The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 474 Chris's Wedding (Part Two)

"You're so lucky, Chris, to have found such a wonderful, generous and caring partner," one of the girls said with a hint of envy reflecting in her tone. "When we were in college, you dreamed of getting married to Sam someday. And today your dreams will finally come true. How are you feeling?" she poked fun at Chris cheekily, as she clenched her fist and took her hand near Chris's mouth.

"Screw you!" Chris retorted as her cheeks flushed pink at the thought of Sam. With a sweet smile, she pointed at Autumn and introduced her formally, "Well girls, I forgot to introduce you to my sister-in-law, Autumn Zhao."

"Hello, it is so nice to meet you," Autumn greeted with a polite smile. "Are you Chris's friends whom she met abroad?"

"Oh, yeah that will be us," the two girls replied in chorus. "So Autumn, we were Chris's dear classmates while she studied abroad," they responded with a sweet smile.

"Well these two dear girls are my best friends, Tina and Hannah. I met them in university. Once we graduated, we parted ways as they remained abroad and I moved back home. I invited them to attend my wedding, but they refused initially saying they didn't have time. But now look they suddenly came here," Chris explained, as her eyes turned red. She had planned to invite and ask them to be her bridesmaids. But when she called them, they both instantly rejected her request and said they didn't have time. Chris was so disappointed that she insisted on having no bridesmaid at her wedding as she could not have anyone else but her two best friends. It turned out that they gave her a big surprise.

Autumn smiled at the two girls and said, "You girls stay here and catch up. I should head downstairs and greet all the guests."

Autumn left the three alone deliberately, hoping that they would enjoy each others' company after such a long time. 'They must have much to talk as they haven't seen each other for a long time. If I stayed there any longer, they would feel awkward,' she thought as she walked out.

The minute Autumn walked downstairs, Hannah said to Chris with a confused look,"I feel like I have heard about your sister-in-law's name somewhere. I just cannot recall from where."

"Did you?" Chris asked casually, not paying attention to this line of dialogue. "Well I don't see how that is possible as you have never met her before."

"I'm sure I heard her name somewhere." Hannah scowled, looking wistfully. After a long pause, she said bluntly,"That's it. I recalled Sam and you drinking together. Tina and I were with you that time. Sam got drunk and kept mumbling her name. You drank much as well, so perhaps you didn't remember that. But..." She shifted her gaze to look at Tina, and asked, "You must remember it, don't you?"

"What are you talking about?" Tina flustered, snapping at Hannah who was quite simple-minded and honest. Winking at Hannah, she continued, "I don't actually remember that. You must be confused about someone else."

She changed the subject, and turned to Chris. "You look so beautiful today, Chris."

But Hannah was a persistent girl. She grabbed Tina's arm and interrupted her. "No, I'm sure about it. Her name is unique so I remembered it being mentioned very clearly. The name Sam murmured was Autumn Ye. Yeah, that' it, that is how I remember her! Her name is Autumn Ye," she exclaimed excitedly as she recalled the past.

Thinking of Chris's introduction, Hannah knitted her brows and asked in confusion, "What's going on here? Their last names are different. How could that be?"

"See? I said that you made a mistake. Today is Chris and Sam's important day. Do you have any idea what you're taking about? Stop blabbering on about trivial things!" Tina yelled out, casting Hannah a reproachful glance. Hannah realized how improper and unnecessary her words were. With an awkward laugh, she said to Chris apologetically, "Well, don't mind what I said, Chris. You know I have a big mouth and don't know when to shut up."

Since Chris was her best friend, Hannah hoped that Sam would love Chris wholeheartedly.

"It doesn't matter really. Consider it forgotten," Chris said to Hannah with a reassuring smile. "But I actually must tell you that your assumption is correct. Autumn was Sam's ex."

"What are you saying?" Hannah cried out as she stared at Chris, her pupils almost popping out at the revelation. Meanwhile, Tina too froze dumbfounded, as she fixed her eyes on Chris not knowing what to say next.

"Don't look at me like this. I learned about their relationship a long time ago. It is all in the past and it does not matter," Chris said to them blatantly. Noticing the concern reflecting on the two girls's faces, Chris reassured them with a bright smile, "It's not a big deal honestly."

"I don't know how you can say that so casually. It's not okay," Hannah pouted. "Your husband's ex is your brother's wife. How could you be cool with it? I mean you all are one close knit unit."

"I don't see there is any problem. We all are in different places in life and are happy," Chris replied with a calm tone. With a smile, she continued, "We all have our own past which cannot be changed. Now she has been married to Charles and they are extremely happy, and today Sam will marry me. I should let it go. Besides, Autumn refused Sam and helped unite Sam and me together. She has always supported and helped us selflessly. I really appreciate her help and support."

"Wake up, my naive friend," Hannah tried to snap her out of her goody good world in a sisterly tone. "We both know Sam loved that woman very much. What if he decided to marry you because he wanted to approach that woman and get closer to her?"

"That's enough! If you have nothing positive to say, you may leave." Chris cut in impatiently, pulling a long face. Even though Hannah was her friend, Chris considered Autumn more important and dearer to her. She continued in a grave tone, "Even though you spoke ill of Autumn, I don't blame you because you don't know her. But if you continue to talk nonsense like this, you will not be my friend. Autumn and Sam are not that sort of wretched people. I trust them so please don't sit here on my wedding day and try to poison my thoughts. Am I clear?"

"I said this for your sake and only because I care for you." Hannah frowned with a disappointed look. "I traveled a long way to attend your wedding. I only wish you lead a happy life. How can you..."

"Come on, girls. Stop getting so serious. She is getting married today," Tina broke in, attempting to break the intense atmosphere and change the topic. "Hannah, you haven't been with Chris all these years, so you have no idea what happened to her, or what Sam and she went through. You shouldn't have questioned their relationship like this and especially not today. Anyone who hears you take that tone is bound to get angry."

After a pause, she remarked calmly,"As for Charles' wife, I saw she was an amiable woman. She also is pregnant now. I am sure she must love Charles very much and she wouldn't do anything to hurt Chris. What you said is unfair to Autumn and so judgmental."

With an approving nod, Chris opened her mouth and spoke in a gentler tone,"Autumn is a kind woman. She had helped me a lot over the time I have known her. I don't want to berate you. I just hate to see anyone speak ill of her."

"As for you, Chris." Tina turned to Chris with a positive outlook. "You know Hannah's disposition. She is a simple and yet a outspoken girl. She said those words out of good will. She is just concerned about you. You know that, don't you? So please don't dwell on it or feel attacked."

"Yeah, I understand her intentions very well," Chris sighed. With a sincere laugh, she gripped their hands and giggled. "I'm really glad you could come here and join me as I begin a new journey."

The three of them immediately forgot the unpleasant argument as they burst into hearty laughter. Soon after, the sound of firecrackers resounded outside the window. Autumn knocked at the door and said to them,"Sam is here. I'll leave the bride and bridegroom to you girls."

"Don't worry, Autumn. We know exactly what to do and will take care of things from here on." Tina grinned.

Autumn didn't stay with Chris as she was pregnant. After filling them in on Sam's arrival, she left the room and walked over to Charles. With a nervous look, Charles gripped Autumn's hand tightly.