The Apple of My Eye
Chapter 854 How Long Are You Going To Stay

Anthony didn't know how to help Sue out of this awkward situation, but he wanted to try his best. Since Sue refused to meet him, he decided to meet her family first and see whether he could figure out a solution.

Early in the next morning, he prepared a lot of gifts for the visit. He knew that Sue wasn't at home so that he could visit her family without any worries. Soon enough he arrived at her home and knocked at the door.

"Who are you?" asked Allen when he opened the door and saw a stranger standing there.

"Hello! You must be Sue's brother, right? She always talks about you." Anthony smiled. Then he asked politely, "Where is Sue? Is she at home? I need to speak to her about something."

"No, she's not home," Allen replied impatiently as he stood in the doorway with no intention of inviting him in. Seeing that Anthony wasn't about to leave, he then asked, "What did you want to tell her? I can pass the message on to her."

"I see," Anthony replied with a smile. "I'm a friend of hers. I heard that her family came to visit her recently. So I just wanted to pay a visit and get to meet you all. I brought some gifts."

"Oh! You are her friend." Allen's attitude softened when he heard that Anthony had gifts for them. He glanced at the bags with gifts and then to Anthony. "Thank you so much, Sir. It's very kind of you," he said trying to regain some manners.

"You're welcome." Anthony smiled and bid him farewell, "Please take them. I'm Sue's friend and you're her family. I hope you like the gifts. Please give her my regards and tell her I will visit her next time. Goodbye."

When Anthony was about to take his leave, suddenly a voice came from inside, "Allen, who are you talking to?"

"He says he is Sue's friend," Allen replied plainly. 'I wonder which friend comes to visit her home?' Doris thought.

Shortly after, they heard the sound of hurried footsteps and then Doris rushed out. When she saw that it was Anthony at the front door, she asked in surprise, "It's you. Why are you here?" "Do you know him?" Allen asked in surprise.

"No," said Doris shaking her head. "But yesterday, when your mom and I went to Sue's company I saw him there."

"I see." Allen was about to close the door when he suddenly realized that Anthony was still standing there. He asked, "Is there anything else I can do for you?"

"No. I'm going to leave soon," Anthony replied politely. "Yesterday I was in such a hurry that I didn't have time to talk with you. I'm sorry. It was very rude of me."

"Never mind, working always keeps people running off their feet," Doris answered with a smile. The more she spoke with him, the more she took a liking to him. He was a real gentlemen, well-mannered and fine-looking. Allen was nothing like him. If only her lover was more like him, she thought, envious.

Doris sighed in her heart, but didn't show anything. "What are you doing? You Idiot! Why didn't you invite our guest inside? You are so rude!" she scorned Allen angrily.

"I... I just forgot, I didn't mean it," said Allen embarrassed.

Doris shoved him aside and invited Anthony in eagerly. "Please come in. He is such a stupid boy. You're our guest. Come in and have some tea."

"Thanks. But I had better go now. I see you are pregnant. Take care of yourself. I shouldn't disturb you," he said declining.

"I insist. Please come in, Sir!" Doris dragged him in and served him a cup of tea. She then asked him curiously, "You came here today to meet us?"

"Right." Anthony smiled. He looked around and asked, "Where is Sue's mother? She's not home either?"

"She's gone out to buy food," Doris replied. "She'll be back soon. Why don't you stay and have lunch with us?"

"Thank you so much, you are most hospitable," Anthony said, accepting the invitation immediately. He could use this opportunity to figure out the whole story, to help him work out how to solve the problem. This was the whole purpose of today's visit.

"You are Sue's friend. We are glad to have you as our guest," Doris replied with a smile. She wasn't just being polite to him. She was planning something. Anthony looked like a rich guy, and she wanted to replace out what the relationship was between Sue and him. If they were a couple then she might be able to get a sum of money from him.

It would be unimaginable for her to stay with Allen for her whole life. All she wanted was money. If she got enough money, she would leave him without hesitation.

Shortly afterwards Peggy had returned. She was also startled when she saw Anthony there. But Anthony was socially-skilled and knew how to please her. As expected, after some small talk and appreciation for the gifts, she was smiling from ear to ear, totally forgetting about what had happened yesterday.

"By the way, Mrs. Wang, where is Sue?" Anthony asked on purpose. His question led to an awkward silence among them, especially Doris.

Smiles froze on their faces and nobody replied. Finally Doris broke the ice and said, "It seems that you haven't heard about it yet. She didn't tell you, that she has moved out? She doesn't live here anymore." "Doesn't live here anymore?" Anthony pretended to be surprised. "Then where is she living now?"

Anthony asked frowning. He then turned to Peggy and said, "This apartment is arranged for Sue as a dormitory by the company. You know it's not easy for a girl to make a living in Y City. She couldn't afford a house here. I really don't know where she could possibly live besides this apartment. Could you tell me?"

"Sue is really a good girl," Peggy said forcing a bitter smile. "As her mother, I'm not wealthy enough to give her much. On the contrary, she gives our whole family too much! Oh, my dearest daughter!" "What do you mean?" asked Anthony.

"I'll tell you the whole story." Peggy thought fast in her mind and soon came up with a believable story. "The house is too small to hold the whole family. My son and his girlfriend wanted to stay at a hotel, but Sue didn't allow them to. She said Doris is pregnant and she should stay in the house for the sake of the baby. So she left the house to us and moved out. Now she lives in her friend's home,"

Peggy said smiling quite satisfied with this explanation. "Don't worry about her, she's fine now. I was also worried about her when she moved out, so I paid a visit to her friend's house. It is a huge villa! It is so big! They don't mind sharing their house with Sue."

"Mrs. Wang..." Anthony frowned after hearing Peggy's story. "No matter how big the villa is, it is after all their home and not Sue's home. She wouldn't be comfortable there. What's more, she can't live like that forever. Don't you agree?"

"You are right," Peggy sighed. "But you have to understand us. We don't have a choice either, Sir."

Peggy put on a bitter smile. "I'm a bad mother! I can't buy a big house for my own daughter. She suffers a lot for the whole family, poor girl!"

"But..." Anthony frowned. Her shameless lie rendered him speechless. Finally he asked, "Mrs. Wang, I have one last question. How long are you going to live in this house?"

"We..." Peggy paused and looked up at Anthony with embarrassment. She didn't know how to answer that question.

Her real plan was to live there until her son's wedding. But she couldn't say it in front of Doris because, Doris was convinced that the house would be hers.