Love Began with the First Meeting

Yesterday, Shirley had taken Mark to the hotel for dinner. That was the first time he had seen Richie. He had almost thought it was Brian who was standing in front of him. He could hardly tell the two people apart except for the age difference. He had wondered who that was, but he didn't ask Shirley. Then after Shirley had told him Richie's name, he connected all the dots. He also recalled how Shirley had introduced herself when they first met so Mark figured out who Richie was from there.

Shirley was very happy that Mark finally knew who she was. She had been thinking about how to introduce herself and Richie to Mark these days. Unexpectedly, her smart grandson had worked out the puzzle by himself.

It should have been a happy family reunion, but too many things had happened that day.

***

In QY Island, Brian was having a meeting while Molly was reading a magazine in the lounge. But not one single page had been turned after a long while. She raised her head every now and then, looking towards another room through the glass window.

The meeting had been ongoing for more than three hours now. They had even skipped the meal. The secretary had brought her takeout food instead but she barely touched it. Her brows were furrowed in worry.

All over the news was the bombing at the amusement park - things were definitely serious. She put the magazine down and walked to the glass window. The expression on Brian's face was cold as usual. He listened and wrote every once in a while.

Molly lowered her eyes, turned around, and sat back on the sofa. She watched Brian. Her heart tightened. Somehow, she found it difficult to breathe. She pressed her lips together and called Eric.

"Hello, hello, look who's missing me," Eric joked.

Molly frowned and scolded, "How can you be in the mood to joke right now?"

Eric raised his brows and asked, "Little Molly, are you worried about me?"

"..." Molly was silent.

"Don't be embarrassed. Just tell me. If this thing led you to call and worry about me, then it was worth it even if I lost the Empire," Eric continued teasingly.

"Eric Long!" Molly roared.

better," Eric

rolled her eyes

what she was going to say. "Let men worry about these things. Brian will take care of the things on QY Island. I am not worried. And things here are in control too. I won't let things get worse. Don't trust the media. What they

felt much relieved, "Eric, is everything

Eric answered earnestly. "Don't you believe in Brian

I mean. I'm just..." Molly looked down and then continued,

need to do is take good care of yourself so we won't have to worry about you. Brian and I

words worked like a tranquilizer. They talked for a few more minutes before hanging

meeting room. The

were busy, time flew by but if you were waiting, time ticked away extremely slowly. The sun was starting to set. When the night fell, QY Island was lit by various kinds of lights. The meeting that had lasted

the plan. If things go wrong again this time, don't bother

the room looked at each

reported when Brian walked out of the meeting room. "He's trained and well-prepared. But we

at Tony, "Take him to Aaron and tell

sir," Tony

was for Mark and the other was for Molly. Once they controlled them, they controlled Brian.

When he made his way to the lake, he kept thinking about what his enemy could possibly want. But Brian had been admittedly careless too as

only a distraction from the beginning.

ray of light was reflected on the rear-view mirror from the sunshine and the glass in

calmly and walked into the building, holding Molly's hand. Instead of walking straight, he had walked in a zigzag line, which would make it difficult for the sniper to aim. Snipers wouldn't pull the trigger if they didn't get a

anger when he recalled all this, but it was gone quickly. He opened the door of the lounge and stopped at the doorway when

magazine still in her hand. His heart ached. He walked over and sat down on

a frown. Her forehead was

Brian called quietly. Molly was startled. She opened her eyes and looked at Brian. After a while, she came to her senses and sat