Love Began with the First Meeting

It turns out that hope can be turned to despair within a blink of an eye. And vice versa.

Flashes were the only source of light at the moment. The madly clicking camera shutters from the reporters were drowning all other voices. Yet, under the lights and cameras, Molly felt that there was nobody else in the world but she and Brian as they looked at each other. Their eyes were showing millions of complex emotions. The feelings pouring from them were so complicated that it was hard for the crowd and even themselves to figure them out.

Molly knew that she should never spill out any information about the engagement. It was too late now though since she couldn't take back what she said anymore. The result of the engagement news would be humiliating. It would be a disaster if she and Eric would be written in the headlines just because of her bad mood. However, the reckless rage that came to her earlier was just too strong that it made her lost her mind and self-control.

"Mr. Eric Long is not here, Miss Xia. Are you sure that the engagement you just said is true?" one of the reporters asked pointedly.

"Does Mr. Long know about this news?" another reporter asked doubtfully.

"..." Molly just remained silent as she showed no interest to answer the questions bombarding her. She couldn't even care less about the flashes that were focused on her face.

She was just staring at Brian's eyes angrily as if she wanted to read his mind.

"Aren't you going to say anything?" the woman next to Brian asked curiously while looking at Molly's angry glare. She was an epitome of arrogance. It seemed so natural for her to appear so conceited while standing next to Brian.

On the other hand, Brian didn't speak and just stayed looking back at Molly too. He didn't know what was the matter with him at the moment. He was just blank. He wanted to move forward and stop the messy situation Molly was stirring. However, he felt powerless to do

SO.

The questions being thrown by the reporters gradually turned from simply digging facts to deliberately accusing. Most of them were full of doubts about Molly's news. Mr. Long was a powerful man and a huge name. The thing that the woman said wasn't just simple news but an important one. Each one of them just couldn't consider Molly's announcement as something credible since things shouldn't be announced as casually.

"Miss Xia, may I ask if you're talking in behalf of the royal Long Family? Moreover, do you really think it's possible for you to have an engagement ceremony with Mr. Eric Long at the Dragon Island this month?" one of the reporters asked again. It was easy to tell how persistent he was to get more information about the royal family.

"Of course, it's true!" It was then that Eric's firm voice took everyone's attention. His loud voice sounded oppressive and commanding. After all, he was the current ruler of the Dragon Island. Just as everyone present was still wondering about his words, Eric had already held Molly into his arms. He then scanned the reporters with his deep eyes and said, "Mol and I are going to have an engagement ceremony this month. It would be at the Central Square of Dragon Island. As for the exact ceremony time, it's not convenient for us to reveal it for the time being."

Eric's statement was delivered in a very casual way. It even sounded trivial. Nevertheless, his words were like stones thrown into water that stirred up thousands of waves. All the reporters got even more uncontrolled. Every one of them was suddenly pushing their luck to step closer to Eric and Molly. They kept pressing the shutter madly as more and more questions were pouring out from them.

The security guards were now having a hard time keeping the reporters away. Lenny protected Eric and Molly from the reporters as she pushed through the crowd. They needed to get into the hotel fast. Molly was well protected inside Eric's arms as they trudged through people. However, she stayed staring at Brian as she waited for his response. Every minute that passed her by broke her heart a little

until Lenny finally managed to get them back to the hotel lobby. Meanwhile, Molly remained looking in the same direction where Brian was the whole time.

Lenny gazed at Molly with respect. Little did anyone know how hard she was clutching her fist behind her back, 'How could you be so reckless and bring such big trouble to my young master? Worse, why are you still so indifferent to him after all the things he had done for you? Lenny's mind was racing.

"Mol?" Eric called her softly, trying to remind her to withdraw her gaze. His eyes then landed on Brian and the woman next to him. He then said calmly," Mol, I'll walk you upstairs. You need to rest."

He held Molly's shoulders and walked her to the elevator.

*

Meanwhile, inside The Summer Breeze Bakery Shop of A City.

Spark and Mark both had tablets on their hands as they sat opposite from each other. Mark found a really interesting mobile game, thus, they were immersed in the game in their tablets.

It was then that a piece of news flashed on the Tablet screen and caught Spark's attention. Eric Long finally announced about his future bride, Molly! For the first time within their six-years romantic relationship, they were now exposed! Spark looked at the news quietly. Slowly, a faint smile formed at the corners of his lips. 'It seemed that Eric's plan had worked, ' he thought.

"What are you looking at, Daddy?" Mark asked curiously upon noticing the smile on his daddy's face.

Hearing his son's question, Spark slowly turned to the child and said, "Nothing special." When he saw that Mark was not satisfied with his answer and became ever more curious, he said, "Mark, let's go to Dragon Island together." "Why do you suddenly want to go to Dragon Island, Daddy?" Mark asked innocently. He just had to know what was going on.

A deep thought came into Spark's mind but he just said gently, "Because I think that something special will happen there. We should not miss it." He stared at his child's wondering eyes but said no more. However, the mystery in his eyes was enough to tell that something big was about to happen. Curious as Mark was, he did not continue to ask anymore. His Daddy and Mommy had always been this mysterious. Before, he wouldn't stop asking questions until he finally knew the answer. However, growing up made him less curious.

*

At the Garden Hotel of Sun Island.

Molly was standing before the window with her arms around her. She noticed that there was still a flock of reporters standing and waiting by the door. However, it was almost noon time and Brian didn't give any information about their engagement. "Mol, come here for lunch," said Eric tenderly while placing the dishes offered by the hotel service on the ding table. He was looking gently at Molly's back with mixed emotions on his eyes.

Seeing that Molly didn't move at all, Eric walked up to her and stood beside her. Then he said, "Mol, have you decided to give up loving my cousin?"

A bitter smile cracked Molly's lips before she said, "Eric, he really didn't love me anymore, right?"

Eric took a gaze at Molly then turned to somewhere outside the window. "Mol, just let bygones be bygones. No matter how wonderful the relationship was, it would no longer belong to you once you had missed it. Also, it will no longer be the kind of thing you wanted." Molly looked at Eric slowly. Blinking her eyelashes, she asked in a heavy tone, "Are you saying that I should give up?"000000☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