Carlos burst into laughter and shook his head. Putting a boiled shrimp into Debbie's mouth, he said, "There's no need to be dignified in front of Curtis." He and Curtis had been friends for nearly twenty years. But he had never expected that Curtis would soday beco his uncle-in-law. Debbie felt stumped when Carlos put the keys inside her bag.
She hesitated for a mont and then decided not to worry about it anymore.
The two n talked business while she ate. When the al was finished, Debbie touched her stuffed belly, which was the size of a football. "I shouldn't have eaten so much. It's almost bed ti. I haven't run or done any yoga recently. If I keep going on like this, I'll beco fat soon."
Carlos rubbed her soft belly and said, "Don't worry about that. You might have skipped running and yoga, but you've been engaging in other forms of exercises. With my help, you will stay fit."
Debbie was confused.
She looked at him and then at Curtis. The grin on Curtis' face had her realize what Carlos had ant. Embarrassed, she pinched her husband's arm without letting Curtis see. "Shut up," she snapped quietly.
"Fine," he responded. And he kept his mouth shut for the rest of the al.
It started drizzling as they walked out of the restaurant, drowning Debbie's hopes of taking a walk after the big al.
Carlos took her back ho after saying goodbye to Curtis.
When they entered their bedroom, he asked while holding her in his arms, "Are you still feeling too full?"
She shook her head imdiately, afraid to admit that she was. She knew how Carlos was in the bedroom. "I'm going to take a bath. You can go and get so work done in the study if you are bored."
"Want to join you in the bath?"
"No, no. I reek of hot pot. You won't like the stench." With that, she ran into the bathroom. Lying against the headboard, Carlos smiled at her receding back.
The next morning, Debbie woke up after Carlos had left for work. She freshened up quickly and started packing.
At the airport
Debbie got out of the car and her driver handed her the luggage. "Thank you, Matan," she said.
"When you get there, you will be on your own. Please take care of yourself. Call Mr. Huo if you need anything," he reminded her.
"Got it. Thank you. You take care too.
"Bye, Mrs. Huo."
"Bye, Matan."
Debbie turned around and walked towards the departure lounge.
But before she could reach the lounge, soone shouted, "Isn't that Mrs. Huo?"
"Looks like her. Let check the picture on my phone. Yes, it's her! Hurry!" a second voice urged.
"Mrs. Huo! Mrs. Huo! Debbie Nian!"
More and more shouts rose behind her. She turned around to find a dozen n carrying caras running towards her.
'Reporters!' she scread in her head.
mories from last ti when she had been besieged by reporters ca flooding back to her. She certainly didn't want to relive that experience. Besides, missing her flight was the last thing she wanted. Pulling her luggage with her, she started zigzagging through the crowd.
"Mrs. Huo, please wait! Mrs. Huo..." the reporters cried as they chased her.
As a one-ti half marathon bronze dalist, and as the best runner in her university, Debbie was not that easy to catch up with.
She ran, she hid, and she finally got onto the escalator quietly. The heavy luggage was holding her back. She could have easily ditched the reporters who were following her.
However, with her eight-deciter-long suitcase, it took her ten minutes to get rid of all of the enthusiastic dia people.
After making sure that no one was following her, she hid under a staircase to catch her breath.
'Carlos is so much trouble. I can't even get on a plane peacefully, ' she fud.
She quickly opened her suitcase and changed into another coat. She put on a baseball cap and sunglasses to cover half her face. She even wiped off the candy lipstick she was wearing and put on a shade of blush before walking out again.
Not until later that evening did Carlos find out that Debbie was gone. He had intended to take her out for dinner and called her several tis, but her phone was switched off all the while.
Then he called the house phone in the manor. A housemaid stamred out the truth when she heard his cold voice. "Mrs. Huo...left the house this morning."
"Where did she go?" he asked coldly after a short pause.
"She packed her things and asked Matan to drive her to the airport. And she left a ssage for you, Mr. Huo— 'See you in England.'"
Carlos hung up without a word.
Ten-odd minutes later, he called Emtt in and asked calmly, "Emtt, how is the investnt plan in Southon Village going?"
Emtt had been in dread of Carlos finding out the truth ever since he had bought the air ticket for Debbie. Every ti his boss called him in, his heart would race crazily.
But this ti he knew it. His boss had found out. Pretending to be calm, he answered, "The investnt has been made, and the construction has begun."
"Good. I want you to go there to supervise the project. Don't co back until it is completed."
'To Southon Village? ' With a pitiful face, Emtt explained defensively, "Mr. Huo, you know about Mrs. Huo's temper. I had to do what she told to."
Carlos gave him a cold glare. "It sounds like you think I have a good temper."
Emtt shook his head. "No, that's not what I ant. Mr. Huo, it wasn't my fault. Please reconsider."
"Get out!"
"Mr. Huo..." Emtt felt defeated. Although Southon Village was being reconstructed, the conditions there were still poor.
He couldn't live there. And he couldn't wait. He had to reach Debbie and ask her for help before setting out.
In England
Debbie received Emtt's call as soon as she got off the plane. "He already knows, doesn't he?" she asked directly.
"Yes. And Mr. Huo is sending off to Southon Village. Please help , Mrs. Huo." Emtt wiped the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. He was relieved that the call had finally been connected. He had been trying to get a hold of her for so long.
"Okay. I'll try my best." Debbie hailed a cab and gave the address of the house Curtis had bought for her to the driver.
She had asked Carlos about it the night before. And her husband had almost seen through her plan.
Carlos' phone had rung several tis before he finally answered it. She began with a giggle, "I knew you would be busy, but I also knew that you would insist on seeing off at the airport. I didn't want to waste your ti. That's why I left quietly."
There was no response from the other end.
Debbie knew what she had done was wrong. She went on, "I had a safe flight. And see? I'm calling you right after the plane landed. Also, I'm heading for the house...er... Mr. Lu bought for , just as you told , all right?"
Carlos only grunted slightly.
"Fine. I apologize. What I did was wrong. I'll wait for you in England. Co as soon as you can, okay?"
Still not a word from Carlos.
Since coaxing wasn't working, Debbie changed her strategy. "Old man, you suggested that I study abroad yourself. Why are you angry about it now?"
"I suggested it, but I didn't ask you to leave alone," Carlos finally spoke.
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