The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 74 Rachel Is Back

Gary didn't know Charles was in the hospital as Autumn and Chris decided not to tell him for now. He assumed that Charles was away on a business trip.

Charles was expected to be discharged from the hospital today after he had stayed there for a week. Gary would replace out that he was injured once he was back home.

Autumn went to complete the discharge formalities early in the morning. Charles, on the other hand, was packing his clothes. When he heard the door behind his back open, he casually offered, "Let's have lunch outside with grandpa today, so you don't have to cook."

However, no one responded. Charles turned around and saw Rachel standing at the door. She had mixed feelings on her face.

Charles's smile vanished. He asked Rachel in a cold voice, "What are you doing here?"

After Charles broke up with Rachel, she went abroad and remained busy with work. She refrained herself from contacting Charles all this while. She believed that they needed some time away from each other for things to cool down between them. Moreover, she hoped that Charles would forget whatever she had done in the past and forgive her.

As soon as Rachel came back, she grabbed David for Charles's information. When she heard Charles was injured, she immediately came over here.

"Charles, what happened to you?" Rachel cried dramatically. Charles had four stitches on his head, but they were covered with a gauze. It didn't look very serious.

Charles was a little disgusted with Rachel's reaction.

Rachel stretched out her hand carefully as she wanted to comfort Charles. But before she was able to touch him, he stopped her hand.

Charles stepped back and looked at Rachel with a frown.

Autumn might be back any minute. He didn't want Autumn to misunderstand him.

"What are you doing here?" Impatient, Charles asked again.

"When I got off the plane, I heard you were in the hospital. So I came here. Are you alright?" Rachel spoke to Charles with a caring expression, "Charles, let me have a look at you. Is it serious?"

Charles furrowed his brow. He spoke to Rachel indifferently, "I'm okay. Don't worry. You can go back now!"

There were many people in the hospital. Rachel was a known celebrity. If anyone found out she was here, Rachel might get into trouble.

"Do you hate to see me like this?" Rachel's heart was crushed. "Charles, I dared not bother you all these days. I knew I did something wrong and you were angry at me. But it is all in the past. You must have cooled down now. Please forgive me, okay?"

"Miss Bai..." Charles frowned as he stated, "I've made myself clear. If you are here to visit me, I would like to thank you for that. You should leave now. It's not safe for you to stay here." Rachel was delighted by Charles's sudden care. "I know you care about me. Charles, I love you so much. Please, don't leave me."

Rachel stepped forward and held Charles by the waist. "Charles, I've been missing you so much these days. Every time I close my eyes, I see your face. I've thought it all over carefully, and I just cannot forget you. Charles, let's forget all the unhappy affairs and start afresh, okay?"

Rachel held Charles's waist tightly and continued, "Charles, I don't expect you to marry me. All I want is for you to stay by my side. Trust me, Charles."

"Rachel, stop talking nonsense!" Charles tried to push Rachel away, but failed.

Just then, Autumn's cheerful voice came from outside the door, "Charles, it's all set. Let's..."

Autumn showed up at the door with many bills in her hand. She had stayed here for a week, and had been really worried for Charles all this while.

Autumn had never dreamt that Charles Lu and Rachel Bai would hug each other like that. The bills in her hand fluttered on the floor. She was dumbfounded and stammered, "You... go ahead."

Saying that, Autumn turned around and left. In the past few days, she thought she had taken Rachel's place in Charles's heart. She didn't think Charles would be a different person after Rachel came back. When Charles saw Autumn's reaction, he was enraged. He angrily pushed Rachel away and ran swiftly to Autumn. He grabbed her arm and questioned her, "Are you going to flee again?" "I..." Autumn swallowed her bitterness, "I just don't want to disturb you."

Charles had a long face. Rachel gave a scornful smile. She stepped forward and held Charles's arm. She looked at Autumn like a proud peacock and stated, "Well, you have a clear estimation of yourself. Get out of here! You are not welcome. Charles and I haven't seen each other for a long time, and we have endless whispers of love to share. What? Are you trying to eavesdrop?"

Autumn's face went pale. She heavily shook off Charles's arm and said, "Let me go. I'm going home now. You better come back home soon. Grandpa is waiting for you."

"Stop!" Charles didn't grab her again, but demanded in a stern voice, "Stand there, don't move!"

Charles didn't quite understand why he was so mad at Autumn. Maybe it was because she hadn't really trusted him in their relationship.

Charles successfully scared Autumn. He then turned to Rachel and pushed her away. He stated calmly, "Rachel Bai, I loved you before. But I have made myself clear that we are done. Don't you understand? Charles continued with a frown, "If you don't understand, let me repeat it for you, I don't love you anymore. From now on, I don't want to see you ever again. We can only be friends now. Got it?" Charles had said similar words to Rachel before, but there was no third party involved back then. It was the first time he said those words in front of Autumn. Rachel felt humiliated. She yelled, "Charles Lu, why are you being so hard on me?"

Charles deliberately said that in front of Autumn. He hoped that at least after this she could trust him in the future.

"I have told you, I will make it up to you." Charles was a man with a stone heart in front of a lady he was not fond of. He didn't care about Rachel's feelings now.

When Rachel was his girlfriend, he could do anything for her. But now... he was a different man. No wonder Rachel was unable to accept that.

Charles stared indifferently at Rachel as if he was looking at a stranger.