The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 646 Junia, I Will Help You

Laura looked at Junia's face and continued with a wry chuckle, "Anthony is infatuated with such a woman. Still I could have respected his choice. But how can I accept the fact that she has a daughter. He may not be a golden bachelor, but he is undoubtedly eligible. It is easy for him to replace a good girlfriend no matter what. Why is he looking for trouble? Is it worth keeping a relationship with a single mother? Is it worth being her daughter's stepfather? How can I accept such things? After all, I am his mother and he is my only son." Her face became gloomy as she spoke.

She heaved a deep sigh and said, "I didn't agree to meet that woman in the past three years. She can never be my daughter-in-law. No matter how her past has been, her present is, or her future will be, it is impossible for me to allow him to marry her."

Laura's words made Junia's head hurt. She thought, 'According to Aunt Laura's statement, Anthony loves that woman so much! He loves her not because where she comes from, how much money she has, or anything else. The only reason he loves her is that she is unique and truly herself. His love for her is absolutely unconditional.' Junia was slowly getting clarity of the entire situation in her mind.

"Yesterday I cheated him and said that it was a causal meal. I didn't tell him it was a blind date. I wanted him to meet you. As a mother I feel it is my duty to see that my son gets settled with a nice girl," Laura sighed and said honestly. "My son and I have had a lot of disagreement in regards to his love affairs for the past three years. I could not think of any idea of how to persuade him to break up with that woman. But when you came back from abroad, I got a ray of hope."

Junia was staring at Laura and listening to her words patiently with utmost care. Laura was rather impressed with the kind of compassion this girl was showing towards her son. It made her hopeful and she poured her heart out,"I really like you. I know you will make a very good wife for my son. I would like you to be my daughter-in-law. Yesterday I didn't tell him it was a blind date. You are so kind, gentle, beautiful and generous. I thought if he met you once he would definitely have feelings for you, so I cheated him to attend the lunch. I am sorry I underestimated his affection for that woman."

She patted Junia's hand and apologized to her sincerely,"Junia, I am really sorry. I never meant to hurt your self-esteem. I feel regretted and hope you could forgive me." She looked at Junia with almost teary eyes. Motherly concern mixed with insecurity for her son and guilt for having played with Junia's emotions and more than anything helplessness in Laura's eyes was clearly visible to Junia.

"Aunt Laura, it was not your fault. There is no need to apologize," Junia said, frowning. She accepted the apology with great generosity. She kept her hand on Laura's hands. Laura lowered her eyes and picked one tissue paper to wipe her eyes. 'Now I have told her everything. If she has been even slightly moved by Anthony after yesterday's meeting, she would agree to marry him,' she thought to herself.

As Junia learnt more about Anthony, she was intrigued by the dedication and faithfulness of this man. She thought, 'He is surely a good man with a noble heart. If I become his girlfriend, he will possibly love me with his whole heart.

But what makes him so obsessed with that woman? He is even fighting with his mother because of her. I am really curious about her. Is she beautiful? Or is she smart? Will I be able to oust her from his life and win his heart successfully?'

Junia became unmindful as she weighed all the pros and cons of the situation. So much so that she didn't even listen to what Laura was saying. "Junia, Junia, what are you thinking? You were deeply absorbed in your own thoughts," Laura said curiously.

Junia was looking at another direction while Laura continued speaking. After being shaken by Laura, she came to her senses and replied with a smile,"Nothing. I was just wondering what makes that woman so special that Anthony is so head over heels with her."

"I don't know either." Laura furrowed her brows and shook her head. She spoke with a bitter smile, "I have seen that woman's photo. Honestly, I have to admit that she is good-looking. I don't know what kind of person she is. Nor do I care. Anyway, I am not satisfied with that woman. She is not a match for my son."

Junia stared at her and observed that the very mention of Anthony's girlfriend was absolutely irksome for her and she wanted her out of his life as soon as possible. Laura paused for a while and stared at Junia trying to read her mind. She was looking for a positive reply. After remaining silent for a while she asked, "Junia, tell me. Do you like Anthony? If you like him, I will support you and do everything I can to help you."

She could observe Junia's hesitation and tried to assure her immediately, "Don't worry about that woman. I will make sure that she is removed from his life. But the only thing that I need from you is your unwavering support and presence for him. After breaking up with that woman, he will be desperate. Your presence will comfort him and eventually help you to win him over."

"Do you think I will be able to make it?" Junia muttered. Her words were really hard to hear. Self doubt and lack of confidence reflected in her speech. After the entire conversation, Junia was rather scared and skeptical about the entire thing. She really feared whether she could do as Laura said. Anthony and Sheryl had been in love for three years. He stood by her against all odds. Was it so easy to split them up as Laura claimed? Being his mother Laura couldn't force him to change his mind. Junia didn't think she would be able to charm him away from his girlfriend?

