"She's with Spark now. They are in a car together and they've driven off," he informed in a blank voice.
"They're gone? Where are they going?" the other voice on the phone asked.
"I don't know yet. Either way, I called to tell you so you can change your plan accordingly. After all, who
would want their wife to be seen spending the day with another man? Doesn't matter if he loves her or
not, he'd rather kill her than embarrass himself like that," he said shrewdly. There was a cunning look in
his eyes.
"How can you be so sure?" the voice asked sarcastically.
He snorted in response. "Don't forget your promise, I'll be waiting for my money today,"
Then he hung up the phone without waiting for a response. Meanwhile, Hannah was still holding her
phone against her ear, her eyes glinting.
"You look happy, what was that call about?" Jennifer said when she saw her absorbing in her own
revery. Then her eyes dilated as if she just realized something, "Looks like you just found a way to win
Brian back," she suggested.
Hannah shrugged, "It's not that, it's just..." she trailed off, suddenly realizing that she didn't want to tell
anyone her plans until she was sure about it. She grinned sheepishly at Jennifer and said, "Just let it
go. So, how are things between you and Mayor Gu?" Jennifer averted Hannah's gaze. She looked out
and just in time, caught sight of Edgar standing in the corridor talking to a few staffs in a serious face.
Jennifer turned and walked towards Edgar. A wave of mixed emotions surged over when she saw him,
"What's mine is mine and it will always be like that. No one can steal anything away from me," she
mumbled to herself.
*
The Central Gallery.
Lucy had been very busy that day. She had been touring visitors around and telling them about her
work. She was pleasantly surprised to find that more people had come than she had expected and to
add to that, she was able to sell a couple of paintings at a more expensive price than she had originally
planned. Even Brian, who couldn't be there, had sent Tony over to buy something as a way of
supporting her. There were still two days left of her exhibition and Lucy was hoping they'd both turn out
as smoothly as this one.
John and Lisa were beaming with pride as they watched the gallery buzz with so many people. They
had waited for this day forever. Today was the day one of Lucy's dreams had finally come true.
"Mom, some have already left. You can rest now," Lucy said to Lisa as she handed her a cup of tea.
So they went to the lounge chair to rest. As Lisa sipped on her tea, Lucy poured one for herself. "Lucy,
we're so proud of you. We've never been happier. This is your dream and it's happening," Lisa said.
She paused then continued, "We only hope that you won't forget how much Brian has supported you
along the way. You wouldn't have this success if it weren't for him," Lisa said grimly.
"Mom, I know, you've told me that like a thousand times already," she said, a bit annoyed.
But Lisa continued, "I know you think I say too much sometimes, but you shouldn't ever forget where
you came from. If you were a seed, he was the one who watered you, fertilized you, and made you who
you are today. You wouldn't be the grown tree that you are now if it weren't for him. Now that he's
married to Molly, you better start thinking about your future too. We still want to see our grandson
before we are too old," she said wistfully.
Lucy pursed her lips and asked skeptically, "Mom, are Molly and Brian really married?"
"Of course they are!" Lisa said, surprised. "They have a son now and they need to protect him.
Because they're married, that makes Mark a part of the family." After working for Brian for so many
years, Lisa always regarded Brian as a kindhearted person as opposed to the cold, distant person
many others thought him to be. She continued, "They were married in QY Island."
"So are you saying that Brian only married Molly for Mark?" Lucy said, astounded.
Lisa didn't answer her right away. She gazed at the people milling about the exhibition room as she
thought over her answer, "I don't think Mark's the only reason why they got married. I can see that
because I can see the way Brian looks at Molly. It's completely different. I've never seen Brian look at
anyone else like that, not even Becky," Lisa said with confidence.
Lucy blinked her eyes rapidly in doubt. She was trying to keep the conversation casual so that Lisa
wouldn't see right through her. "Maybe you are right. But I just haven't seen Brian be at least nice to
Molly since they returned from QY Island. They don't even look like a happy, sweet couple that has just
married," she said, looking around to see if someone could hear their conversation. Then she leaned
towards Lisa and told her about what happened the other day with a cautious look on her face. Lisa
was taken aback. Lucy continued, "Although I don't know if it really was poison, but I mean, if Brian
could lie to Molly about doing that then that doesn't seem like a happily married couple to me. Brian
doesn't even seem to care for Molly," she commented.
There was a long silence. Lisa was holding her cup of tea tightly and looking at it with deep, pensive
eyes. She was worried about Brian and Molly. She just wanted them to be happy together because she
cared about them so much. After a while, she lifted her head and looked ahead, yearningly, "We don't
know for sure. But even then, I know for a fact that Molly means so much to Brian," she said firmly.
Noting her worry, Lucy smiled brightly at Lisa and averted their subject. But though they started talking
other subject, she could not help thinking about Brian and herself. She looked at Lisa to find that she
had the same worried and concerned look on her face. 'I never should've brought this up. Of all days, I
just had to choose today!' she scolded herself in her mind. Eventually, they chitchatted more about
other lighter and happier things and they both were at ease again. After a while, an assistant walked up
to them.
"Lucy, you have a customer. He wants to buy one of your paintings," she reported.
Lucy nodded and rose from her chair. Then she turned to Lisa, "Mom, I have to go. Just stay here, no
need to follow me or hurry," she said and then left with the assistant.
The assistant led her to the exhibition room and stretched out her arm to point towards her painting of
the tall and thin girl dressed in a long, black dress that was standing under a willow tree. Her head was
lightly lifted up towards the tree as if she was praying or yearning for something. All of the things in the
painting, whether the green, vivid grass and the willow twigs, or her soft hair, or the lace at her dress,
they were all painted in a way as if they were dancing along with the wind. "The client is right over
there," the assistant said.
Lucy looked towards where the assistant was pointing. Her eyes fell on a man who was standing in
front of the painting, examining it. He was wearing a light blue shirt and sleek black pants. His hair was
black and tidily combed back. Even though Lucy couldn't see his face, she could already feel his
authoritative demeanor.
Lucy smiled at the assistant and motioned to tell her that she could leave now. Then she walked up
towards the man and stood beside him. "I'd be flattered if you thought that this exhibition made your trip
worth the travel. Would you like to buy this painting sir?" she asked politely.
"I do," the man said without looking at her.
"Then, I'd assume you want to name this painting," she said, smiling.
"Conquest," he said without hesitation. Then he turned to Lucy and looked closely in her eyes. She
knew it was Jeff from the start but she didn't expect him to come. "You think that name fits the
painting?" he said, lifting his eyebrows and his eyes flickering.
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