"I am a proud woman. It is true that Brian is a wonderful man, but I can't live like this," she said and there was unhappiness in Hannah's eyes. "It's true that he loves me, but so what? He is married to you. I don't want my baby to be born as an illegitimate bastard. No mother would want that for their child. Molly, as a mother, you know how I feel, right?"
Molly forced a bitter smile. She didn't know whether Hannah had said those words on purpose, but they stabbed her heart like daggers. Hannah had said that Brian loved her, and... Molly's eyes had unconsciously drifted to Hannah's flat belly. There it was, Brian's other child. On that day, he had slept with Hannah and had left his love seeds in her belly.
When Hannah had noticed her looking at her belly, she had lowered her eyes and had gently placed her hand on her belly. She had looked so resigned, as if the baby's life totally depended on Molly's decision.
"I'll leave Brian," Molly had said blankly. "I'll leave Brian with Mark. Your child won't be a bastard."
*
The villa was in sight. It was enveloped in darkness. Molly's eyes became glassy as she looked at it.
She dragged herself forward with leaden steps. She opened the door slowly and turned on the lights. Her sad eyes drifted slowly from one object to another—the sofa, the table, the curtains...everything here carried so many memories... their memories, her and Brian's.
Her eyes went upstairs. She took the stairs and came to the second floor. She stood gloomily in front of his study. She recalled the first time Brian had had sex with her. It was right there, in the study.
She opened the door slowly. Everything looked the same inside it. Nothing had changed even after so many years, except for Becky's picture which used to be on his desk.
She closed the door and stood by the rails. Her eyes were fixed on the main door. Slowly, she took out her phone and dialed Brian's number—the number which had been engraved in her heart.
"Hello," Brian answered the phone after a short silence.
"Where are you?" This was supposed to be a common conversation between a husband and wife, but right now, it sounded so ridiculous.
Brian was silent again. After a few seconds, he replied, "I'm at Mr. Song's."
Molly smiled sadly. Then she asked, "Bri, do you remember what you promised me when I came back to the villa?"
Brian fell into silence again. His eyes darkened beneath those furrowed brows. He remembered each and every promise he had made to her. He might not have been the best husband, but he had been trying to give her the best of everything in the world.
Brian sensed that something was off and said, "Molly, if you can prove it, I'll let you go."
Brian hung up. He looked at Mr. Song who was sitting opposite to him and said, "I'll send Mr. Shen abroad soon after he is released from prison. The Sacred Domain fell apart many years ago. I don't think you would want to see it become a strong force again."
Mr. Song smiled, sipped some tea and responded, "Son, I retired a long time ago. Leave me out of this."
Brian smiled and took his leave. When his car was almost at Mr. Song's gate, he met Hannah who had just come back from somewhere. Their relationship had changed subtly after what had happened in the hotel.
"Mr. Brian Long." Hannah tried to act naturally in front of him. She couldn't afford to make any mistakes.
Brian stared at Hannah intensely until she blushed a little. "Try to come back home earlier than this. Mr. Song is old and he needs your company," he said.
After saying that, Brian indicated Tony to drive. Hannah watched the car leave and smiled. 'Men are so easy. They are all powerless in front of beautiful women. Once you get into their bed, they will always be back for more," she thought to herself.
As she walked towards the house, the conversation she had had with Molly flashed in her mind.
"Brian is a responsible man. You gave birth to his son, so he married you. And now, he will never let you go," she had said to Molly.
"Yes, he will," Molly said dully.
"Huh?"
"He promised me that if he ever cheated on me, he would let me go," Molly had said with a pale face, "Now, you are carrying his baby. He will have to let me go."
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