with disdain.

"You've been living abroad for too long. Have you never heard of the saying that guests should never impose on the host?"

Aron held his temper in check but stressed every word. "I'm warning you. If you do not want to be thrown out of this house, you had better take your things out of my bedroom." Sensing Aron was serious, Fiona blurted, "Oh, just forget it!"

She pulled at Colin and said, "There is no need to quarrel with him. Besides, we will have our own house by tomorrow."

Colin was annoyed and grudgingly took his luggage out of Aron's room, then moved his stuff to a smaller bedroom.

When they were in bed getting ready to sleep, Albert complained to his wife. "Why did you stop me from arguing with Aron about him paying for just the down payment of our house?" Still bristling, he declared, "I cannot accept living like a destitute. He should pay that in full!"

Fiona patted her husband. "There's no need to worry."

She shared her plan. "Tomorrow, we will ask your parents to go check out houses with us. Do you actually think they will refuse to pay for the house if Aron was not around to interfere?" Fiona said. She was confident they would not even have to wrangle over cost, knowing how soft-hearted Albert's parents were. She thought, 'If we beg them, they will easily be persuaded.'

After careful consideration, Albert smiled a little. "You're right. They will definitely pay for the house."

He realized that Fiona's plan made sense. Although his parents tended to favor Aron, they could not turn down their own son.

'Whatever I want, they will get for me,' he thought smugly.

Albert rubbed Fiona's shoulder and was satisfied with the plan. "Let's get some sleep. We will be busy looking at houses tomorrow,

Fiona said while yawning.

The next morning, Aron was up early as usual. As he headed downstairs, his phone rang. It was Isla calling. "Aron, how are you?" she asked.

"I called last night but you didn't answer. Was something wrong with you?"

Aron squeezed his eyes shut for a moment then assured Isla, "Nothing's wrong. I'm okay."

He decided to set her mind at ease. "I was busy handling business matters. By the time I finished, it was very late. So I didn't call you back. I'm sorry. But really, there's nothing to worry about."

Isla accepted the explanation and felt relieved.

Aron let out a silent "whew" when she calmed down.

He was still upset with Albert's family and actually brightened up when he heard Isla's voice. Being cared for and loved definitely made him feel better. "Wait for me after work. I'll pick you up and we can have dinner together, "Aron invited.

"Looking forward to that," Isla said then hung up.

That put Aron in a better mood.

But no sooner had he put the phone down when he heard Colin's disgusting voice. "Was that your girlfriend?"

Colin continued to annoy him. "You two sound really close."

Aron could feel anger bubbling inside him and frowned as his cousin went on. "I heard you broke up with Becky. What a pity! How could you let go of someone so lovely and pretty?"

Colin still could not resist taunting Aron and said, "I'm curious about the kind of woman worth giving up such a beauty for."

He threw Aron an inquiring look.

Aron took a deep breath then seriously declared, "It's none of your business. So stay out of my personal affairs."

Colin shrugged and kept quiet. At the dining room, Fiona had laid out a feast for breakfast that she had prepared. When she heard their footsteps, she called out, "Aron! Colin! Come have breakfast." Joanna was only too happy to see Fiona's domesticated side. Her daughter-in-law had apparently shaken off the unhappy episode the night before. The elder woman had been wishing to sit down with her family over a meal and just chat. It had been far too long since there was bustling around the house, and people were happy.

But Aron knew it was all for show. "No, I won't be having breakfast," he said. 'As the saying goes, there's no free lunch; everyone pays for their own way, ' he muttered under his breath.

"Aron!" Fiona called out sharply. She went around the table and pulled her nephew so he could look at her. "Aron, I know you don't like me. But we're still family. And since breakfast is ready, why don't you do me a favor and have some with us. However much you take, I will be grateful."

"Yes, Aron," Joanna tried to persuade her grandson. "Your aunt has been cooking breakfast since 4:00 am. Don't refuse her kindness," she implored.

Joanna motioned Aron to a chair and said smiling, "Look, your aunt has made your favorite small wontons."

After several seconds, he pulled a chair and sat down. He would take the opportunity to figure out Fiona's motive.

She wasted no time. "Aron, there's something I want to tell you."

He looked at his aunt, thinking, 'Here it comes...' Even before he could enjoy the wonton, Fiona said, "Last night, you agreed..."

She paused, tried to be polite, and continued, "If you insist on keeping your promise about the house, we are going out to look for one today."

As unpleasant as he felt, he answered gruffly, "Don't worry, I will keep my word about giving the down payment for the house."

He was willing to spend money if it meant Albert and his family would leave as soon as possible.

"It's a deal!" Fiona said happily.

She was quick to add, "By the way, why don't you take Colin to work with you today? Then see that he learns about the company. After all, he will one day take over running it, too. Managing the company alone all the time is just impossible, right?"

Feeling more confident now, she declared, "Colin doesn't have to accompany us. Father and Mother will come with us instead to look at houses."