After Ashley had driven away, Debbie took out two embossed boxes and handed one each to her friends. "Here. I don't want to take the card either, but I guess we all have to. Besides, it's only a small sum for Mr. Huo anyway. He said if you don't accept the cards, then that means you don't see me as your friend. So, just take it, both of you."
"But Debbie. When we were on the fifth floor of the Alioth Building the other day, we had already accepted a one-million-dollar VIP card. We really feel embarrassed to take this one as well," Kristina said.
"I don't know. It beats me how that capitalist's mind works," Debbie responded, shaking her head. She could imagine how awkward they were feeling to be forced to accept VIP cards with huge sums of money in them, especially from another woman's husband. She would probably feel the same if she were put in the same situation.
"Never mind. Since Mr. Huo insists, let's just take it," she said to her friends.
That evening, Debbie decided to have a talk with Carlos. However, she was informed by Emmett, who had just returned, that Carlos had left on a business trip and wouldn't be back for at least a month.
With Carlos away, she was hoping to have some relief from her busy schedule. But it was not going to happen. Carlos had already organized a list of activities for her to do and bid someone to supervise her in his absence. During the day, she had yoga and dance lessons. To make sure that she stayed busy, Carlos also arranged other various activities such as flower arrangement, tea parties, art exhibitions, bowling, women's baseball and so on. In the evening, she was expected to have either a milk bath or a rose petal bath.
Debbie was frustrated with this way of life. It was the lifestyle of an upper-class socialite diva and not hers. She wanted her own simple, easy life back. Just as she was about to go crazy, Carlos finally returned from the business trip.
He had been away for more than two months. At the start, they had texted each other on the phone. But when Debbie had complained to him about the lessons and activities that he had arranged for her, he had simply replied, "I did this for your own good." Debbie didn't contact him again after that.
Later, she found out that Carlos had put her name down for a dance program at her school's Solar New Year Gala. Debbie was so angry she gritted her teeth and felt like punching him in the face for it. But she didn't call or text him.
The day that Carlos returned happened to be w
l sound much worse than it really was.
Debbie helped Carlos onto the bed. Once he seemed comfortable enough, she turned to leave. But Carlos grabbed her hand. "I'm sorry for everything I made you go through. I won't do it again," he apologized.
This time, she couldn't contain her emotions anymore. Her tears spilled down her cheeks and she wept openly. She raised her fist and was about to punch him in the arm. But when she saw the injury, she aimed for his chest.
Even though Carlos was hurt, Debbie was still no match for him. He caught her hand and pulled her into his arms. "We haven't seen each other for two months. Didn't you miss me?"
"Why would I miss you? No, I didn't miss you at all." She lied. With her cheek against his chest, she felt awkward and began to fidget. Also she took care not to accidentally touch his injured arm.
"But I missed you, a lot," he confessed.
At his words, her heart began to beat faster in her chest and her cheeks flushed red hot. Stuck for a response she decided to change the subject. "How did you get hurt? Were you trying to protect some woman?" she asked casually, having a dig at him.
Carlos fell into a silence.
Debbie's heart sank at his response. She stood up and glared at him. "So I was right!"
She felt a pang in her heart.
"Do you know why Wesley and I decided to foster Megan? Because her parents both died a horrible death to cover us."
She soon realized that the woman he had tried to protect was Megan.
Debbie wasn't sure what she was feeling anymore. It was complicated. Part of her felt that Carlos had done the right thing while the rest of her felt like crying. She was so conflicted.
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