Love Began with the First Meeting
Chapter 624 Love Requires Compromise (Part Two)

Pressing her lips together, Molly watched Brian's retreating figure disappear. Anxiously, she answered, "Dad, I'll explain it all to you later. Let's get you home first."

They all boarded the car and left the airport. The air inside the vehicle was even more tense than it was on the way there. Brian and Molly both sat in the back, while Steven rode shotgun. He attempted to open his mouth several times to clear his confusion, but would

always stop when he turned to look at the passengers in the back.

Molly noticed they were heading into the downtown area, but the car did not take the route going to the villa. Instead, Tony drove towards Molly's old home. When the car stopped, Steven slowly opened the door and got off. Molly was about to grab the door handle to follow suit, but Brian quickly stopped her.

When she turned to look at him, he turned away and said impassively, "Did I allow you to get off the car?"

She gritted her teeth in anger. "Brian, I just want to spend more time with my father." "And then what?" he shot back.

Confused, Molly retorted, "What do you mean by that?"

Finally, facing her, Brian challenged, "Molly, it seems that you've forgotten what I said before."

She huffed in annoyance and inhaled to hold her temper.

"Brian, my father just came back. Can I at least keep him company?" Molly felt fury bubbling inside her but kept it in check.

Turning his head to look forward, he snapped, "No!"

"You..." Molly sputtered in anger but was cut off by Steven.

"Molly," her father said, "the house has long been vacated. It would not be convenient for you to spend the night here. You can come over tomorrow. I'm..." He paused to check Brian's reaction, before adding, "I'm not going anywhere." There was no comment from the brooding man inside.

In the end, Molly didn't get her way. Steven held onto his luggage as he watched their car drive away. The man stood there looking until the vehicle disappeared from view. Inhaling deeply, he turned around to walk into the dimly-lit alley that would lead to the house that had been home to him for close to twelve years.

With heavy steps, he walked hesitantly. Upon arriving at the airport, Steven could feel a heaviness in his heart. Now, conflicting emotions were taking over the grief that seemed to crush his spirit. The closer he was to home, the more complicated his emotions became. Memories flooded his mind that almost gave him a headache. He remembered everything, the happy, the sad, they all resurfaced now.

"Mr. Steven, long time no see," he heard a voice in the dark calmly greet him. It was dark and Steven tried to make out who had spoken.

He finally made out a bulky man standing at the corner. He stood and behaved like a soldier.

Steven beamed a smile in the dark and replied, "Indeed, it's been a long while." He blew out a breath. "It's been so long that I never thought I could come back."

"Well, here you are. Welcome back!" The man's greeting was as genuine as his smile.

*

Back at the villa, Molly was still furious. Her raging emotions were not quickly going to disappear. The minute the car stopped, she stormed out, slammed the door and headed into the villa.

Brian also disembarked. Impassively, he observed Molly fleeing inside as he asked Tony, "How's Daniel's rehab going?"

"He's not doing so well," Tony reported. "It looks as if he has no intention of quitting at all."

The response didn't please Brian, who lapsed into silence. Daniel was only fourteen years old when he started injecting Dream, a drug too strong even for an adult, let alone a teenager like him. An antidote known as "Cold Heart" was administered to him to help relieve the effects of Dream, but it presented other side effects. Now, Daniel was addicted to "Cold Heart". And this was what made it hard for Daniel to get better.

"Bring Steven over to see him tomorrow," Brian instructed Tony. The driver nodded to acknowledge the order and watched Brian walk into the villa.

Inside, Brian found Molly's bedroom tightly shut, and suddenly the whole place felt so empty. Annoyed at having no company, Brian grunted in disgust. 'I used to enjoy being by myself. When did I start to hate being alone?' he thought miserably.

He finally went upstairs after a long time. When he reached the second floor, Brian headed towards Molly's room to check on her. But the door remained locked without any hint it would be opened soon.

"Mol, don't leave me. Please love me deeply and dearly," Brian wished in his heart.

Even Brian realized how pathetic he appeared. He could manipulate everything as he pleased, but never Molly's heart. The irony was not lost on him.

