Eric knew that Brian was bothered - he knew him too well, he could read it in his eyes. Eric continued
to chatter with Brian about the island, completely disregarding Molly's presence. 'Since when did Brian
start to trust her? Since when could we talk about business in front of a woman?' Eric thought, a grin
plastered on his face.
As soon as they finished their conversation, Eric got up and left.
He got into his car and turned Molly's shell over his palm. His mind was racing - he couldn't take his
mind off Molly's surprise when she saw him and how she turned red around Brian.
Eric felt his body stiffen up at this thought. He wished he didn't feel jealous but he did. He wished he
was still too arrogant for these kinds of things but he wasn't.
Eric closed up his palm hiding the shell from his sight. He stared blankly outside - deep in thought. His
face slowly broke into a smile - not the delightful kind of smile but the knowing kind of smile as if he
was planning something, as if he had just figured something out. He turned the engine on and started
to back his car up.
The next day, the sun shone so brightly in the early morning as if it was shining for the very first time.
Molly sat under a sunshade in the Seaview Hotel backyard, eating her breakfast alone. Brian and Tony
had already left. Her mind was deep in thought, it was racing from what she had heard between Eric
and Brian the previous night. The island was big enough for it to accommodate an underground scene,
a place where the rich could squander off their money, but never a casino. And she heard that Brian
was planning to operate a casino few times of the size of Grand Night Casino.
Molly lifted the glass of milk she was having for breakfast and touched her lips to the rim - lost in
thought.
"Isn't it a little bit too early for you to be thinking about Brian?"
a voice suddenly said. The man took a seat beside Molly.
Molly had no idea how he got here - she usually had this place to herself. Molly hadn't realized that she
had actually taken a sip from her glass and was chocked on her milk.
Molly, by this time, was coughing intensely.
Seeing this, Eric scoffed,"How old are you, anyway? Why can't you handle your milk?"
Despite the teasing, Eric still handed her paper towels to clean herself up and patted her on the back
as she threw a fit of coughs. Eric touched her so gently, like he was not the man he was anymore.
Molly had just been spewing out the last of her coughs, her face completely red,"Are you really here
just to scare people?"
Eric didn't seem to hear what Molly said. He was putting something around Molly. "What are you
doing?" Molly asked, incredulous.
Eric stayed quiet as he clicked the necklace shut around Molly's neck. He turned her around, he was
amused,"We've known each for forever and I've never had the chance to give you something."
"A necklace?" Molly asked, suspicious. She looked down to look at the necklace and her eyes lit up,"Is
this the shell from last night?"
Molly lifted her head and met Eric's eyes, almost as if looking for something, almost as if she wanted to
say something without speaking the words. Eric nodded. Her anger disappeared suddenly, replaced by
delights.
Molly was sort of relieved because she planned on asking the shell back from Eric last night. But with
Brian there, Molly didn't have the chance to.
"Do you like it?" Eric asked, hopeful.
"Yes, I do. I like it very much." Molly responded.
Eric's heart glowed at the sight of Molly smiling and admiring the necklace. He knew giving this to her
would make her happy but he didn't know that she would be this happy. Eric got lost in Molly's eyes -
they sparkled. It reminded him of Becky's, to some extent.
Becky grew up wealthy - anything she asked for, she got it. She was used to getting anything that she
wants. Brian only continued to spoil her when they started dating. Becky's eyes never lit up like this,
like the way Molly's had had. And to Eric, it was the most beautiful thing in the world.
"Eric, do you know that..." "... you're the first ever person to give me a present?" Molly finished. She
said this with a smile. She wasn't done admiring her necklace. It was absolutely beautiful and to Molly,
it didn't matter that it wasn't worth much - what mattered was that it was the first present that she had
ever received and she loved it.
Molly had never once received a gift, not for her birthdays and even not from her parents.
Eric should be happy to see her like this, but he stopped at this,"Wait, what? No one's ever given you a
gift before?" Eric was surprised.
"Nope, never," Molly said matter-of-factly.
"How about your parents? They never gave you a gift?" Eric probed. Molly shook her head. "How about
Brian?" Eric continued.
She didn't expect that Eric would ask her that but she shook her head again,"No. This is the first."
'My parents never even bothered to give me a gift what more Brian? A person who sees me as a
plaything, ' Molly thought to herself.
Eric didn't ever imagine that this present would be so important to her. He didn't realize that he would
be so upset by Molly's words - he frowned. Eric heaved a breath, not knowing what to do.
Eric's family practically owned Dragon Island - they were basically royalty. He was trained to be the heir
of his family and led a wealthy life. He had received thousands of presents from people so he was
blinded by privilege thinking no one could be so poor that they've never received a present in their
whole life.
Eric watched Molly quietly. 'I didn't even think I liked her before, ' Eric realized. 'Maybe because I
thought she was weak. If her eyes didn't look like Becky's, Brian wouldn't even look at her.'
'But if you get to know her better, you'll find that Molly has some resistance in her body - she's
stubborn. That's what she is. But she keeps that to herself.' Eric thought to himself.
Molly was starting to feel uncomfortable as she felt Eric's eyes on her - he was watching her in a weird
way. "What's happening?" Molly asked.
"Little Molly, I promise you," Eric said, taking her hand,"No matter what happens in the future..." Eric
meant every word he said to her as he held on to Molly's hands tightly,"I will send you a gift every year."
Eric promised her.
This was a simple promise but it made Molly's heart skip a beat. She had forgotten that Eric was still
holding her hand and that they were still staring intently at one another in silence. At this exact
moment, Eric had taken Molly's breath away.
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