Love Began with the First Meeting
Chapter 648 Return Of The Ring (Part One)

The ring you placed on my finger was like a shiny crown when I thought you loved me. Once I found out you didn't love me, wearing the ring was like torture. It ripped my heart apart.. Halting, Molly turned to look at Brian. A sneer slowly formed in her mouth as she said, "No, thanks." She then turned around again and kept going.

Molly no longer needed his concern. She didn't want anything from Brian anymore. The first time she made the mistake of falling for him, it was out of carelessness. The second time, her mistake was thinking there was a chance for the two of them. But her heart was deeply scarred from those two occasions. If she made the same mistake again, she would be the biggest fool in the world. She muttered to herself, "Brian, forget being kind to me. I don't need it anymore."

Brian's hands squeezed the wheel so hard in frustration as he stared at Molly's back. He didn't realize he was pressing on the steering wheel with so much force until he heard a shrill noise that sounded like a scream.

As she walked on, Molly wanted to turn around several times to check if Brian was still there. She finally banished the thought and kept looking straight ahead. She quickened her steps, and her speed accelerated going down the hill. Only by putting everything behind her could she keep her head clear and remain determined.

Upon reaching the bus stop, she clutched at the strap of her bag and looked ahead. Slowly, she became lost in thought until the bus finally arrived. Molly hopped on quickly.

Just after the bus drove away, a Mercedes pulled over at the roadside.

Watching the bus leave, Brian leaned against his seat, melancholy etched all over his face.

The car phone rang and broke into his thoughts. He lowered his eyes and answered.

"Mr. Brian Long, I am in A City now," a frosty voice said.

"Okay, good," Brian replied without emotion. "You go there first. I will be there soon," he added.

"Yes, sir," Brian heard the other person answer.

After hanging up, Brian again looked at the direction the bus drove off in, before starting his car. He made a U-turn and drove in the opposite direction.

*

The manor looked depressing and smelled of blood. It was in complete contrast to the beautiful view surrounding the place.

Vincent leaned against a tree. He wore a black athletic shirt and light tan casual pants, and black fingerless gloves. A shiny survival knife glinted in his left hand, as his right thumb slowly rubbed the knife's edge. He appeared sluggish while staring into the distance. But his tan face was as cold as ice.

"Hey, Crazy!" Vincent heard someone call out. It was Harrow walking over, dressed in a snazzy suit. He was in a proper gentleman's attire with a suit ideal for the quiet manor. But somehow, Harrow still looked out of place.

Turning to meet Harrow, Vincent said indifferently, "You're still here?"

Harrow ignored the question and instead asked, "Why is Lucy being kept here?" He had been wondering about this.

The thumb rubbing the knife stopped. Without expression, Vincent replied, "You know, there are questions that you shouldn't be asking. You know that, right? That's one of them."

Harrow shrugged and said, "I was just wondering. By the way, is Mr. Brian Long coming over later?" This time Vincent didn't answer but flashed Harrow a frosty look. Embarrassed, the latter grinned and said, "If Mr. Brian Long is coming, I will stay and wait for him." "If I were you, I'd leave," Vincent quickly interrupted. He withdrew his eyes and looked ahead before continuing, "You're rarely involved in dark business. I don't think you'll like what is going to happen here."

Involuntarily, Harrow shuddered and swallowed hard. He understood what Vincent implied. His mouth twitched slightly. "All right then. I'm leaving. I have to go check on Spark," Harrow said.

With a final shrug, Harrow left the manor. Not long after he left, Brian arrived. As soon as the car drove up, Vincent stood and strode over.

"Mr. Brian Long," he greeted the man respectfully. Alighting from the vehicle, Brian straightened and then looked at Vincent.

He sized the man up before giving a faint smile. "Thank you for your hard work," Brian acknowledged.

"It's my job," Vincent said. Under Brian's intense stare, Vincent felt somewhat shy and scratched his head in embarrassment. "Did she talk?" Brian queried. He started walking towards the back of the house. Vincent tagged along behind him. "She doesn't look good. She's been this way ever since she learned about Jeff failing," Vincent reported.

Brian slowed down and looked at Vincent before he continued walking.

Seeing Brian approaching, his men greeted him, and all of them stood aside respectfully. Slumped on the ground and close to lifeless, Lucy's hands were on the floor to support the upper part of her body. Brian walked over and crouched down beside her. She raised eyes with a lost look. Lucy didn't seem to recognize Brian until after several minutes. When she did, the woman crawled back in terror, her eyes now wide open, and stuttering, "Mr... Mr. Brian Long!"

Watching her cringe in a corner, Brian said without emotion, "Hmmm, good." Lucy shook her head slightly to indicate she didn't understand what he meant. Brian added, "John and Lisa are kind and honest people. I wonder why they have a daughter like you." She pressed her lips, held her breath and stared at Brian. Through clenched teeth, she said, "What of me?" Sniffing, Lucy went on, "I just don't want to live like this anymore. I don't want to be the daughter of the help all my life. I want a better life for myself. Is that so wrong?"

Her words made Brian raise an eyebrow. But he answered coldly, "No, it's not wrong. I never thought you saw your parents that way," Brian sounded a little sad. "How can you look down on your parents, Lucy? Should I be feeling sorry for you or your parents?" "Shut up!" Lucy shouted at him. "I have never looked down on my parents. I did everything for them," she defended herself.

"Did it for them?" Brian sneered, anger clouding his eyes. "For them or for yourself? Lucy, you've been working for me for more than ten years. You should know what I'm capable of and what happens to people who mess with me. But sadly, you were so blinded by your desires that you forgot all this," he said. Standing up, he controlled his fury.

His words sent chills down Lucy's spine. Her lips trembled uncontrollably, her breathing became heavier, and her eyes turned red. Lucy still wasn't sure about Brian's true nature, but she was sure of one thing: he could take a person's life without blinking. Brian asked her pointedly, "Lucy, you think Jeff loves you? He doesn't. He never has." The man sighed sadly. Suddenly, Brian felt sorry for Lucy. "You did so many things for him. Don't you regret it?" "You're wrong! Jeff loves me. He loves me!" she was shrieking now. Lucy was slowly turning hysterical.

"I'm wrong?" Brian rarely raised his voice but did so now. He couldn't believe what he heard. Brian held out his hand, and Vincent handed him a file. After tossing it to Lucy, he said, "Have a look."0000000