"Debbie, if you become a superstar, I'll go to your concert," said one of the people on the boat.
"Why did you waste your talents going to Economics and Management School? You should have chosen a music school. You could be a pop star," another observed.
But Debbie framed their comments as complimentary to Carlos.
She thought they were trying to suck up to Carlos, rather than actually praising her performance. They'd been seen at the party together, after all.
After an hour, the boat came back and docked, but the party didn't end until after midnight. That was when Debbie finally caught sight of her husband.
But he was not alone. Megan, who was at his side with a smile, was seeing the guests off with him. He handsome and she pretty, they looked like a couple.
The sight of them being together upset Debbie. But she managed to check her emotions. She walked over to them and took Carlos' arm. "I'm tired. I want to go home," she said.
Carlos checked the time—it was already past midnight.
But before he could say yes, Megan cut in with a smile, "Uncle Carlos, I didn't come here in my car. I was going to crash here tonight, but everyone's taking off and I'm scared staying here alone. Can you give me a lift?"
Carlos wouldn't say no to such a small request.
Debbie's heart sank when she heard Carlos say yes. She smiled wryly before sitting on the sofa and playing with her phone while waiting for them to say their farewells to the attendees.
Finally, it was 1 a.m., and all the guests were gone. They boarded a boat and started their journey back.
When Debbie finally saw Carlos' Emperor parked close by, she was relieved, and started walking towards the car. She took it for granted she should sit in the passenger seat.
Before she could reach the car, however, Megan skipped to the car happily and opened the passenger side door. "Aunt Debbie, come on. It's late," she shouted to Debbie.
Debbie was surprised by what she was doing. 'Of course I know it's late. But what does she think she is doing?
If she rides shotgun, where am I supposed to sit? I'm Carlos' wife. Shouldn't I sit next to my husband?'
While Debbie was pondering this, Carlos put his hand above Megan's head protectively when she got in the car.
After Megan got in, Carlos closed the passenger side door and opened the back d
nd logged in to the app, but Carlos called again. He kept calling and interrupting her. She gave up trying to get a ride.
Frustrated and angry, Debbie sat on the curb, glaring at the road.
Then her phone buzzed. It was a message from Carlos. "Go ahead. Refuse my next call.
See what happens," he threatened.
When he called again, Debbie thundered, "Mr. Huo, I never knew you had such thick skin to keep calling like that. When someone doesn't answer your call, it means they don't want to talk to you. Get it?"
Carlos' patience ran out. His face darkened. Then a familiar figure by the roadside came into view. He hung up the phone without a word.
Looking at her phone after Carlos had hung up, Debbie smiled wanly. 'This is unbelievable! Is he angry at me now? How could he, after what he did?!' she said to herself.
Soon, a car drove over. Debbie stood up. The headlights were so glaring she had to turn her head away and close her eyes while walking backwards. When the car stopped beside her, she recognized that it was Carlos' Emperor.
He stepped out of the car, walked over to her, and pulled her into his arms fiercely.
"Let go of me!" She tried to wrench herself free, but it was of no avail.
"Why are you doing this?" No woman he'd been with had dared to act so difficult, so determined to have her own way. On the other hand, he didn't understand what the woman was upset about. He thought she was just being unreasonable.
"Why? You know why! How dare I? Right?" Her sarcasm made Carlos think it was time for her to chill out.