Love Began with the First Meeting novel Chapter 124

"You don't have to buy time by uttering such inflammatory words." Laughing, Smith added,"Now that these men inside the house are very good at what they do, those who want to rescue you may have a tall order. Besides, many of my men lurk around the villa, so the chance of anyone coming to your rescue is minuscule.When Brian controlled the Chancellor Group's share price through the Emp Exchange, we made up our minds to bet the rest of our fund on this matter and make our final efforts. However, Brian dashed our hopes and let the Chancellor Group face a crisis on QY Island. Humph! If I can't get what we want this time, I will not let you off so easily!"

"Are you counting on these hit men who work for Philip?" Shirley asked calmly.

This time, Smith was really surprised. "Who are you?" he asked after a moment of contemplation.

Instead of answering his question, Shirley simply smiled lightly. Not a friendly and sweet smile anymore. For the time Molly had known her, Shirley was a very kind and gentle person. But now she was very different. On the contrary, she now looked aggressive, and intimidating even to her captors.

Even though Molly didn't know very well what they talked about, she still could learn from their conversation that this issue had something to do with Brian. Now that it was related to Brian, she was sure that she must have been the intended captive.

From Smith's expression, she learned that he was frightened of Shirley now.

Like Smith, Molly also started to wonder who Shirley really was.

Apparently unperturbed about the situation, Shirley seemed to negotiate, taking it calm and easy with Smith, despite his cruelty. Moreover, Shirley had come to town with a bodyguard in tow.

Flatly, Shirley said,"I'm just an average person who often learns about the breaking news all over the world. If you don't believe me, you can try to harm me.But, I have to warn that you'd better look before you leap. And please try to be as realistic as possible about the situation. Don't do anything reckless, or you'll regret it.If you are over-confident and take action rashly, you can sure bet your end will be real trouble!"

with an openly sarcastic voice, she warned. Although Smith didn't get the drift of what she meant. Roughly he could guess the main meaning of her words and it drove nuts. He gritted his teeth and said coldly,"Humph! I'll show you who'll when it comes to trouble."

After those words, Smith waved. In a flash, a strong man aimed his silencer-fitted gun at Shirley and squeezed the trigger. The bullet quickly flew towards her.

The close call shocked Molly to the core. Her face turned ashen, and her hair lifted on the nape and arms. By instinct, she was about to move in front of Shirley to take the bullet for her. But Shirley reacted faster and better. She huddled Molly and ducked to one side just in time.

The bravery, skill and instinct of Shirley stunned everyone in the room. These were the very best of Philip's mercenaries. The man who had missed at such close range was a heck of a sniper. He boasted a record of close to two-thousand-meter kills with one shot. How had this strange woman ducked just in time?

Molly cringed, arms jammed into armpits in a terrified self-hug. Not that Molly hadn't had harrowing experiences. Thanks to her father's gambling, Molly had seen his endless trouble with creditors. She was no stranger to the callousness. She had grown thick skin to obscene threats, fist fights, and everything in-between. But the trigger-happy attitude she was now witnessing left her shell-shocked.

When the mercenary shot at her the second time, Molly noticed a silvery small pistol in Shirley's hand. With a bright flash, the mercenary's gun dropped at his feet, a splatter of blood spreading over his palm.

"Don't be frightened. Follow me!"As the man's gun dropped, Shirley instinctively drew Molly and ducked. Making quick calculations, she knew the men had underestimated her. How they ineptly spread themselves out worked to Molly and Shirley's advantage. However, Shirley was also aware of the dangers involved, even if those men didn't intend to kill them.

"Just give up!" Smith said brusquely. "I have no intention of harming you. All I want is to ask Brian to come out and meet me!"

Shirley got a bit annoyed. She indeed wanted to stall for time just now. But she didn't expect that Smith would hit the roof and even ask his men to shoot her. "Why haven't you still understood what I meant? Dear me! You will not persuade him even if you meet. Don't expect him to make any concessions, especially if you try to threaten him. Instead, you might only provoke him to more cruel action against you!"

Shirley knew her son very well. Brian always made his mum a worried and anxious woman. Right from childhood, she had tried without success to disabuse him of violence. But the more she tried to deter him, the worse it got. Helpless, she watched her son grow into a maniacal, vicious and callous beast.Even at the slightest provocation, Brian was apt to use ruthless force. It was as if he was possessed by dark, cruel demons which knew no exorcism.

It was just a business competition. Why did they put other people's life at risk? Would they find satisfaction in needless loss of life?

At the thought, Shirley got more indignant. Despite getting accustomed to the cruelty during her time under the XK Intelligence Agency, she still valued life. More so, she valued her own life, and always kept hope even though she was at her most difficult moments.

Still terrified, Molly's mind went blank. Heartbeat racing like an engine and legs numb, she couldn't even follow the exchange between Shirley and Smith. All she remembered was that she hit something hard when Shirley jolted her to dodge the bullets.

Tightly she gripped Shirley's clothes and gritted her teeth. With her breath coming in bursts, she swallowed hard. She struggled to keep her fear under so as not to distract Shirley.

A sullen Smith stared at Shirley as if Shirley's words were getting to his nerves again. He then pointed the gun at Shirley and said,"I will kill you first!"

This time, Molly understood what he meant. The pupils of her eyes dilated, and her eyes sparkled with horror.

Interrupting the oppressive atmosphere that had fallen over the room, a loud smash burst open the solid wood door. Then someone roared in an angry voice,"Do you think you can harm her?

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