Dragon Empire Group planned to march into the cosmetic industry. They tried before but they didn't
really invest much. But since the Group had the lion's share of the market, the only way they could go
now is to uncharted territory and that included cosmetics.
Ding dong!
the doorbell rang. Eric frowned a bit with no idea who the visitor might be. He stood up, looked through
the peephole, then opened the door. "Uncle Richie," he called.
"Umm," Richie stepped in. Eric closed the door and stared at Richie nervously. He was a bit afraid of
him if he were being honest. Richie threw a look at him and Eric put on a robe out of embarrassment.
"Uncle Richie, it's so late. What are you doing still up?" he said easily.
"I was dealing with some business," Richie said as he sat on the sofa.
Eric poured Richie a glass of wine, and sat in front of him, "And what brings you here?"
"How are things with the parliament?" Richie took a sip and said, "This year was different. Frank was
supposed to step down, and you're the only one in the Long family who's in the National Congress. If
you mess this up, the whole country's going to blow up into pieces."
"People against our family have been mobilizing for a while—it worked for a while but I still don't think
they can turn things around," Eric said earnestly.
"It's good to be confident," Richie looked detached, his eyes sharp and twinkling, "But don't
underestimate your opponents."
"I understand," Eric was certainly aware what would happen if the succession went wrong and he
wasn't the next ruler. Even if the Long family didn't lose all control, it would still affect their power, and
that would make things difficult for them. This was exactly why Brian, instead of going to Las Vegas,
went to QY Island. After all, the market there was huge. If it was ever undermined, his company would
suffer great losses.
Richie nodded. Now that Brian took over XK Intelligence Agency, he certainly wouldn't be coming back
to Dragon Island. Besides, he was too free-loving to being bound by the National Congress, thus
making Eric the only possible successor. Every party involved wanted to take a chance and overthrow
the leadership.
"It's late. Get some rest," Richie put down the glass and stood up.
"Good night," Eric said.
Eric was relieved when Richie left. Even before his father, he didn't feel this stressed but Richie was
too daunting. Every time Richie talked to him, Eric was always uneasy because Richie liked to do
things his way.
Long nights always caused one to overthink especially if you're alone.
The same could be said about both Eric and Edgar.
Maybe it was the wine and Edgar spent his entire night zoning in and out. After he got home to his villa,
he collapsed on the chair in the garden—legs crossed, one arm nestled under one leg, and another on
the chair back. He looked at the distance as his mind wandered off.
He thought back to his past.
"Edgar, didn't you say that you weren't going to join the army?" the little girl asked timidly.
The boy looked at the girl, then answered, "Well, I want to do it now."
"But why?"
"Why?" the boy murmured, "Not everything you do has to have a reason."
The little girl went silent. She lowered her head and fidgeted with her fingers. After a while, she choked,
"But, I don't want you to go."
"I've made up my mind," the boy's tone was final and determined.
Again, the girl grew silent. She was quiet for a long time. They just sat on the bench in their silence. It
wasn't until late that night when the girl's little brother started crying did she go home. The boy gazed at
her figure until it disappeared entirely. Then a hint of sadness crept onto his face, "Molly, I'm sorry." he
murmured.
The boy then turned around and walked home with heavy steps. He was leaving. He had no idea how
she would react after she knew about Steven. He could no longer protect her. 'Molly, be strong. You will
have a great life. You will, ' he wished.
He left.
Edgar grimaced. It didn't matter for him whether he left or not - all he knew was it was over and he
missed her the whole time he was away. But did that really mean it was over for them? Would he never
get her back again?
"You've been drinking? " The voice was clear and strong.
Edgar knew it was Jennifer even if he hadn't looked. No other person could enter his house just like
that—without him knowing it.
Jennifer sat beside Edgar, nestled against the chair and said, "Why did you drink so much? Are you in
a bad mood?"
Edgar threw a look at her, then answered coldly, "A bit, yeah, I'm feeling down."
Jenifer didn't expect that answer. She froze a bit, then laughed and said, "Edgar, Molly and Brian are
already legally married in QY Island. You don't stand a chance now. No one would care whether you're
sad or not. It's of no use."
Edgar's eyes darkened at her words as he replied, "But, you care, don't you?" He added, "Jennifer, do
you enjoy seeing me like this? Do you like seeing me go crazy over Molly? Losing my mind over
regret? While Molly may not be mine, that doesn't mean I'm yours either."
Jennifer was seething but Edgar ignored her and walked back into the house, "There's a meeting
tomorrow and it's your first day in office. Don't be late, deputy mayor."
Jenifer squinted her eyes and gritted her teeth in an attempt to calm down. But when Edgar called her
"deputy mayor", she lost it, "Edgar, if I'm going down, I'm dragging you down with me."
Edgar paused, then slightly swiveled his body and said in a cold voice, "I don't care." Then he walked
in and closed the door, leaving Jennifer outside.
Jennifer's eyes turned cruel and wicked. She said through her teeth, "We'll see if you can be as calm
when that day comes."
'Edgar, you made a deal with my grandfather. You waltzed into my life. And now you're playing victim?
Now you treat me like nothing? Is it because of Molly? Okay, let's see how would you feel when the one
you care so much starts to suffer. '
Her chilliness and ruthlessness wafted through the air. A woman would go crazy when they became
jealous. And while very few of them ever acted on it, if they do, things could become very ugly and
unpredictable.
*
It was sunny in QY Island. Molly also felt great. She woke up early to prepare breakfast. After a while,
the meal was ready. Meanwhile, Brian was also packing his stuff before he went downstairs. They were
sweet and happy just like any other couple in a honeymoon.
"Mark just rang me up and asked when we would come back." Molly reported while poured Brian a
glass of milk.
"The day after tomorrow," Brian replied, "I still have some unfinished work to do."
Surprised, Molly gaped at Brian.
Brian explained, "Eric's a bit tied up recently. I have to help him deal with the things of the playground."
Every night after Molly was sound asleep, Brian would get off bed and start working, but Molly had no
idea.
Molly nodded as she held her glass of milk. 'So we go out and our days are pretty much filled from
dawn to dark. How did he squeeze his work in?' Molly thought.
Suddenly the phone rang, snapping her out of her trance. Brian put his glass down and glanced at the
screen before putting the call through. "Mr Brian, Daniel has escaped," the voice said.
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