Love Began with the First Meeting

The way Brian looked at Molly and the tenderness in his voice would make anyone's heart, break. Let alone Molly's.

Perhaps they were both sensitive because of what happened in the past. After all, many of Brian's decisions weren't discussed with Molly, which resulted in them being apart for many years. There is nothing to separate them now, but every person had their weakness, and Molly was Brian's Achilles' heel.

Molly had no opinion herself, especially on this aspect. Although Molly may have many shortcomings, compared to some other woman, the most advantageous thing she had done in her life was her persistence with Brian. She cared for him with a devotion bordering on obsession but was now happy because of it.

However, at this moment, Brian said, "I am doing this today because I just want to make your decision clearer and help you discover what you really want, in your heart." Molly didn't want to think about the God of Gamblers or what would happen tonight. All that she wanted to do was hug him and think of nothing else, and that's what she did. Molly wrapped her arms around Brian's waist and held him tightly, never wanting to let him go. She leaned her head against his chest and could hear the strong, steady rhythm of his heartbeat against her ear. With a voice full of sadness, she said, "I don't want to be a strong independent woman." Her chin began to tremble, and she swallowed hard. "I was never a strong woman." Molly squeezed her eyes shut to try to stop the tears from falling. However, it was no use. They rolled down her cheeks in thick heavy drops. Molly bit her lip and continued, "Bri, maybe it's not good to be a coward, but I don't want to be strong."

When she was back in the UK, she seemed desperate to be strong enough to be with Brian. However, her real purpose was not this. She just wanted to tell him that she would not be hurt anymore, even without him, but she didn't want to be stronger.

She had an inexplicable talent for gambling. Maybe it was because of her father's influence, or that she worked at Grand Night Casino. Either way, it meant nothing to her, and she would rather not have the talent if she had to be separated from Brian and her children to pursue it!

Molly was just a humble woman. She would never become a strong woman with envious achievements, and she didn't want to become that sort of woman anyway.

Sensing the deep sorrow from Molly, Brian slowly raised his hands and held her tightly too. His eyes were full of love.

How could he be willing to let this silly woman that he loved with all his heart leave his side for any length of time?

Brian never wished for her to leave, nor did he expect that she would. However, he loved her enough to let her go and gave her a choice to decide for herself what she wanted to do. She had been through so much in her life, and Brian tried to allow her the opportunity to pursue something that she loved even if it meant that he would be heartbroken.

The moon shone brightly reflecting a creamy glow in the lake outside the villa. It cast a silvery thread around the loving couple, that was wrapped in each other's embrace. Time seemed to stand still at this moment...

*

On Dragon Island

Because of the project in the second half of the year. Eric spent the whole day in a meeting with the heads of the National Congress. Then he spent his time perusing documents that needed his approval. The days were boring, but it was his responsibility, after all. When Frank came to the National Congress, Eric was negotiating with the Chief Commissioner about the amount the military district needed to allocate.

"Mr. Long!" the Chief Commissioner called out and bowed respectfully.

Now that Frank had resigned, he looked at Eric with some pity in his eyes while Eric gazed back at him with a look of helplessness. Frank couldn't help but smile and shook his head secretly. He nodded at the Chief Commissioner and said, I'm going back to the Long family mansion. You should attend dinner there at noon today."

Eric had become so busy of late that all he had time for were bento meals for dinner. However, for some reason, Frank had asked him to have dinner at the Long mansion. He shrugged, not thinking much more about it and accepted.

After Frank left, they continued to discuss the matters at hand. Once they had finished, Eric stood up and took the suit jacket that was handed to him by Lenny and left the National Congress.

On the way to the Long mansion, Eric gazed out of the car window at the prosperous Long Island. With his heart filled with pressure and motivation that was beyond description. All this came from the great efforts of generations. There was a huge leap forward during his grandfather's era, that resulted in stabilizing its international status for his father's and Uncle Richie's time.

Since his grandfathers time, it had culminated and had been difficult to advance from then. 'However, such difficulty lies in the first decision. If we want to break the current situation, we must separate the union of the four great families.'

With this in mind, Eric suddenly looked in the rearview mirror at Lenny who was driving. "Lenny, you have been with me for such a long time. When are you going to get married?"

Lenny glimpsed in the rearview mirror and continued to concentrate on the road ahead. "I've never thought about it."

Eric smiled, and his eyes were filled with mischief. "A woman, no matter how strong she is, needs to find a home."

Lenny showed a long face but said nothing. Many times the human race can be strange. When we know that something clearly cannot be done nor can there be any result from it. We are reluctant to let it go and are stubbornly persistent and self-abusive in pursuing something that will never be.

Lenny was secretly in love with Eric. She watched from the beginning how Eric had contact with Molly because of confrontations with Mr. Brian Long. Then she saw how Eric slowly began to care for Molly and eventually fall in love with her. In the end, he confronted Mr. Brian Long again for Molly's sake.

At first, she was not reconciled. She didn't know how such a woman could get Eric and Mr. Brian's love. Gradually, she understood that men and women were different. A woman loves a man because they feel something or because the man touches a tender spot deep in the woman's heart. However, when a man loved a woman... there was simply no reason. Love was Love.

Mark was nearly eleven years old now, but Eric was still single. Although Lenny had never expected it, she had a glimmer of hope that Eric could love her someday. However, she never felt any romantic feelings toward her in Eric's eyes.

Disappointment flashed through her eyes, but she hid it quickly. Lenny was at least better off than those other women who had been rejected by Eric. She was his shadow and could stay with him forever.

Nevertheless, Lenny had never expected that one day, a particular woman would appear. Even though they bickered with each other, this woman was able to influence Eric's decisions even in an unreasonable quarrel, which caused Lenny to leave her hometown. At that time, she didn't know how she passed the days when she didn't need to protect Eric. Only later, when her experience fulfilled the woman's words, she suddenly realized that maybe everyone had their own path. It just depended on whether you wanted to return to the path you should be on. 00000000