The Apple of My Eye novel Chapter 309

"Is Isla back?" Kay asked enthusiastically. Although Isla was reluctant to speak with her, she couldn't avoid greeting her neighbor in a civil manner. "Yeah, I'm back, Kay. How have you been lately?" Isla asked, barely forcing a smile on her face.

"I've been doing all right, " replied Kay, who was well known for having a big mouth in the village. "Our Isla is such a beautiful girl. You look just like what your mother when she was about your age, " Kay praised, gripping Isla by her hand and observing her carefully.

"Do I? Thank you, " Isla replied pleasantly. "You're looking very young as well, " continued Isla.

"You always speak out pleasing words just as you did when you were a little girl, " Kay said and laughed, amused by Isla's compliments. "Isla, you will be thirty after New Year, right?" she asked.

"Yeah, " Isla answered. "I will turn thirty next year, " she continued. Upon hearing Kay mentioning her age, Isla had guessed what Kay was gong to say next.

"Are you still single?" Kay asked. "I don't mean to lecture you, but for a woman, marriage and having a child are the most important things. You're not getting any younger. You should marry a good man so that your parents won't worry about you, " she continued while taking Isla's hand, when Isla didn't respond.

"You're right. I will get married as soon as possible, " Isla returned patiently. She nodded or answered in agreement, no matter what Kay said to her. She just hoped that Kay could finish soon and leave her alone.

"Your parents have worked so hard all their lives to provide a good education for you. You should return their favor and help them to stop worrying about you. Am I right?" Kay went on as she saw Isla nodding, "I happen to know someone who is about your age. If you agree, I will arrange for you to meet him if you are satisfied with him."

She sighed, then continued, "The man is 35 and he is a carpenter with a handsome earning. Two years ago, his wife died. Now he lives alone with his son. He heard that you came home, so he asked me to inquire about you."

"I understand that it will be your first marriage, but you ought to lower your expectations, after all, you're not very young anymore. He said he would try his best to satisfy your needs, " Kay persuaded before Isla could respond.

Isla wasn't very young, but she was pretty and hadn't been married before. Therefore, many men in the village had asked Kay to be their matchmaker.

"Kay, I..." Isla tried to refuse. "Kay, stop winding up my daughter, that carpenter is a cripple. If you think so highly of him, you can save him for yourself. After all, you are a widow, " Jina broke in before Isla finished her sentence.

"You..." Kay was so angry that she struggled to form a complete sentence. "You're such an ungrateful woman. I was just trying to help Isla. She is almost 30 and still unmarried. If she doesn't get married soon, she will be the subject of the entire village's gossip and ill-willed rumors. Can't you see that?"

"That's none of your business, " Jina replied, pursing her lips. She was aware of the fact that many people in the village labeled Isla as a loose woman because she had past her best age for marriage and had still not been married yet. They thought that Isla was incapable of finding a decent husband. Despite what the others had said, Jina was still fairly optimistic about Isla's future.

She was convinced that Isla would marry a good man sooner or later.

That's why she had asked Aron to come along with them, that way, their neighbors would stop belittling Isla's image.