Love Began with the First Meeting novel Chapter 1406

"Distinguished guests, thank you for coming to attend my birthday party today..."

With a reddish glow creeping on his face, Roger stood on the stage wearing a stately Tang suit, a traditional Chinese garment. Hidden lights cast soft and gentle beams of light on his large family, which included his son, daughter-in-law, daughter, son-in-law, grandchildren and so on. He delivered the note of acknowledgement like a much younger man, whose strength belied his age. There were sounds of clicking against the shutters from time to time, which presented a most harmonious tone to this sonorous moment.

"Today, I would like to make an announcement." Roger paused, indicated that the audience should focus on Henrik, and then Roger continued with a proud smile, "My grandson Henrik is going to be taking charge of The Kingdom of Rocks."

Although the gathered guests and media representatives might have already predicted the announcement before the party, they were still somewhat surprised when Roger made the official announcement. At that moment, all the spotlights were shining on Henrik, and the reporters looked forward to creating a dramatic headline.

"Fine, let me be brief. If you guys take care of my Henrik, I would be incredibly grateful." Roger seemed to crack a joke then. "Next, let's welcome Henrik to give us an opening dance!"

The party was being held to celebrate Roger's birthday, but right at this moment, the lime light had shifted from Roger to Henrik. The news had now been released that he would take over The Kingdom of Rocks. In other words, this announcement had been Roger's real purpose all along. After all, the four big families had to do something to fight back, since Eric had so ruthlessly suppressed and crippled them.

Henrik hadn't brought a dance partner to the party. However, there were dozens of starlets and single ladies from established families who were willing to oblige. Therefore, as the gentle music began playing, these women were all hoping that Henrik would invited them for this special dance. The Ji Family was on the same social level as the Tang Family on Dragon Island after all, and it was also one of the double tycoons in the four big families. It would be exceedingly good fortune for any woman to marry into the Ji Family.

However, Sally was different from any of them. Her eyes were scanning the whole crowd of the Ji Family, noting all of them, from the most impressive to the lowliest. No matter whether they were close relatives or distant ones, the Ji Family had a large family tree. However, Rachel was still nowhere to be found within this huge population.

'Was that picture an authentic one?'

Sally found that her mind was as confused as a tangled skein, and her hands that held her handbag couldn't help clenching it. All that she really wanted was an opportunity to get out of here, in order to check if the location on the picture was nearby this villa. To her surprise, Henrik came up to her without any warning, put his arm around her waist, and assumed a parabolic posture to invite her, like a gentleman, for a dance.

"Miss, may I dance with you?" Henrik extended the invitation in a low and horse but attractive voice.

All of the guests and the gathered media also turned to look at Sally. Of course, there was no lack of jealous and envy in the looks which some of the more ambitious of the women gathered about Henrik flashed her.

Finding herself in such an embarrassing pickle, Sally couldn't help cursing Henrik for a thousand times in her mind. The last thing that she had wanted was to draw public attention to herself. "I'd love to, but I'm sorry. I can't dance." She rejected him with an indifferent politeness. Her hands grasped the handbag even tighter as she became nervous. Besides, she could clearly sense Addison's detached but penetrating look from across the room, and it was about to tear her heart apart.

Hearing this, Henrik still smiled at Sally's delicate face. He forcefully seized her hands, as if he had not been turned down. When Sally tried desperately to get away from him, he whispered in a low voice that only she could hear, "Aren't you coming for me, today?" Seeing that Sally was about to quit struggling, Henrik smiled. "You really don't know what it means to give up."

Sally was shocked for a moment. Before she realized what Henrik meant, he pulled her on the dance floor.

With the melody of waltz ringing out, Henrik gave his best dance performance and lead Sally in beginning a fabulous display of grace and rhythm on the middle of the stage. With a beautiful movement of pulling, pushing and pulling Sally back again, Henrik continued their conversation. "I had heard that you didn't want her to be influenced by you before you were sentenced to prison, but now, aren't you contradicting what you said before?"

Henrik forced Sally to join him passively in the dance. Fortunately, prison had not only had meals and labor tasks, but also activities such as dance to keep them occupied. Thanks to the ballroom dance they had learnt in prison, she was capable of handling this bizarre occasion. "I'd never thought of trying to influence her," Sally sneered. "Of course, I have to make sure that she lives a happy life."

Henrik dragged Sally forward and with a powerful palm bent her waist over. Then he looked down upon her with his lips in an airy smile. "Do you think she lives well in the Ji Family?"

