Carlos' ruthless refusal was a shock to Megan. She felt as if she'd been struck by a thunderbolt. Her face turned pale. "Uncle Carlos, don't you like me at all?" Her lips trembled.
"I like you, but that's not love. I see you as family."
Megan couldn't take it. This was not what she had expected. She took a few steps back while shaking her head in disbelief. "No, no! Uncle Carlos, you are always so good to me. You love me! I know you do!"
Carlos sighed deeply. "Megan, listen to me."
He tried to calm her down, but in the end, Megan's illness reared its head again. She slumped onto the ground, gasping for air.
Carlos closed his eyes tightly in resignation, scooped her up, and started walking towards the house. Sitting in the car, Debbie watched her husband carry another woman in his arms all the way to the manor. That wasn't what she wanted. Not even what she needed. She was hoping to get away from all this, away from Carlos' family, away from creepy Lewis, who had plucked the straw that broke the camel's back. From judgmental Valerie and James, two oldsters who didn't like her because her family wasn't rich. Because there was no advantage for them if Carlos stayed married to her. They even suggested she divorce Carlos.
A couple of minutes later, Mr. Handsome himself called her.
She slid her finger along the screen of the phone to take the call but didn't speak.
"Honey, I'll get my assistant to drive you to the villa first. Megan is sick. I can't leave right now. I'll be there as soon as possible."
Debbie smiled bitterly. There was little she could say. After a while, she replied gently, "Okay. But you have worked all day. Take care of yourself."
Carlos was exhausted. Debbie's tender words were the cure for everything. He smiled, "Okay. Just rest when you get there. Don't stay up late."
"Got it. Bye, honey."
"Bye."
The car stopped in front of a white villa. Debbie had expected to see an empty house, but when she got out of the car, she could see lights were on inside the house through the windows. She assumed Carlos must have told someone to turn the lights on for her.
Carlos' assistant led her inside. Two maids were waiting for her. "Good evening, Mrs. Huo," they greeted her with a bow at the main entrance.
Debbie nodded with a smile and asked, "Is the room ready?"
"Yes, Mrs. Huo. The room is upstairs. Please follow me."
"Thank you."
It was already past midnight. Debbie was tired and was in no mood to tour the villa. She plopped onto the bed as soon as she walked into the bedroom. She just wanted to become one with the night, close her eyes, and forget the events of the past few days. She could swear that the Huo family members were trying to drive her mad. Fortunately she was made of sterner stuff than that. But now, she was just exhausted. Her eyes had already started to close when the maid drew close and started to speak.
"Mrs. Huo, Mr. Huo asked us to prepare this for you. Please move closer so that I can apply the ice," she said quietly. Apparently the maid followed her inside the room holding a tray in her hands. She was too tired to notice.
"Okay, thank you," Debbie agreed. Actually, her face didn't hurt much right now, but she was too weary to speak much or do anything. Her head was full of thoughts. She just lay there and let the maid do her job.
The things that had happened tonight hit her like a ton of bricks. Only the dull pain in her face reminded her it was all too real.
'Was the Huo family too mean or was I a lousy daughter-in-law?
Maybe both.
Carlos hit Lewis and James because of me. I was so moved by that. But then I saw Megan in his arms… and he isn't home yet… Oh, God, this is so frustrating and stressful, ' she thought.
She took the towel and ice from the maid's hands. "Go to sleep. I can do it myself," she told the maid.
After the maid left the room, Debbie placed the ice onto the tray and called Kasie. She would know what to do. Or could at least give her moral support.
"Hey, Tomboy, Why are you calling so late? It's midnight in New York. Shouldn't you and your husband be doing the dirty-dirty in bed?"
Debbie felt sadder when Kasie mentioned Carlos. "I had a bad day today. Kasie, I want to go home."
Kasie captured her sad tone. "What happened?"
"Too much. That's what happened. I don't even know where to start. Kasie, they don't like me. What should I do?"
Kasie was relieved. "I thought it was something serious. Why do you even care? As long as your husband likes you, nothing else matters."
"I know. And it should be like that. But when Carlos got in a fight with his family because of me, I felt so awful. And Megan, his not-by-blood niece, loves him in a romantic way. It bugs the hell out of me, but I can't get mad at Carlos because of it." Debbie started to channel her depression and told Kasie what had happened over the past two days.
Kasie listened to her quietly and then asked, "So, Mr. Huo hit Lewis and James to defend your honor, and then Megan's asthma acted up, and Mr. Huo carried her back to the manor and hasn't come back yet now. Am I right?"
"Yeah."
"How can you be so stupid to leave your husband alone with another woman? And in the middle of the night? What if something happens between them? I don't think Mr. Huo is a scumbag, but some women are. Your husband is an extraordinary man. A manipulative bitch like Megan will try everything to make him hers. Hang up with me. And call your husband and ask him to come back, you silly girl." Kasie was really worried about Debbie. Debbie didn't know how to handle relationships yet. She was too new at this. Maybe she married Carlos too soon?
"But… I don't want to call him. He must be busy banging things out with his family right now. What if he gets upset? "
"He cares for you too much to do that. You call him to show your concern, to tell him how much you care about him, not to grill him for the details. Got it? "
Debbie nodded her head, even though Kasie couldn't see her. But she only caught part of Kasie's meaning. "So I try calling him? What if something is happening between them? My phone call will— No, that's impossible. Kasie, what were you thinking? You put this crazy thought in my head. Carlos isn't that kind of guy. He won't cheat on me. Whatever Megan tries, it won't work. A proud man like Carlos won't fall for her. "
"You're right. Your husband won't cheat on you—intentionally. But I'm not sure about Megan. What if she kisses him? "
'Kiss him?' Megan had kissed Carlos more than once before. The scenes played out in Debbie's head. The longer she visualized it, the more anxious she became. What if Megan got Carlos in bed? What if he liked her better than Debbie? "Call you later. Bye. "
She hung up the phone immediately and called Carlos.
The phone was connected soon, but Megan answered it.
"Aunt Debbie, it's so late. What's up?"
Debbie sneered, finding her question ridiculous. 'Do I need a reason to call my own husband?' "Where is your uncle Carlos?"
"Uncle Carlos was worried that I might be hungry, so he went to the kitchen to cook something for me."
'She's gloating, ' Debbie realized. 'She thinks she's won.' "What makes you think he wants you to answer his phone? And why are you keeping him up so late? You know he has to work, right?" she asked, trying to keep composed.
"What's wrong with it? Uncle Carlos and I are in love. You're the other woman trying to come between us. Now you are telling me what's okay?" Megan provoked.
Debbie was going mad. She sneered, "You two are in love? Then why didn't he marry you? Why did he marry me instead? "
"Don't you know? Uncle Carlos married you because of his grandpa. He is nice to you just because his grandpa asked him to. He has to. You think he loves you? Haha! That's hilarious. Uncle Carlos loves his grandpa very much. Everything he did for you is just to make his grandpa feel better so that he could wake up earlier. "
