Love Began with the First Meeting
Chapter 613 Conflict And Destruction (Part One)

If you want something you've never had, you must do something you've never done. Molly arrived at the bus station.

The station was extremely crowded because it was noon time. Molly wasn't planning on going anywhere specific. She just followed a crowd of people moving to get on a bus. She didn't even see the bus number or the plate number. The bus was completely jammed inside. People were squeezing to get in the bus. And because Molly was rather short and thin, she couldn't resist the people violently pushing and jostling her from all directions. She was passed back and forth around the bus as people moved to get a more comfortable spot. Finally, she got a hold of the bar at the exit door and she decided to stay there.

Since it was summer, the windows of the bus were closed for the air conditioner. The lack of fresh air made the bus stink of sweat, breath, and cheap perfume. Molly found it difficult to breathe. It made her look back to her past where she had to take the bus everyday. Maybe, she had just already grown so accustomed to living quite a luxurious life that she forgot how difficult and frankly, disgusting it was to commute on a daily basis. 'Wow, I'm so privileged now, ' Molly frowned slightly.

The bus steadily hummed along the road crowded with vehicles. As they went further, soon the trees turned into skyscrapers. More and more people were getting both on and off the bus now. Molly realized that she knew none of these people - and that there was a chance that she would never see these people again. She pondered about how this was true for all the people we met or we would meet in our lives - they'll all leave one day and by the end of it, you'll end up alone.

"South Street Alley station! Passengers, get off at the back door, please!" the bus conductor announced.

The name drew Molly's attention. She raised her head and looked out of the window. The bus was now halted and people were getting off and she followed. She couldn't remember the last time she was here - probably a long time ago. But still, everything seemed familiar - as if nothing had changed. This made Molly smile - she always did love nostalgia.

She walked towards the gate of the street and looked ahead. It was still the same as she had remembered - people sauntering around, vendors shouting, coffee smell and music drifted out of coffee shops. She suddenly felt hungry as the smell of different kinds of food wafted in the air. Instinctively, she put a hand on her stomach - it had slightly shrunk from skipping meals at the villa. She pursed her lips in hesitation before finally taking a deep breath and stepping forward. 'Now that I have a job, there's no need to be stressed about anything. I can just enjoy the moment,' she told herself.

Like before, there were so many things here that enticed her. She looked everywhere - not knowing what to choose. She was so caught up on enjoying her little trip - looking at little trinkets, tasting food that she hadn't noticed that someone had been following her the whole time.

*

Emp Stock Exchange.

Since the market had opened that morning, the Dragon Empire Group stock was on a steady rise thanks to the upcoming Parliament meeting. Consequently, the EMP Stock Exchange has been working as a whole agency with all that needed to get done.

"Mr. Brian, based on the trend, today's price may shoot up to 10% higher than yesterday's which is a very good price," Harrow said excitedly as he walked into Brian's office. He had just returned a few minutes ago from his meeting on the performing tour and now here he was ready to discuss with Brian the soaring stock price. As the date of the Parliament meeting drew closer, things around had become more tense and crucial. Almost everyone in the office was working on the stock market.

Brian's eyes remained fixed on the screen ever after Harrow walked up to him. After a moment, Brian frowned and turned to Harrow, "I don't want it to go any higher. Stabilize the increase and make sure it doesn't go any higher than it is now by tomorrow." No answer was heard in return. Harrow looked at him, tilting his head - flummoxed. He was wondering if he had heard him wrong.

Brian turned his gaze towards the screen again. His eyes dimmed as his mind raced. After a while, he said in an insightful tone, "I think the price was ripe for a rise back then when we first launched the news. While there's nothing wrong with the steady increase these past few days I replace it suspicious because it's been a while since a stock price just shoot up out of nowhere. Without any competition? That's not normal. Something's wrong," he put his hands on his chin and then continued, "Given the current trend, I wouldn't be surprised if it increases even by 3% by tomorrow. And I'm scared that if we allow ourselves to be in that position, we might sabotage ourselves before the meeting even starts."

Harrow knitted his brows then turned towards the screen with more perceptive eyes this time. "You think someone's messing with our stock?" he asked suspiciously.

Brian didn't answer instead he gave him a vague smile - neither denying nor confirming because no one could know for sure, not even Brian. "I'll stay here and keep an eye on the price. You have to fly out to QY Island, you have a meeting with Vincent tomorrow early morning, right? You have to go and pack," he said.

He lifted his mouth into a sly smile again. Harrow could tell that Brian was already brewing another plan in his head.

Vincent actually already told Harrow last night that he was going to visit. It had been so long since they last saw each other. Harrow recalled the last time they saw each other was in Europe where they were assigned to work as a team. Since company's fortune was at stake, Vincent was returning to work with Harrow again - something they were both immensely excited for.

"Yes," Harrow replied shortly. Then he nodded towards Tony before walking out of the room. Harrow drove directly towards the hospital because Spark was going to have a check-up. Since his last fever and the depression he had suffered, he got severe pneumonia which made him weaker and fragile than ever. He insisted on getting out of the hospital after the treatment so now he needed to visit the doctor again for a check-up. Harrow just knew that he had to see Spark again before he left because he was way too worried about him. At the hospital.

Manny kept checking his watch and pacing along the hospital corridor. He was absolutely tensed. He kept looking at the elevator anxiously. It was time for Spark's check-up now but Spark was still nowhere to be found. Manny didn't know if he was upset or angry. He took his phone out and tried Spark's phone again.

"The number you have dialed is not yet in service. Please leave a message after the beep." Manny had already heard this for the hundredth time - Spark wasn't answering.

Manny didn't have a choice anymore but to leave a message instead, "Spark, where the hell are you? You're late for your check-up!" he said, panicked. He sighed as he put away his phone. After a moment, his eyes lit up after seeing a man walking down the corridor. He couldn't see his face properly because of the sunlight but he could only assume based on the figure and the pace that it was Spark. He felt relieved but only for a short while because as the man drew closer, he realized that he was mistaken.

He saw that it was just Harrow after all. "Where's Spark?" Harrow asked. Based on the look on Manny's face, Harrow had a pretty good guess on what was happening here. He looked around and indeed, only Manny was here. 0000☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