"Well, I can't give you that answer for sure until I see her in person." While talking, Sally was abruptly pulled upright by Henrik.

Their quiet conversation while moving in the dance might have been seen as a gentle whisper from the outside. It couldn't be any warmer or more affectionate, or so it seemed. As a result, all of the women present who were crazy for Henrik's attentions stared at Sally with an envy that couldn't be suppressed. If looks could kill, then they would have murdered Sally a thousand times already.

Sitting off to the side, Addison swirled the wine in his goblet slightly with his slender fingers. Under the light of the lamps, the wine slowly trickled down the side of the glass to join the scarlet spirits at the bottom of it. It reflected glaring crimson lights within the clear surface of the glass vessel. This was exactly how he felt right at that moment, watching Sally and Henrik dancing together.

He had been waiting for her to grow up. However, he had never had the chance to dance with her on such a formal occasion. Addison felt the bitter pangs of regret in his heart. Charlie said that she had been guided by him to the VIP room because her clothes had been spoiled. Compared with the black outfit which she now wore, the previous white one was more suited to her. In other words, the complicated and intricate patterns on the black costume failed to fully show off her beauty. In contrast, the simple, snow white dress presented a much more pleasing view.

But the man who was dancing with her was an eyesore for Addison.

Addison could no longer bear to watch them, and setting the goblet aside he stood up and moved outside. He had originally only planned to stay for a brief show of face at the party, and that was all, but what was happening now made him reluctant to stay here any longer. Mentally speaking, it made him feel contemptuous.

He had received the training which came with being a ruler candidate, and possessed a sense of superiority which came natural to the Long Family. Under these circumstances, and as a proud son of the Long Family, he could not allow this situation to continue.

"Bro, are you going to leave?" Charlie asked with his hand holding a plate loaded with food, while Elsa was next to him, burdened with her own mountain of food.

Addison sneered and was aware that Charlie had made the plate for Evelyn, so he frowned and reminded him, "It's not so healthy to eat a lot in the evening!"

Charlie looked down at what he was holding and replied with a shrug, "Evelyn is going to the beach with Ezra to collect shells, and it requires a lot of energy." He handed the food to Elsa. "Please, take over for me. I need to have a talk with Addison."

"Okay." Elsa gave an innocent smile and said goodbye to him. "Mark, see you."

Addison nodded, and the two of them stepped out of the hall to take in some fresh air leaving Elsa behind.

The night breeze was warm and comforting. A fresh scent of salt spray from the ocean and fresh cut grass filled the air. It relieved some of their fatigue and tension.

Charlie spoke first. "Perhaps I should not ask, because I'm afraid I'll touch your bottom line, but I still believe it is necessary to talk with you." After a pause, he turned around and looked searchingly at Addison. "You know Sally, right?" There were both hesitation and certainty in his voice. Although it was phrased as a question, it sounded more like a statement of fact.

Addison stopped walking and stared at Charlie speechlessly, as if waiting for him to finish speaking.

"I've never heard this from you." Charlie spoke in a light voice.

"It couldn't be mentioned at first. Later, it was not possible to talk about it," Addison also replied in a light voice. "But now it is forbidden to discuss it!"

Upon hearing this, Charlie frowned. "Is she the girl who I had accidentally seen on your cell phone?" he exclaimed in a low voice.

"Hmm." Addison didn't contradict this statement, and turned around to keep walking along. The night lamps cast shadows which lengthened and shortened as they revealed a nameless solitude in the deserted grounds. The revelry inside the dance hall was a stark contrast to Addison's stiff back as he walked.

Charlie followed with concern on his face. "Is she the girl you cannot let go?"

"Hmm." Addison just murmured, making it difficult to tell his exact attitude towards Sally from his voice. "Don't let Evelyn know about it. Not to mention Mom and Dad. You'd better not try to make an in-depth analysis of it, either."

Charlie shrugged. "Of course, it's your own business. The reason why I'm asking is to avoid stepping into a minefield. Even though you are the candidate for ruler, we are brothers and I have no interest in that position. So your future career had been already well organized when you were still young and sacrificed yourself." His words were heavy of heart. "When you are in such a position, especially considering the status of Dragon Island in the whole world, and its degree of openness, we have to sacrifice a lot..."

Even though Charlie didn't elaborate on these points, Addison understood them better than anyone else. Nevertheless, if sensibility couldn't be controlled by one's sense, it was not sensibility at all.

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