Love Began with the First Meeting novel Chapter 86

Having finished his dressing-down, Brian turned and walked away, back to the woman at the counter. The radiance of his face reappeared as soon as he turned his back to Molly.

Molly bit her lower lip, ignoring the curious gazes from the few customers in the shop. Some might have been careful enough to notice that the coat draped on Molly's shoulders had an uncanny likeness to Brian's trousers and that he wasn't wearing any coat.

When she realized that Brian's dressing-down was now the subject of some of the whispers reaching her ears, Molly was on the verge of tears. The curious gazes seemed to pierce her from many directions, making her feel thoroughly humiliated.

As she emerged from the ladies' room, Shirley cautiously looked around the shop, checking to ensure there wasn't a trace of Brian's presence hanging around. Even after she had settled back to her place at the table, she kept casting anxious glances here and there. The miserable look on Molly's face and curious gazes from the other tables made her worried. "Little Molly, what happened?" she asked with lots of concern.

Molly swallowed hard and struggled to hold back her tears. Through a forced smile, she shook her head and excused herself, "Aunt Shirley, I'm sorry. It's already late. I should get going now."

"May I escort you back?" Shirley said, sensing Molly was obviously distressed. She wanted to ask about it, but felt it might be inappropriate.

"No, thanks. I can go back myself, " Molly politely declined, shaking her head.

Shirley frowned.

"I won't like to inconvenience you, " Molly continued. She lowered her eyes and pursed her lips, not knowing how to frame her next words. "Aunt Shirley...I'm sorry to ask..." she began, but broke midway for a brief moment, before picking up her line. "Could you please lend me some money? I have no money to take a taxi now. Because... earlier in the South Street Alley, my money was stolen."

Those words moved Shirley, like she was looking at her young self. At Molly's age, she also was disenfranchised, living in an inferior way like Molly did now. Obviously, Molly was also shouldering some responsibilities, despite her physical frailties and financial instability.

"I...I'll pay you back two days later when we meet again..." The embarrassment of borrowing money, without knowing how she'd repay the loan made Molly flush. She bit her lower lip and struggled to restrain her tears, although a snuffle or two came through. Undoubtedly, this one month would be her darkest and most humiliating time of her life.

"Okay, no problem!" Compassionately, Shirley looked at Molly and handed her some money. "I won't escort you back home since you don't want me to. But, please call me as soon as you get to the house. I'd want to know you're safe."

"Yes, I will! Thank you so much!" Molly said, taking the money from Shirley's hand. She promised to call.

Shirley slightly nodded her head. As she watched Molly walk away, she sighed despondently.

*

"Brian, who was that girl in the dessert shop?" Sitting in the car, Wing asked in confusion.

"Someone insignificant, " Brian replied, unfazed.

Rolling her eyes at him, Wing snorted, "Insignificant? Are you sure? Then why are you pulling a long face?"

"I am not!" Brian denied and threw a glance at Wing.

Looking at Brian's angry and childish face, she laughed and raised her hand to pinch his handsome face. "You're not a cute guy. You are the same cold and dull man as Richie."

"Huh!" Brian snorted.