IN LOVE WITH A SOLDIER - SEASON 9 EPISODE 18

That was about all that Mike could do, given the animosity that was playing out right before his eyes. He’d done his best. He knew Lawrence very well. Roughly he could guess that Greg was a bit shaken. Particularly, the idea of Lawrence taking revenge on Sharon unnerved him, even he emanated a dominating aura. But in the end, it wasn’t lost on Mike that Violet’s husband was a unyielding. Now that two big shots met, he wasn’t surprised at the scene.

With his head down, Greg raised his brow, attempting to find a solution. But his mind went blank.

“Lawrence, I’ve never stopped loving Violet. I admit that sometimes I was impulsive and didn’t treat her well. But I’ll never change my heart from loving her.

That’s a part of me that she forever owns. Our love for each other goes all the way, back to childhood. And ever since I’ve never felt the need to love another girl. Even today, she is still that one special lady who makes my world go round,” Greg blurted out his feelings. “I don’t know why Violet and I ended up like this. I lost my child, and Violet left me. I admit that it was my fault to have let her go.

I should have made her stay, no matter what happened. I should have done better, by turning down all the other women entirely and giving Violet my undivided affection. But I didn’t. It’s my fault. It is my retribution that the woman who means everything to me left me. But no matter where she goes, she will always have a home in my heart. That I promise.”

Greatly, Lawrence was touched by Greg’s almost poetic profusion of love.

Even Mike was left speechless. After hearing Greg’s confession, he couldn’t find any reason to blame him. It was apparent that Greg was not responsible for what Violet had suffered. Greg was a man who so deeply loved Violet. And by the fact that Violet too had married Greg in total disregard of Lawrence’s fierce opposition, she must have loved Greg in equal measure, assumed Mike.

“Why did you come to me?” Lawrence asked after a long pause.

“Violet has been in Hong Kong for a long time, so I just wanted to know how she’s doing,” Greg replied in a low, soft voice.

“She is good. My Mom takes good care of her,” Lawrence answered, thinking it unnecessary to reveal more than that.

Easily, Mike could read the concerned expression on Greg’s face. “Don’t worry about Violet. She is very good. Now she lives with her parents. I bet she must be happy there,” he assured.

Hearing Lawrence’s and Mike’s words, Greg nodded, feeling much relieved. As long as his wife was happy wherever she was, he’d be a man at peace, even if she was not here with him.

“When … when is she likely to come back?” He inquired hesitantly, staring at Lawrence.

But Lawrence ignored the question and didn’t even bother to give him a look.

“I don’t know. Perhaps she’ll be back with Uncle Jackson and Aunt Cherry,” Mike answered when he noticed that Lawrence had no intention of answering Greg’s question. “Violet lives in a villa with her parents and leads a comfortable life. I’m sure she is happy to be with her family.”

Nodding with understanding, Greg appreciated. “I’m glad to know that she leads a happy life,” he said, heaving a long breath of relief.

“You can leave now,” Lawrence coldly ordered Greg.

Noting that Lawrence nudged Greg to leave, Mike attempted to persuade his friend to change his mind. “Gentlemen, how about we three sit down and have a drink together? We could even have a little talk,” he offered.

Although he knew that Mike spoke in his favor, Greg was also aware of Lawrence’s temper. So he stood up and looked at Mike, sternly putting in, “Only on condition that you have something very important to discuss. Otherwise, I’ll leave right away.”

Then he shifted his gaze to Lawrence. “Lawrence, if possible, please tell Violet that I miss her very much, I hope she’ll take care of herself and find happiness and peace. It’s all I wish for her,” he pleaded.

With that Greg turned around and left the private room.

There were only Mike and Lawrence in the room. Looking at the scowling expression on Lawrence’s face, Mike knew that his friend must be in a foul mood.

“I have to go. I’ll take care of the guy, according to your wishes,” Mike excused himself and immediately took leave of Lawrence and headed out.

Once he was left alone, Lawrence picked up a glass of wine on the tea table and downed it in a few swigs.

Later on, as Lawrence leaned against the sofa, feeling slightly tipsy, he took out his phone and dialed Violet’s number.

“Hello, Lawrence,” Violet said tenderly from the other end of the line.

“Were you sleeping?” Lawrence asked softly.

“No, I wasn’t. I was watching TV with Mom. Dad hasn’t come back from work yet. He has to work overtime,” Violet replied. “Why do you call at this odd hour? What’s up?”

“I met Greg tonight,” Lawrence carefully broached the subject, fearing his mere mention of Greg’s name might give her a terrible headache.

“I see,” Violet responded after a long pause.

“He wanted you to know he wishes you happiness and he hopes you’re taking good care of yourself,” Lawrence tried as much as possible to correctly paraphrase Greg’s own words.

But immediately he was done reporting for Violet cut the call in abruptly, without any response.

Frustrated, Lawrence threw his phone on the sofa, and sank into deep thought. ‘She must be feeling upset now. I can tell, she really loves this man and won’t let him go. So why did she leave him?’

Waking from his reverie, he figured it out. ‘Violet’s love with Greg is unshakable. Especially after the harrowing loss of their child, they seemed to have learned to cherish each other even more. Everyone makes mistakes, young people in particular. But the painful experience had taught them better and just as Greg said; his heart was with Violet. They have given each other their lifelong commitments. I’m sure that they will get together sooner or later. I feel happy for Violet that she has found her happiness.