Love Began with the First Meeting

"She's with Spark now. They are in a car together and they've driven off," he informed in a blank voice.
"They're gone? Where are they going?" the other voice on the phone asked.
"I don't know yet. Either way, I called to tell you so you can change your plan accordingly. After all, who would want their wife to
be seen spending the day with another man? Doesn't matter if he loves her or not, he'd rather kill her than embarrass himself like
that," he said shrewdly. There was a cunning look in his eyes.
"How can you be so sure?" the voice asked sarcastically.
He snorted in response. "Don't forget your promise, I'll be waiting for my money today,"
Then he hung up the phone without waiting for a response. Meanwhile, Hannah was still holding her phone against her ear, her
eyes glinting.
"You look happy, what was that call about?" Jennifer said when she saw her absorbing in her own revery. Then her eyes dilated
as if she just realized something, "Looks like you just found a way to win Brian back," she suggested.
Hannah shrugged, "It's not that, it's just..." she trailed off, suddenly realizing that she didn't want to tell anyone her plans until she
was sure about it. She grinned sheepishly at Jennifer and said, "Just let it go. So, how are things between you and Mayor Gu?"
Jennifer averted Hannah's gaze. She looked out and just in time, caught sight of Edgar standing in the corridor talking to a few
staffs in a serious face.
Jennifer turned and walked towards Edgar. A wave of mixed emotions surged over when she saw him, "What's mine is mine and
it will always be like that. No one can steal anything away from me," she mumbled to herself.
*
The Central Gallery.
Lucy had been very busy that day. She had been touring visitors around and telling them about her work. She was pleasantly
surprised to find that more people had come than she had expected and to add to that, she was able to sell a couple of paintings
at a more expensive price than she had originally planned. Even Brian, who couldn't be there, had sent Tony over to buy
something as a way of supporting her. There were still two days left of her exhibition and Lucy was hoping they'd both turn out as
smoothly as this one.

John and Lisa were beaming with pride as they watched the gallery buzz with so many people. They had waited for this day
forever. Today was the day one of Lucy's dreams had finally come true.
"Mom, some have already left. You can rest now," Lucy said to Lisa as she handed her a cup of tea.
So they went to the lounge chair to rest. As Lisa sipped on her tea, Lucy poured one for herself. "Lucy, we're so proud of you.
We've never been happier. This is your dream and it's happening," Lisa said. She paused then continued, "We only hope that
you won't forget how much Brian has supported you along the way. You wouldn't have this success if it weren't for him," Lisa said
grimly.
"Mom, I know, you've told me that like a thousand times already," she said, a bit annoyed.
But Lisa continued, "I know you think I say too much sometimes, but you shouldn't ever forget where you came from. If you were
a seed, he was the one who watered you, fertilized you, and made you who you are today. You wouldn't be the grown tree that
you are now if it weren't for him. Now that he's married to Molly, you better start thinking about your future too. We still want to
see our grandson before we are too old," she said wistfully.
Lucy pursed her lips and asked skeptically, "Mom, are Molly and Brian really married?"
"Of course they are!" Lisa said, surprised. "They have a son now and they need to protect him. Because they're married, that
makes Mark a part of the family." After working for Brian for so many years, Lisa always regarded Brian as a kindhearted person
as opposed to the cold, distant person many others thought him to be. She continued, "They were married in QY Island."
"So are you saying that Brian only married Molly for Mark?" Lucy said, astounded.
Lisa didn't answer her right away. She gazed at the people milling about the exhibition room as she thought over her answer, "I
don't think Mark's the only reason why they got married. I can see that because I can see the way Brian looks at Molly. It's
completely different. I've never seen Brian look at anyone else like that, not even Becky," Lisa said with confidence.
Lucy blinked her eyes rapidly in doubt. She was trying to keep the conversation casual so that Lisa wouldn't see right through
her. "Maybe you are right. But I just haven't seen Brian be at least nice to Molly since they returned from QY Island. They don't
even look like a happy, sweet couple that has just married," she said, looking around to see if someone could hear their
conversation. Then she leaned towards Lisa and told her about what happened the other day with a cautious look on her face.
Lisa was taken aback. Lucy continued, "Although I don't know if it really was poison, but I mean, if Brian could lie to Molly about
doing that then that doesn't seem like a happily married couple to me. Brian doesn't even seem to care for Molly," she
commented.

There was a long silence. Lisa was holding her cup of tea tightly and looking at it with deep, pensive eyes. She was worried
about Brian and Molly. She just wanted them to be happy together because she cared about them so much. After a while, she
lifted her head and looked ahead, yearningly, "We don't know for sure. But even then, I know for a fact that Molly means so much
to Brian," she said firmly.
Noting her worry, Lucy smiled brightly at Lisa and averted their subject. But though they started talking other subject, she could
not help thinking about Brian and herself. She looked at Lisa to find that she had the same worried and concerned look on her
face. 'I never should've brought this up. Of all days, I just had to choose today!' she scolded herself in her mind. Eventually, they
chitchatted more about other lighter and happier things and they both were at ease again. After a while, an assistant walked up
to them.
"Lucy, you have a customer. He wants to buy one of your paintings," she reported.
Lucy nodded and rose from her chair. Then she turned to Lisa, "Mom, I have to go. Just stay here, no need to follow me or
hurry," she said and then left with the assistant.
The assistant led her to the exhibition room and stretched out her arm to point towards her painting of the tall and thin girl
dressed in a long, black dress that was standing under a willow tree. Her head was lightly lifted up towards the tree as if she was
praying or yearning for something. All of the things in the painting, whether the green, vivid grass and the willow twigs, or her soft
hair, or the lace at her dress, they were all painted in a way as if they were dancing along with the wind. "The client is right over
there," the assistant said.
Lucy looked towards where the assistant was pointing. Her eyes fell on a man who was standing in front of the painting,
examining it. He was wearing a light blue shirt and sleek black pants. His hair was black and tidily combed back. Even though
Lucy couldn't see his face, she could already feel his authoritative demeanor.
Lucy smiled at the assistant and motioned to tell her that she could leave now. Then she walked up towards the man and stood
beside him. "I'd be flattered if you thought that this exhibition made your trip worth the travel. Would you like to buy this painting
sir?" she asked politely.
"I do," the man said without looking at her.
"Then, I'd assume you want to name this painting," she said, smiling.

"Conquest," he said without hesitation. Then he turned to Lucy and looked closely in her eyes. She knew it was Jeff from the
start but she didn't expect him to come. "You think that name fits the painting?" he said, lifting his eyebrows and his eyes
flickering.