Love Began with the First Meeting novel Chapter 1407

Sally's face changed sharply.

She said, without a second thought, "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid that I can't help you." Then she turned around and was about to leave.

"I can give you some time to think it over," Matthew suggested slowly and lightly, while raising his eyes to look at Sally's back. "I just hope I can get your reply soon."

Sally gritted her teeth and turned back. When she looked down at Matthew's cold smile, she clenched her fist tightly and then left.

"Master Matthew?" Ian looked at Matthew in confusion. 'We planned to let Sally seduce Henrik, didn't we? Why is Addison now the target?' he thought in surprise.

Matthew's eyes grew darker and he said in a sibilant tone, "Sometimes, we have to be farsighted. Uncle Yates always said that my biggest shortcoming was that I was too short-sighted. I am thinking that if a gentleman, a public figure, became involved in a scandal, it would be very funny. It's a pity that Charlie and Evelyn have already gotten married. However, His Highness still has not caused any rumors. The former rulers were all involved in scandals at some stage, but His Highness's purity has made me upset." Then, he stood up and walked towards the hall, with a lustful smile on his face.

Matthew looked around first and then walked directly towards Roger. "Mr. Ji, happy birthday to you. Wish you a long life." He handed over a long red envelope which Ian had passed to him. "Uncle Yates is so busy that he can't make the celebrations today. This is his gift. He asked me to convey his best wishes to you."

Roger laughed. "He is so nice." He gestured for someone to take the gift. "Tell your uncle, when he is free, he must come over to play chess with me. I'm afraid that he seems to have forgotten me after getting married."

"Yes," Matthew answered. "I'll pass along your message."

"Okay, well done." A smile spread across Roger's face. "Henrik is over there. You should catch up on old times."

"Yes," Matthew answered simply. He seemed as gentle and polite as a youth should be. He nodded in greeting to Henrik's parents and left with Ian.

"What's in it?" Roger asked without changing his expression, a smile fixed in place. "Let's see what I should return to the old goat."

"Okay!" His subordinate who stood behind Roger took the envelope and opened it. When he saw the paper in it, his eyes widened as he said, "Master Roger, look!" Then he passed the paper to Roger.

Roger lowered his eyes and glanced at the document. He still smiled evenly, "He is so generous." His eyes grew dark. "I'll owe him. But how can I return this to him?" He did not seem pleased.

Since his son and daughter-in-law heard his words, they also walked forward to have a look. When they saw that it was a land ownership transfer for the new developed area on the Dragon Island, they were shocked and their eyes grew wide. It was an extremely expensive gift indeed.

The Dragon Island was not what it used to be. Through the efforts of many generations, it had grown bigger and bigger. Several years ago, Addison had suggested the development of a new area of more than ten thousand hectares in the west of the Dragon Island as a new residential district. Eco-friendly infrastructure and thousands of homes would be constructed there. To resolve ownership, the whole area was divided into twenty parts. Plots of land could be obtained via bidding. The Tang Family had obtained seven and the Ji Family, five, ranking number one and two respectively. There was some difference in the number of plots, but the overall squared areas were almost the same. What upset the Ji Family most was that the land which they had wanted most was in the pocket of Yates, the ruler of the Tang Family.

This land was in Roger's hands now.

If one gained something too easily, it would lead to suspicion and stress. Roger did not trust this gift for one second. Yates was different from the previous rulers of the Tang Family. He was gentle and graceful but also bossy. In his world, he only obeyed his own rules. Today, he had given Roger this land as a birthday gift. But it was not as simple as it looked. However, nobody could see through the cunning Yates, including Roger, despite having so much experience.

"Humph!" his daughter-in-law snorted. "He must be feeling guilty to..." She didn't finish her words, because her husband stared hard at her. Biting her lips, she did not continue. Care should always be taken of expressing opinions in public.

Roger had also cast a warning glance at her, and then gestured for his subordinate to put the paper away. No matter what Yates wanted to do, Roger had to receive this gift. If not, the public would begin to believe that the Ji Family was declining.

"I'm tired. I'll go rest now. You all treat the guests." While speaking, Roger turned back and went upstairs.

The banquet continued. Almost all the local celebrities from the Dragon Island had attended. It was a good way for people to make friends, network, and develop interpersonal relationships. So those who wanted to make full use of this opportunity wouldn't leave early.

Rose said with a slight frown, "Sally, you want to remain here on the Dragon Island? Are you sure?"

Sally nodded, "It should have been simple. I don't know why it has become difficult. I just wanted to know whether Little Pear lived a good life. But I seem to have underestimated the situation." Bitterness spread over Sally's face. "Whether it's true or not, Little Pear is my only family now. If she isn't healthy and happy, how can I walk away from her? And how can I leave her alone?"

Rose's face grew worried and she fretted, "How do you plan to live here?" Sally had a criminal record. It would be hard for her to earn a living on the Dragon Island. And what was more, there was a man here who she couldn't face.

Sally pursed her lips and looked meaningfully at Hotch. "So I want to ask you a big favor."

"I can give you a new identity," Hotch said calmly. "It isn't a big deal. What's in your heart matters more. It depends on your own will."

"Thank you." Sally was really grateful to him, even though Hotch had seen through her.

Hotch didn't answer, and Rose said, "We'll return to T City tomorrow. How about coming back the hotel with us? It's late now and you're alone. I'm worried."

Sally was about to say something but kept silent instead. She nodded and went to the car with them.

Hotch, as well as Chandler, was always very considerate to Rose. Sally knew that Chandler had fallen in love with Rose, but she didn't know why Hotch acted like this. There were no feelings for Rose in Hotch's eyes. Sometimes, Sally admired Rose. Numerous men chased after her, but she still kept her head.

The silent night passed and daylight came.

The Dragon Island was bounded by sea on three sides and by mountains on the other side. It had been densely developed recently, but the sea still remained clean and clear, without any pollution. It was paradise. The white beach, blue sea and clear sky all combined to create an idyllic place where people could relax and be at ease.

"Sally, if something goes wrong, just call me," Rose said, with a serious and worried face. "T City is close to the Dragon Island. I'll be the first one to come over to help you."

Sally nodded, her eyes reddening. "You're my sister. If there's something wrong, I shall tell you at once."

Rose smiled, took an envelope from her bag and passed it to Sally. "It's not much. But you must take it."

"But..."

"Don't say any more. I'm your sister, remember?" Rose pressed the envelope into Sally's palm. "I'm afraid you'll feel pressured if I give you more money, so it's only enough for three months' rent, and one month's living costs. Later you should be able to rely on yourself."

Sally hugged Rose tightly. Since what happened seven years ago, she had found it difficult to believe in others. Rose was always caring for her, but she couldn't trust Rose completely, yet. However, Rose's actions moved her deeply and warmed her heart from its aching depths with a warm glow. Sally knew that Rose knew her, understood her, and supported her.

"Don't cry. If you cry, I'll cry, too. I never cry!" Gently patting on Sally's back, Rose smiled. "Sally, that's not a big deal. Everything will pass. If you want to forget the past, just forget it. If you can't, you should give yourself another chance to try. Life is filled with ups and downs. If you fall down, just get up and struggle on. If you're always afraid of hurting, you will always stay in the darkness of your own personal hell. In your life, you can owe anyone but not yourself. You need to take care of yourself!"

Hotch kept silent and gazed at Rose with a deepening look. He was always wondering why this woman had put herself in the Romantic Club, but did not fit in it. Vaguely, Hotch began to understand her better from her words of advice to Sally.

Women were often weak in this world, but Rose's past had left her weaker. What she had accomplished until today was not by luck, but through her struggle and intense efforts.