Love Began with the First Meeting
Chapter 838 The Proposal (Part Four)

Scanning over the dresses one by one, her eyes finally settled on a blue dress that had delicate flowers embroidered on it. She remembered how Brian's eyes had flashed with passionate light when she had worn a similar blue dress when she was out on a date with him previously. "He should like me in this blue dress," she softly murmured to herself and slipped it on. In addition to that, she wore a mink coat over her dress to compliment the color. 'This is not enough! I need some makeup.' She sat down in front of her dresser and began doing her hair and makeup.

After all of the preparations were done, Molly looked at herself in the mirror with a sense of contentment for a while. Suddenly she realized that an hour had already passed since she had left Brian downstairs. With a quiet and awkward grin, she grabbed her purse and hurried from the room.

Brian was sitting on the couch, quietly reading the newspapers. He had always been very patient at everything. Waiting while she dressed herself was a small matter to him.

"Well... I..." Molly drawled seductively as she walked slowly down the stairs and advanced on him. Her heart was fluttering now, beating like a bewildered bird.

Brian lifted his head and rested his eyes on her. After the hard and intense training by the Golden Flowers, Molly had learned to make herself look attractive and draw others' attention.

And right now, she could see the effect of her efforts as Brian's eyes became fully absorbed and flickered with fascination. "I reserved the table for half past six," Brian looked at his watch as he added. "We've still got half an hour to hang around." Then he rose from his seat and took Molly's hands to draw her close to him. "You look amazing," he said softly with his hot eyes roving over her delicate figure.

Molly's cheeks burned feverishly at his compliment. After all, he was the kind of person who would rarely offer a compliment on anything. Pouting her lips shyly, Molly lowered her head to avoid looking into his burning, passionate eyes. For a moment, she was so shy that she was tortured for something to say to him, and the tension built between them. Then she said softly and slowly, "Maybe we should move off. There might be a traffic jam at this time of the day," she suggested in husky, coy voice.

Molly was shy and flushed. Her long, thick lashes flashed over her luminous, large eyes. Her face shone golden like a flower that had just opened its blossom after the spring rain, both new and fragile. Brian was fascinated; awestruck, he could not take it in. The natural impulse of men's passion at seeing such beauty possessed his body. But now was not the time. The right time had not yet come. He swallowed heavily to stop his salivation and turned to the stern, serious face that he wore for the outside world as a safety measure against his urgent feelings.

With their hands tightly interlocked, they walked straight towards the parked car. Everything was hued in red, hot colors as the last glimpse of the sunlight retreated from the earth.

As they drove off from the Long Family Mansion, three figures that had been hiding behind the flowerbeds revealed themselves.

And it went without saying that they should be Eric, Wing and Mark as they had been keeping a close eye on the whole proposal matter. They all hoped it would happen before the marriage was officiated. Jumping out swiftly from behind the flowerbed, Mark inquired excitedly, "Aunt Wing, Uncle Eric, do you think Papa Brian will propose to Mommy at their dinner tonight?"

"Of course he will." A confident light shone in Wing's eyes. "Brian is not a fool, and Molly's emotions are so easily seen that a stranger could tell what she is longing for right now."

However, Eric was holding a completely different opinion on the whole situation. "I am thinking the opposite though," he opposed, shaking his head. "You know Brian, he is the kind of person who holds his reputation and dignity above everything. Otherwise, Molly and he wouldn't have had to endure so much to finally be together. To others, expressing their love is done just as easily as a normal chitchat. But to them, it is as hard as being locked up and tortured for a confession," he added. His eyes narrowed and he stared at the direction Brian and Molly had driven off as he contemplated his thoughts.

"He is likely correct," Mark muttered depressingly and looked up at Wing with big, bright eyes full of yearning. "Aunt Wing, what if Papa Brian won't propose to mom? Do you think... that Mommy will refuse him because she is disappointed? Would she leave again if she didn't marry him?" he asked wistfully, his eyes tearing up in distress.

Wing stooped down and looked tenderly at Mark. She rubbed his small head with her long, slender fingers and coaxed, "Don't worry, I promise he will propose." Then she looked up at Eric with her chin lifted in confidence. "Eric, why don't we make a bet? I bet that Brian will propose," she challenged Eric.

Eric was intrigued. He did not believe in the least that Brian was the kind of fellow who would display his emotions in public, much less propose marriage in public. It would certainly leave Brian too vulnerable to public scrutiny, and that was something which he would never do. With his clear understanding of his cousin, Eric confidently accepted Wing's challenge. "Then I bet that he will not say a word related to a proposal, and you can bet on whatever you like. You know why? Because you are doomed to lose," he said, smiling slyly at Wing. "Well then," Wing lifted her brows with a negligent, indifferent expression on her face and accepted Eric's provocation, "if you lose, you will have to be Brian's best man," she proclaimed, smiling in defiance.

Her terms were a direct blow for Eric.

He could not help choking at the sudden impact of her request. "Wing, are you going to be that cruel?" he cried loud in shock. The idea had not at all entered the realm of his mind, that he would be forced to fulfill a position at Brian's wedding as the best man. He thought it would be so awkward to play such a role, especially considering that he was the ruler of Dragon Island right now.

"Why? Don't you have the nerve to do that?" Clearly noting his concern, Wing laughed out loud with irony. "It is not too late if you want to withdraw your bet, you know. And don't worry. You have my word. I won't mock you," she said, her voice resonant and triumphant. Although her mouth promised to be forgiving, Eric could clearly see from her gloating, bright eyes that she had every intention of playing jokes on him and teasing him forever. This was something which he didn't want. It would not be tolerated by his usual haughty and insolent manner. ☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