Love Began with the First Meeting

"To be honest," Eric paused and then turned his gaze away from Molly. He took a deep breath before looking at her again, "Mol... I do want you to give up. It is only after you give up on him that I would be free enough to pursue you." After another moment of pause, he continued, "Moreover, it seemed like you don't really have any other choice but to give up now based on the situation." Molly frowned and confusedly looked at Eric. "Why? What situation are you talking about?"

"The whole world already knew about our engagement now." Eric said helplessly.

Molly's jaw dropped. She couldn't believe what she just heard. She was just trying to know Brian's real thought back then.

"Mol," Eric was no longer the naughty and wicked big boy that he used to be. His whole face was now serious while continued his words, "if we don't get engaged, I'll be the laughingstock of the political circle around the world."

"Eric, I'm so sorry, I..." Molly said apologetically as she didn't know what more to say. She had forgotten that Eric was the ruler of Dragon Island. How could she answer the reporter's question so casually? She felt terribly guilty for the trouble she had brought Eric. "Honestly, I don't really care about being a laughingstock. I don't even care about the pressure that Congress will bring if ever," Eric said seriously. "However, I'd like to know if you'll keep dealing with my cousin that way."

Molly suddenly froze and stared at Eric's deep blue eyes. Slowly, she realized how she wasn't so firm about her feelings toward Brian much longer.

Little did Eric know about how many times she had asked herself this very same question.

'Should I give up Brian and get engaged to Eric?' she kept asking herself silently.

"Miss Xia, this is the item list for the engagement ceremony. Kindly have a look and review it." said Coco respectfully and anxiously as she passed the list to her. She was the minister of Dragon Island's Etiquette Department. Hearing the news this morning made her extremely worried.

Molly just gave the red list a sad glance. She didn't realize that the minister would act so fast. Thus, she said, "I trust you, Coco. I'm giving all the decisions to you. You can choose anything as you see fit."

Coco, who had been working in the Etiquette Department for several rulers of the Dragon Island, looked at Molly. Knowing clearly that she didn't love Eric at all made her say, "But the ruler is really hoping for you to take part in this."

Molly understood that Coco was only doing her job. She let out a mild sigh and then said, "Okay. Please put that on the table. I'll let you know when I finish reading it."

"That would be nice," responded Coco and bowed. She gave Molly a smile and then left the Royal Garden immediately.

Seeing Coco left, Molly collapsed on the sofa. Then her eyes fell on the item list that was on the table. She suddenly hated the red color of it for no reason.

"Mommy," came Mark's sweet voice. The next thing she knew was how Mark was looking down at her the moment she opened her eyes. He asked huffily, "Mommy, you really want to marry Uncle Eric?"

Molly just kept silent as she didn't know how to answer his question.

"Mommy, don't you..."

"Mark!" It was then that Spark suddenly came in and interrupted Mark. He winked at Mark, and Mark then zipped his mouth tightly. However, the child remained to look at Molly with pity.

Spark walked towards them and hugged Mark into his arms. He sat down next to Molly and asked, "Do you have time for a walk now?"

Molly looked at Spark and nodded. She had sensed that they needed to talk with each other privately.

"OK, let's go." Spark nodded and then said to Mark, "Mommy and I are going out for a walk. You just stay here and don't run around, okay?"

Mark nodded obediently as he watched Spark and Molly leave. Staying alone inside the house was boring. His little face kept puffing when Coco came in. The child cast Coco a sulking stare.

"What's the matter, young master? Why are you unhappy?" Coco asked softly as she gave a glimpse of the item list on the table. It was obvious that Molly didn't even read it as it still lay there the same way before she left.

"Granny Coco," Mark looked up and said gloomily, "As members of the royal family, we don't have much freedom, right?"

"You may not understand it now, young master. However, you'll get to understand things as you grow. You will realize that holding the supreme power is never as cozy and splendid as the outsiders think. Furthermore, there are a lot of responsibilities a leader should handle." Coco explained carefully as she knelt down and looked at Mark, "Young master, do you have any doubt in your mind now?"

In response, Mark bit his lower lip and mumbled, "Can you tell me what the members of the royal family are supposed to do? What kind of rights do we have?"

The aged woman cast a glance at Mark. She was suddenly wondering why he was interested in those questions. Although he was a member of the Long Family, Mark was not registered as a citizen of the Dragon Island just like Mr. Brian Long.

Mark listened very seriously when Coco began explaining the duties and rights of the Royal Family members. He had asked all sorts of questions, revealing how young and innocent he still was.

Later, Eric told the media the exact date for the engagement ceremony. Time had slipped by so fast since then. The Dragon Island was suddenly buzzing everywhere, especially the Administration Minister of the Long Family. The engagement between Molly and Eric came too abruptly. Thus, no one within the Island was able to get themselves ready for it.

Frank and Smart looked at each other, and then at Richie and Shirley sitting next to them. Frank frowned and asked, "What's the situation between the three now?"

Shirley's face was heavy.

"I wasn't worried about Brian not surrendering to Molly before. However, what I was really worried about was Eric taking advantage of the opportunity when Little Molly was fragile! Thus, I talked with Eric to make sure that he wouldn't do such a thing. Although I got a satisfactory answer from him, this thing happening now is just...' Shirley lost track of her thoughts as she had too much in her mind.

"Whatever the situation is now, the engagement ceremony between Eric and Molly is a big event for Dragon Island. We should go back eventually to attend the ceremony," said Richie indifferently. Though he still sounded cold, his sharp eyes were serene and without any trace of hostility.

"I'll call Brian!" Shirley suddenly burst angrily. She abruptly got up as she thought of something. Then she paused, looked at Frank, and Smart, and asked, "What's your opinion?"

Smart and Frank exchanged glances and then Smart said, "I don't want Eric to be unhappy. I also want to see Brian get his happiness."

'This is our heartfelt answer. We can't allow Eric to set foot on a crooked road! Molly loves Brian, and Brian loves her. What's going on is just a setback they need to overcome. We are sure that Molly and Brian would get back together once this is over. Then, what should Eric do at that time?" Smart had thousands of thoughts in her mind. She couldn't help but feel concerned about her son.

"Well, I am much relieved hearing your words," Shirley said sincerely. As parents, they all wanted their children to be happy. However, such happiness should be based on the mutual wishes of a couple and not of a one-sided wish.