"Of course you can," Laura assured her with a smile. Then she added, "Don't worry. I will help you." "I have full confidence in you. You are a smart, educated, beautiful and compassionate girl. Sooner or later Anthony will definitely fall in love with you," Laura nodded and encouraged Junia firmly. For the anxious mother, Junia was the final hope. She wanted to take a last chance before Anthony sacrificed his future for his girlfriend.

Laura waited for a reply for Junia who sat before her with an extremely tensed and confused face. Her heart sank to see Junia struggling with her indecisiveness. She just could not let her give up so easily. Laura waited for a while and started all over again,"Junia, you know the whole story now. Anthony is stuck with such a single mother. He can't see his own good. But you are a smart and intelligent girl. Doesn't it bother you that you have lost him to that woman? How can you accept your defeat so easily?"

"I... certainly I cannot accept that," Junia replied uncomfortably after a short consideration.

She had good feelings for Anthony. No matter who his girlfriend was, she would be jealous. What made her unhappier was that Anthony's girlfriend was too weak. She was confident that she was better than that woman on every aspect.

Laura was happy to hear that Junia was interested in her son and thought poorly of his girlfriend. She said with a warm smile, "Come on. Have some food." She heaved a sigh. If Junia and Anthony got married, the relationship between Laura and Anthony would also be easily fixed. That was what Laura wanted.

"Aunt Laura," Junia opened her mouth after a short consideration and said, "I have something to ask you."

"Go ahead," Laura replied with a nod.

She considered for a while and then said,"After Anthony and I saw the film, he told me he made a deal with you. You promised him something so that he would agree to go to watch movie with me. Could you tell me what you have promised?" It was certainly not polite to ask that question, but she had to figure out what was going on. It was important to get proper clarity of the situation. Their agreement might influence her decision.

"Damn it, boy!" Laura cursed through gritted teeth. She wasn't expecting to hear such a shocking news.

She thought, 'Anthony told it to Junia on purpose. He made it absolutely clear to this girl that he was not interested in her no matter what."

Although she was furious, she took a few deep breathes to calm herself down. She stared at Junia and said flatly,"Not something important. I agreed to meet his girlfriend on condition that he would go to watch a movie with you."

"I see the whole thing now. Will you meet that woman?" Junia gave a little frowning glance at Laura and said with speculative eyes. Junia wanted to assess Laura's attitude toward her and Anthony's girlfriend. This would prove how much supportive Laura would be towards Junia.

"Of course. Three years have passed. It's time for a formal meeting. How long will I be able to procrastinate it?" Laura sneered. "However, even though I have agreed to meet that woman to fulfil my son's wish, I will leave no stone unturned to see that she gets out of his life once and for all," She added with a resolute look on her face. Her mind maneuvered on different ways to ruin the meeting.

She thought, 'I can take Junia with me when I meet that woman. Junia's presence may spark argument between Anthony and his girlfriend. Also if I take Junia along with me my preference and intention will be clear to her even without uttering a word. If that woman is smart enough, she will know I don't support their relationship. And she will know that I will never accept her into my family. That may make her to leave my son." Laura's face became somber when she schemed about the impending meeting with Anthony's girlfriend. She then looked at Junia and asked, "Are you free for the next two or three days? Why don't you come with me?"

"Where do you want to go?" Junia asked. She was rather surprised at this sudden proposal made by Laura. In her mind, she was still struggling whether to pursue Anthony or not. It was not easy for anyone to refuse such an eligible man. And apart from his impressive personality, Junia was rather blown away by his faithfulness. If she could win his heart, she would be surely live a happy life. But if he couldn't, she would be deeply hurt in the process of pursuing him.

Laura gave a scornful laugh and said, "Let's meet that shameless woman. Let's just go and see what kind of woman has caught my son's fancy? I have to say, I am curious to meet her. And now that you have heard so much about her, I am sure even you would be equally curious. Aren't you?"

Junia though for a while weighing up the pros and cons from all sides and agreed. In fact she was interested in Anthony's girlfriend. She thought, 'I remember her name is Sheryl. She has a daughter. How could she win Anthony's loyalty? I am curious to know."

It was 1 p.m. Sheryl helped Shirley get dressed. Shirley looked bright and pretty in a comfortable dress.

"Sher, are you taking me out?" Shirley looked at her mother curiously and asked, tilting her head.

"Yes," Sheryl replied with a smile as she combed Shirley's hair and tied her hair in a ponytail. "Your dear Tony is coming back. He will take us out for dinner. Are you happy to hear that?"

Shirley was overjoyed to hear that. Her smile took up half her face and she was even singing. Anthony was a good uncle for her. She would be happier if he could be her father. But she could not understand the reason behind her mother not being ready to get married to him.

Sheryl had intended to meet Anthony at the airport with Shirley. Anthony declined the offer and asked them to wait at home. He would take them to a good place when he arrived.

Anthony was mysterious and excited on the phone. Sheryl agreed and waited for him.