Chapter 1619 A Guest Of Mine
“Yeah, I’m Avril! I was helping to plant the flowers at the back. You know, I did everything by myself that my hands were covered in mud! But I think it’s worth it! Just look at the blooming flowers! It feels great to stand there and smell the scent of these colorful flowers.”
She returned to Stephen’s side and smiled as she asked, “Why don’t you go ahead and see for yourself once you’re free? I’m sure you’re going to like it as well! In the future, let’s put furniture in the garden, and we’ll have our afternoon tea there. We can watch the flowers and then the sunset. It’ll surely be one of the most enjoyable things to do in life.”
Nicole and Evan exchanged glances in silence as they were confused by the duo’s relationship. They wondered if Stephen had accepted Avril’s feelings.
Meanwhile, helplessness was written all over Stephen’s face. “You dismissed the gardener I hired and insisted on tending the garden for me. I don’t even know how I should thank you. How about this? Let me know what you need, and I’ll give it to you. Think of it as your compensation.”
Staring at Avril in the eyes, he started naming a variety of luxurious brands, asking her to choose whatever she wanted so that he could return the favor for her service.
Yet, Avril rejected him outright with a heartbroken expression on her face. “What do you mean by this? I haven’t spent the entire day sorting things out in the garden for something as superficial as those! All I want is to spend some quality time with you in the garden! I just wish to make your day! How could you bring up the suggestion to compensate me for my service? What am I? A maid or something?”
“No! I’m not treating you as a maid!” Stephen explained.
“Really? If that’s not the case, then what is it?”
“I think of you as a valuable guest of mine! It feels bad to have a guest sorting things out on my behalf.”
“A guest?”
To say Avril was surprised was an understatement.
I thought he would say I’m his family. Guest or maid are all the same—both are outsiders!
“Why aren’t you thinking of me as your family?” she demanded.
Stephen’s expression turned grim when he heard her question. In a serious tone, he said, “Avril, I’ve told you this repeatedly—you should live your own life and seek your own happiness. Stop wasting your time on me because Rosalie’s the only one I love. Portia tried for years, yet I still didn’t harbor feelings for her. Therefore, stop wasting your efforts on me.”
“No way! I’m not going to give up, and you can’t chase me away! I’ll still come over tomorrow and the day after that. Anyhow, I’ve taken care of everything in the garden. All that’s left is for you to join me there for the session I have in mind. No one can sway me, not even my father, because he doesn’t even care about me anymore! I get to do whatever I want. Just you wait!”
Having said that, Avril stalked out.
Nicole let out a sigh discreetly as she watched the woman’s departing figure.
A few seconds later, she turned around and asked, “Dad, actually, it isn’t a bad idea for someone to keep you company. Besides, Mom has passed away for so many years. Don’t you feel lonely?”
“Nicole, I’m not alone because she lives on in my heart despite being away from us for so many years. It feels like she has never left because of the fond memories we’ve had throughout the years. On the contrary, I’ve never once listened to Avril seriously, even though she’s such a chatterbox. Isn’t it obvious that your mom’s the only one I love?”
Stephen wrapped up his speech with a contented look, looking forward to the day when he reunited with Rosalie in the afterlife. After all, having lived till such an age, he knew that his days were numbered.
Nicole was at a loss for words because he turned out to be far more uxorious than she had thought.
What will Mom think if she knows about this? Would she be delighted?
Once she snapped out of her train of thought, she voiced, “Dad, I think Mom would want you to move on and live a blissful life without her!”
