The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 408 Mystery Man (Part One)

Autumn stood firm. "Just take it, please. And it's getting late so you'd better get some rest." Then she stood up and headed towards the kitchen, which was her original plan.

Nancy wondered why Autumn really came down. "What do you need, Mrs. Lu?" she asked. Autumn's generosity made her feel somewhat guilty.

"Oh, I was just going to heat some milk, "Autumn replied. She turned to look at Nancy and said, "We are family, Nancy. So, if you're ever in any kind of trouble, we'd like to know. Charles and I will do all we can to help you."

Nancy nodded and said, "All right." She put the red envelop inside her pocket, bowed and thought, 'While this money is not nearly enough, it is still better than nothing.' Nancy decided to assist Autumn.

"Mrs. Lu, let me heat the milk for you," she offered. She hurried to the kitchen. Then she secretly took out a small packet of powder from her pocket. Hesitating for several seconds, she then sprinkled it into Autumn's milk.

'Autumn, I didn't do it on purpose,' she thought to herself.

'I need money to pay that man, otherwise...' Nancy frowned slightly.

Autumn took over the milk and said, "Thank you." She smiled and told Nancy, "Why don't you get some rest now. Good night."

Nancy bid Autumn good night as well. But as she watched Autumn going up the stairs, she called out, "Mrs. Lu..."

Autumn turned around. "Did you need something?" From where she stood, Autumn thought Nancy was saying something but she couldn't quite hear it because of the sound of firecrackers exploding outside. Then Nancy simply smiled and said, "Oh nothing. Thank you again."

Autumn brought the milk to the bedroom, and after drinking, soon fell asleep.

Children loved the Spring Festival because it meant a visit to their friends' families, and they could wear beautiful clothes and eat lots of delicious food. But the thrill ended once they grew up. For adults, it was just a common festival with firecrackers, and signaled they would add another year to their age. And the sense of happiness that the festival brought quickly waned as the festivities came to an end.

It was the end of January when Autumn was informed that Wendy's execution had been carried out. It was death by shooting. And since Yvonne was locked up in jail, Autumn, as Wendy's only other relative, had the task of arranging her funeral.

Although she knew that Wendy would be executed, Autumn was still stunned after receiving the call from the police. After a long pause, she answered, "Okay, I will be there."

She sat down in disbelief that Wendy died without her being aware of any sign that her mother was gone. Then everything that happened came back clearly to her, as if they just happened yesterday. Charles noticed the change in Autumn's face. "Are you okay?" He looked at her with concern, wondering why she still held the phone.

She sighed and turned to Charles. "I'm fine." Autumn hung up the phone and told Charles what the call was about. "The police asked me to take care of Wendy's remains. Her execution was carried out today." Charles hugged Autumn for a while, and said, "I'll go with you." The couple left shortly, and headed to the prison facility where Wendy's remains awaited. It was snowing hard and there were cracks on the road, which made it difficult to walk on their way in. After waiting for all the paperwork to be completed, the police turned over the cinerary with Wendy's ashes to Autumn.

It was warm inside the prison facility but Autumn couldn't help shuddering as she held on to the cinerary.

"Are you all right?" Charles gently asked. She shook off the feeling of dread, and replied, "I'm fine. Let's go."

Autumn arranged a small funeral for her mother. Since she and Yvonne were Wendy's only surviving relatives and Yvonne was unable to attend, it was Autumn who took care of all the preparations. Looking at Wendy's smiling photo on her tombstone, she suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of sadness.

If only her mother treated her with even the slightest bit of mercy, maybe her life would not have ended up this way.

Now it was all over, with no opportunity to make amends.

Autumn wrapped her coat tightly as the wind blew. Then she laid the flowers on Wendy's grave and left immediately without looking back.

Inside the walls of Y City prison was small windows that allowed the sun to shine through.

It was this sight that gave the people languishing in jail the hope that they would someday be free.

Yvonne's favorite pastime was to be lost in reverie while staring at the sun's rays as it came through that window. Sometimes, she would see birds flying by. It was from that window where she often found pleasure to wash away the dull days.

"Someone's here to see you, Yvonne Gu!" a voice rang out. The prison guard had called her and the cell door was soon opened. Still, her face remained stoic, not caring who her visitor was.

She suddenly heard a stranger voice calling her name. When she turned around, Yvonne saw an unfamiliar face. She adjusted her vision trying to see more clearly.

As Yvonne focused on the stranger's face, she quickly averted her eyes, and suddenly felt numb all over.

Everything that happened to her in the recent past came flooding back. She was once a respected lady of the Gu family but now all respect for her was gone. She was accused of helping kill her father. And now she was in prison, paying for her crime.

Yvonne could not accept that truth. She attempted to kill herself several times, but someone always rescued her.

She refused to glance at the man again. Instead, she turned around, staring at her favorite window and kept silent.

So the visitor walked up to her and squatted in front of her. Yvonne couldn't really make out his face because of the dim light. Then he lifted her chin so she looked directly at him. He smirked and said, "Wow. You look so pathetic. From a distinguished lady to a criminal."

"Who are you?" Yvonne whispered. She hunched her shoulders and added, "I don't know you." The man was now sneering. And Yvonne kept staring at her hands.

"You really don't know who I am?" he snarled. Yvonne jumped a little when he pulled off the hair covering his face. It was horrible, marked by a huge scar that disfigured his face. Then he asked, "Now, do you recognize this scar on my face?"

Yvonne shut her eyes to think. Then, "Oh! It's you!" she said as recognition dawned on her. This time her eyes were wide with shock. Once she recognized who it was, she shivered in fear. She tried to swat away his hands holding her face and cried, "I had nothing to do with what happened to you. It was Autumn. It was all her fault!"

"Oh, I know. I will never forget what was done to me," he said menacingly. With a devious smile, he grabbed Yvonne's hand and held it tightly. "I want you to remember that I am not letting you, or her, get away with this. Ever!" he snapped.

Fearful now, Yvonne pleaded, "I had nothing to do with it. I swear..." As panic rose, she tried to escape from his clutches but the room was so narrow that he easily caught Yvonne and hurled her to the ground. She was scared and that gave him so much satisfaction. Looming above her, he growled, "I want to make a deal with you."

Cowering, Yonne said, "No! I won't do it. Just please leave." Desperate now, she shouted, "You are the devil! I don't want to see you. Go away!" Yvonne prayed a prison guard could hear her.

Her shouts made him snap. "Shut up!" he screamed at her. Then he slapped Yvonne so hard across the cheek that she slumped to the ground. With fire in his eyes, he declared, "From now on, you have no right to say no to me!"