Elias looked at Eric's face before glancing at Brian's direction, his expression full of excitement.
With arms crossed and a slight cough to earn their respective attention, he told to them with a tone void
of emotion.
"I changed her medications with an improved brand which will help Miss Xia to talk with ease once she
wakes."
"Are you certain?" Eric said, eagerness clear in his tone. Having Molly awake and her voice restored
would be wonderful, and he wished to make sure it will be possible.
Nodding his head, Elias supplemented his answer confidently, "I am positive. Don't you trust in my
skills? Besides, this is a recent incident. Treating her illness at this stage is much better." "But..." Elias
paused, and his mind processed a series of thoughts at once. His expression became grave.
Elias hesitated to say more in front of them.
With brows knitted, Brian noted his change of expression as well as the unwelcome 'but' and pause at
the end. It brought apprehension to his well-being, which something he despised.
"What is it?" he asked. Eric noticed the change and his expression became stern.
The two men's expression became palpable to Elias vision, but he shrugged it off, sighing as he spoke
to them, "Miss Xia had been forcing herself to speak these past few days which might result to damage
of her vocal cords although unlikely. If she continues to do this, she will face consequences."
Thinking about those spoken words had Eric in deep concentration. He turned to Brian and saw his
similar unchanged indifference on his face. Only if his eyes could mask his emotions well. There was a
trace of regret deep within his dark orbs.
"When will she wake?", Brian's gaze focused on Elias, his pose was rigid as his face but his tone was
too light to match his visual aura. It overall surprised him.
Stunned, Elias dismissed the momentary pass and thought for a sound answer, "She might wake up
tonight or tomorrow morning if there's no accident."
Brian nodded and turned to the silent man at the side, "Tony, prepare an office for Elias."
Tony acknowledged, "Yes, sir." He looked at Elias and gestured to follow him. The two left.
After Elias left, the hospital staff pushed Molly's bed out. She was asleep because of the effects of the
medications, despite the movements of the transport.
Brian stood, with his laptop on his hand, together with Eric as they followed the hospital staff and Molly
out of the room and into her assigned room. The staff left them standing before the bed. The two didn't
feel like leaving. Brian sat on the couch and resumed working with this laptop. Someone could hear
only the sound of keyboards. Eric stared at him, confused. He wanted to say something but he
remained silent.
The soft knocking sound interrupted the silence of the room.
The knocking ceased, the door opened and Lenny walked into view with her head down, "Young
Master, Mr. Brian Long, we have prepared your dinner. Where do you want to eat; here or in the dining
room?"
"Here!"
"Here!"
They chorused the same answer and glanced at each other for a moment. Both held contrasting gaze
at each other; one was cold and distant while the other held arrogance and defiance. Lenny shook her
head at the two.
Eric was first to break the eye contact, his gaze drifting to Molly and said, "Bring it here." "The aroma of
the food will likely wake Little Molly up. I wonder what she will say the first time she wakes up," he
added, his gaze remained on her sleeping face.
Brian froze at his words, thinking also of it in silence. His gaze went to Molly's face and thought of
scenarios that might come once she gained consciousness.
Lenny couldn't care less what Molly would say when she woke up because, for her, it was never
important. Her gaze lingered at the man she secretly held feelings for. The most important thing was
her Young Master's feeling towards Molly.
With a heavy heart, she turned to leave in silence. As Eric's chosen secret guard, she was obliged to
follow him everywhere. It felt like destiny to her and she was glad. She was able to see him in a new
light. But, seeing him also led her to form these unsuspecting feelings. And now, the view of him with
that look for another wounded her.
After Lenny's departure, the room was once again filled with awkward atmosphere and the sound of
keyboards. Eric noticed Brian's presence as he sat and continue working on his laptop. He was utterly
surprised by the gesture.
'Is he in love with her?' he thought, asking within himself as he continued to stare at him.
His gaze swept past Brain to Molly and admired her peaceful sleeping face, free from worries of the
world and cozy in the depths and warmth of futon. In the beginning, she served as a toy, manipulated
easily in their hands. Now, she held the most important part of their lives. Was this good or bad? He
was unsure of the answer.
Eric's eyes alerted to Molly's slight movement. From her shirt pocket fell a familiar item he easily
recognized. It was the necklace he had given her a long time ago. His heart tugged; reminiscing her
smile and her words as vowed to keep it as it was the first present she ever received. She certainly
kept her promise.
The thought made him smile. It was not the practiced smirk he wore as a display. The smile held
genuine feelings from his heart and mirroring on his beautiful set of eyes.
The typing stopped as Brian stared at Eric's expression. He took notice of the growing smile on his face
which made him frown. The trail of vision, Brian followed, landed on Molly and at once made him feel a
wave of inexplicable anger.
"Brian," Eric suddenly uttered, his eyes remained on the sleeping woman. His sudden call startled him
but he remained silent, wanting to hear more.
"Once things are settled, I want to take Molly back to the Dragon Island." he said, his voice sounded
low and finality was embedded on his words.
"Dad and mom will, without doubt, like her." he continued, a smile was once again on his face.
"I guess grandpa and grandma will like her as well." "Yeah? Well, I don't know about others but Uncle
Frank will surely dislike her." Brian unemotionally stated as he glanced at Molly.
"Why do you say so?" Eric challenged his answer, disagreeing at his words and reasoning.
"Her identity." Brian answered simply. His face was devoid of emotion as their eyes met. They both
displayed contrasting emotions.
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