Chapter 290 - Apprentice's Apprentice

Lu Fang and Andrea finally arrived at the restaurant at one in the afternoon. They learned that Isabella stopped by and Andrea knew she should find time to speak to her. She needed to know her reason for finding her. 

After eating nearly five main dishes, Lu Fang accompanied his wife straight to Isabella's villa. Finally, they would have their talk. 

Isabella was drinking her afternoon tea when the couple arrived. Her bodyguard escorted them to the second-floor balcony where she was at. 

She occupied a two-story three-bedroom villa. One room for his bodyguards to share, one for his assistant and the master bedroom for herself. 

Isabella was all smiling to see Andrea, and she welcomed the husband and wife to join her for tea. 

The three of them sat on a coffee table, outside the balcony, facing the ocean when Andrea asked, "So, I'm here. What is it you badly needed to talk to me about?"

Placing her cup down at the table, she smiled at her and replied, "It's not that I have something important to ask of you. I just merely wanted to talk." 

Andrea saw her glance at Lu Fang and knew that she was not comfortable speaking in front of him. So she turned to the beach and suggested, "Why don't we take a walk?"

Lu Fang continued to drink his tea as he watched the two ladies walk by the shores in front of the villa. He knew Isabella was not any threat and merely just a lost person, looking for someone to look up to. Thus, he allowed her to have her time with his wife. 

Walking side by side with Isabella, Andrea asked, "How have you been all these years? Seeing you now, I have to say, you must be a very strong person."

"So you remember me?" Isabella said while looking at the sea, embarrassed of having been remembered. 

"Yes, I figured it out last night… How did you cope?"

"I had therapy and…" Isabella kept on smiling before saying, " recalling you and your face. It kept me through it. I can never forget the words you told me… You said… there are far worse things that you could lose, like losing your entire family... You must cherish what you have."

"I am somewhat happy you recognized me but at the same time, I am regretful that you did."

"It's not something to be ashamed of. What happened was not your fault. I am happy to hear that you valued my words." Andrea took a deep breath and turned to look at her before adding, "I lost my parents at an early age and I lived apart from my brother. That was the reason I said losing your family may be more painful." 

"I see… I can't possibly live without my parents. They have always been there for me."

They stopped walking after that and merely looked at the endless waters before them. It was calm and revealed different shades of blue, perfect for reflecting.

They continued to talk about Isabella's parents and how they had supported her through her most difficult time. Andrea also learned that she had learned self-defense. 

"I looked for you because I wanted to thank you and I wanted to keep looking up to you for saving me. Seeing you fight against those men when I was kidnapped, it made me aspire to be good as you."

"So how did you find me?" Andrea asked. 

"Oh! It was fate!" Isabella said while her eyes twinkled in excitement. She reported that her parents took her to the Maldives as part of her treatment and they stayed in one of Andres Islands during its soft opening. "I saw you again and my hopes of living a normal life came to light. That time I saw you at Nalankan Maldives, I was just at awe. My jaws dropped and my whole body froze. It was only after I lost sight of you when I thought of the need to speak to you."

"Since then my head was filled with thoughts of you. I could not understand it. Your face was my inspiration that I turned myself into looking like you… Ms. Andrea. I think… I think I'm in love with you."

Isabella's confession made Andrea gasped that she blurted out suddenly, "I'm sorry, but I prefer my husband's penis over anything else!"

Realizing what she said, Andrea quickly covered her mouth and tried to make up for her tactlessness, "I mean. I prefer men, specifically my husband."

Deep inside Isabella was hurt. She really liked Andrea or the idea of her in her head that she had made up over the years. Although when she learned Andrea was married, she was prepared for it but hearing it from her was more upsetting than she ever imagined.

Isabella's face turned sad and replied, "I guess I already knew that. You look happy with Lu Fang and your babies are beautiful."

"Isabella, what you feel for me is not love. You barely know me, but you know what? We can be friends," Andrea suggested as she reached out her hand to her for a shake. 

Her face turned soft as she shook Andrea's hand. She acknowledged with tears welled up in her eyes, "I'm happy to be your friend… I don't have any friends anymore. I isolated myself since but with you, I have longed considered you… as…as one that I loved - I know you will find it odd but I think that is how I feel. Regardless, love of friendship I am happy to accept anything from you."

Andrea gave an awkward smile. She had never been confessed to by a woman. If she were a man and not someone with trauma, she would show her unsociable self. "Errnn… I'm sure you will find the right person for you, Isabella. I am also confident, I am not the one for you. I am only for Lu Fang and we love each other very much."

With her face flushing, Isabella merely acknowledged saying, "I understand. I am happy for you, but… I was hoping - can you teach me how to fight?"

At that point, Andrea was in deep thought. It was not that she was unwilling, her time was precious to her now that she had a family.

Out of the blue, she had a lightbulb moment. Turning to Isabella with the brightest smile on her face, she said, " You know what, I can't promise that, but I taught everything I know to my bro, Hanxi. He can teach you!"

"You can be my apprentice's apprentice. Haha!" Andrea chuckled as she said this, trying to lighten up their dramatic conversation. "When you have decided, you can fly to China and begin your training, but I was hoping you would come as yourself… and not looking like me."