Love Began with the First Meeting
Chapter 620 To Be Strong (Part One)

I am not strong. I always knew that. But despite recognizing that I was weak, particularly around Brian, there were times when I had to act tougher than I really was.

*

"Brian!" Molly yelled hysterically, shoving him away but to no avail. Her eyes were filled with anguish. Several thoughts crossed her mind all at once. 'I can't believe this. Why did I go back to him?' She thought furiously to herself. Eventually, Molly stopped resisting his strong grip. Brian watched her carefully as she trembled. She seemed to be on the verge of a breakdown and the sight of it crushed him.

They remained still for a while. Molly looked up at the face which had been carved in her memory and grew short of breath.

Then she blinked and averted her eyes. She was worried that the sight of him would make it difficult to suppress her emotions and burst into tears. Molly hated being a coward around him.

Brian released her hands. His eyes were drawn to her slender body as she curled up on the bed in defeat. Her hair, which had been tied in a ponytail, was now a mess, making her look rather disheveled.

"Molly," Brian called. While Brian's tone may have been cold as usual, deep inside, his heart was shattering.

But Molly didn't respond.

Brian looked at her with a frown.

He raised a hand and grabbed her by the chin, forcing her to look at him. A pale, tear-stained face with bloodshot eyes greeted him. Molly seemed dispirited, like she was somewhere else despite being physically present. Seeing her like this pierced his heart.

Fear of losing her got the better of him. Before he knew it, he placed his lips firmly against hers. The soft feeling of her sweet tender lips calmed his nerves yet it didn't help relieve his heartache. Not even the kiss could make his worries go away. He was scared to death that she would leave him again, leave him all alone before he could do anything to stop her.

The kiss, however, didn't affect Molly at all. Wearing a passive look, she offered no response. Brian gazed deeply into her eyes which were only inches away from his, but appeared to be terribly distant at the same time. Her cold and indifferent eyes were shutting him out. He was quite annoyed by it. Subconsciously, he gripped her chin tighter, hoping it would elicit any kind of response from her. Even if it were just to reject him. But even with his efforts, Molly didn't give him the satisfaction. She remained emotionless.

He turned frantic and felt at a loss. Her detachment drove him to kiss her more passionately. The kiss was so crazy, so intense, that it seemed like he were about to devour her.

Had this happened in the past, Molly would have definitely pushed him away due to her hedgehog-like personality. She was never a fan of being deeply smothered. But this time, it was different. Instead of pushing him away, she grinned wickedly. She continued to let his actions remain unrequited. Brian thought he was kissing a soulless body.

Becoming frustrated, Brian raised his body all of a sudden. He narrowed his eyes at her. His judgement was clouded with anger. Before he realized it, he spoke out the words that stung both Molly and himself, "How dare you think of that man while you're with me, Molly?" His back shielded most of the light so Molly couldn't clearly see his face, but the frightening aura he was now exuding sent chills down her spine.

She had always known that Brian was a ruthless and cruel man. A devil that came up to earth from hell. Even when she was afraid of him, she didn't mind staying by his side. It gave her a sense of security. But at this moment, the only feeling she had in her heart when she looked at him was indifference.

"Brian,"

Molly called out his name unemotionally. His name meant nothing as it rolled off her tongue now.

Brian paused when he heard her tone. Though it wasn't the first time she spoke this way, he had never felt more hurt than that moment. Lowering his body again, with one palm resting on the bed, he gazed into Molly's eyes. He tried to see through her in hopes that there might be answers.

Both stared into each other's eyes unblinkingly as if they were waiting for someone to swallow the other up. However, neither of them succeeded at reading the other person's thoughts. It used to be easy for Brian to read hers but today was distinctively different. The shift in Molly's behavior made him feel helpless.

On the other hand, Molly didn't notice it. "Brian," she said lightly, "I have always been a loser. No matter what I wanted to get, to protect, or to pursue, nothing would go as I wish." She paused with weary eyes, before adding, "Nothing matters now. Even if I have to spend the rest of my life with you. I won't run away again, but please do me this one favor and let him go. If not for me, do it because of all the years he took care of Mark. Please!"

She knew that she could never escape from Brian's claws, recalling what he had once told her before. That he would never let others touch his possessions even if it was something that he didn't love.

A man like Brian would never understand that there was a kind of love in the world that could convince a person to sacrifice her hopes and dreams. Even when the world had been unfair to her, showering her with so much misery, she was fortunate to be surrounded by some people who truly loved her. How could she just stand and watch them getting hurt because of her?

Relying on anyone wasn't an option anymore. This problem was hers alone. She didn't want to involve anyone else. When Spark gave up his dream for her, she has had enough. She couldn't afford to have anyone else get hurt because of her.

Brian was disappointed with her. It was at that moment when he realized that he was the only one invested in their love. Molly's feelings were not for him. While he had fallen in love with her deeply, she had never reciprocated his feelings. She had only ever kept that man in her heart. 'It's ridiculous.' he thought.

He felt his chest tighten as it became difficult to breathe. As he tried to regain his composure, he focused on her right hand.

"Where's your ring?" Brian asked, grinding his teeth. He tried not to pay attention to her indifference. As long as she told him that she had kept the ring, even if it was just a lie, it would make him happy.

Staring at him impassively, she didn't answer the question. It was a while before anyone moved. Then she suddenly threw her arms around his neck, and to his surprise, started kissing him. She didn't want to answer him again. When she said she lost it, it didn't mean that she lost the ring, but it was really her heart that she had lost. I