Brian made his way to his room and took a bath before going back to the study. His phone buzzed for Facetime. Linking the device to the television, Brian tossed the remote aside and lit a cigarette. He inhaled deeply and blew out smoke, which he watched diffusing before him. "I don't remember you being a chain smoker, Brian. When did this happen?" On screen, Eric nestled comfortably in his chair and looked playfully at his cousin.

"How are things going there?" Brian asked while flicking the ash of his cigarette. It was a careless gesture that masked his anxiety about Molly.

"It's temporarily under control," Eric replied.

"What do you mean temporarily?" he straightened in curiosity. He stared at his brother's face on screen with sharp and piercing eyes.

Eric rolled his eyes then sat up straighter before answering, "We're almost near the end, and the main targets have been identified." Pausing to gather his thoughts, Eric inquired, "What if this time, our plan involves a lot more people? What if any change becomes too costly?" he added worriedly. "If you don't get rid of the toxic wasp, you will get stung," Brian quipped metaphorically. His voice remained impassive and his look unconcerned. Brian took another puff. Hopefully, the nicotine would take effect now and help him calm down a little.

Though cryptic, Eric understood what his brother was trying to say. He knew he was between a rock and a hard place. If, as Brian said, he didn't get rid of these problems, the day would come when the peace is rocked, and trouble is stirred. But if Eric succeeds in addressing the issues, Dragon Island would suffer unthinkable losses both politically and economically.

"Just do what you have to do," Brian said briskly, as he snuffed the cigarette into the ashtray. "I'll deal with the rest."

His tone was arrogant and domineering but Eric found it to be soothing since he was undergoing tremendous pressure dealing with Dragon Island affairs these days. "Brian, can I... Can I really become an excellent leader?" Eric asked with a hint of doubt. Brian stopped in his tracks after hearing Eric say this. He looked at his cousin seriously before answering, "If you don't believe in yourself, you might as well step down now."

The reply was so unexpected that Eric complained, "Can't you just encourage me for once?" Switching to a serious tone, Eric said, "Brian, I am part of the Long family. Whatever the future may hold, regardless of the result of our plans, every blood and sweat that comes out of my body is for this family, and I can sacrifice everything for the Island."

His brother's face lit up at Eric's speech. "You blaze a trail, I'll cover you! That is my responsibility as a member of the Long family," Brian declared.

This drew a hearty laugh from Eric. They were, after all, blood relatives. Setting aside their feelings for Molly, they would always be on the same side, whatever happens.

When it came to Molly though, Brian and Eric were on opposing sides. Unfortunately, there was only one Molly. Maybe if he became ruler of Dragon Island, Eric would be better able to protect and shelter the girl.

Meanwhile, Molly laid out three necklaces on the table, all of which she kept inside her drawer. The first, made of a shell, was given by Eric. The other, laden with Spark's Love, was called Sunny Day. And the third was from Brian. Technically, it wasn't a necklace but a wedding ring named the Soul of K that Brian gave her.

Each of the three men differed in character. Eric was dangerous, but he would always be there for Molly when she was sad and alone. Spark was aloof, but it was under his care when he saw her transform from a girl into a woman, and then a mother. Now, Brian was the most indifferent among the three. The thought of Brian made Molly's heart ache. Irritated and in grief, she bit her lips and shut her eyes to hide her pain even with no one around to see it. Concealing her feelings seemed to have become a habit for Molly.

Suddenly, she remembered hearing one remark. It said that if you didn't love, you were able to ignore. Oblivion might make you feel guilty, but never heartache. The person who leaves you heartbroken is the one you love the most. When you love, you can overlook how wrongly he treats you and still replace some decency in that person to make it worth staying with him.

This was what she felt for Brian. Molly's lips quivered as she continued to sob. Gritting her teeth, she mumbled, "Brian, you bastard!"

Before she could stop herself, Molly had opened her eyes, grabbed the ring, rushed to the window and hurled it outside. It all happened very quickly yet smoothly. Molly, not fully aware of what she'd done, saw the ring with its tiny blue light twinkling disappear into a cover of darkness. 0000