At around dusk, Debbie put on a long, casual dress to take Harley for a walk. She grabbed the dog leash and headed out.
This time, when she arrived at the ground floor, she was happy to find that Carlos was already walking Millie along a path around the block.
She joyfully trotted to Carlos along with Harley. "Mr. Handsome! Old man!"
Carlos turned around. A light smile flashed on his face as he replied, "Hmm."
'Hmm again?'
Debbie wasn't all too pleased with how cold Carlos was acting towards her.
"What are you busying yourself with these days?" she asked in a feigned casual voice as she watched the two dogs play together.
She was surprised to get an explanation from him this time. "I was on a business trip in New York. I just came back this morning," he explained.
'So that's it. Is that why he didn't contact me?' she wondered. "I see. So do you have anything to do tonight?"
"Yes." He needed to meet an important client that night.
A bit disappointed, Debbie said, "Well, then, go on and work."
This didn't escape Carlos—there was a hint of disappointment in Debbie's eyes.
Flashing a smile, he suddenly pulled her into his arms when she least expected it, and kissed her on the lips.
Shocked, Debbie didn't realize that Carlos' lips were on hers right away.
After kissing, Carlos didn't let go of her yet. Instead, he put his palm at the back of her head and pressed his forehead against hers. Slightly out of breath, he told her, "Millie is pregnant."
"Hmm?" She blinked, unsure what she had heard.
"It's Harley, your dog, that got her pregnant," he said.
At that moment, Carlos recalled how he found out in the first place. It was Stephanie who told him. He was still in New York when Stephanie called him up. She was wondering how their dog could get pregnant.
Carlos immediately thought of Debbie's male dog, Harley, who always enthusiastically pestered and played with Millie each time he saw her. That dog was very much like his owner's personality—active, enthusiastic, and clingy. So Carlos figured that it must have been Harley who had gotten Millie pregnant. He calmly said to Stephanie then, "Damon's son wants one of the puppies."
"Wh-what? How is that related to Millie's pregnancy?" Stephanie asked, confused.
"When Millie gives birth, I'll give one to Damon's son and one to Curtis' son," he said casually. 'The rest of the puppies can go with Debbie. Her dog can take care of them, ' he thought to himself.
Stephanie was at a loss for words. She was starting to cultivate a suspicion in her heart. Carlos was spending way more time with Millie than usual. He was always walking the dog and suddenly caring about her too much, even already planning who to give her puppies too.
After Carlos hung up, he sent Damon a text. "Doesn't your son want a dog?"
Damon replied, "No. I had a poodle before, but my son kept on playing with his hair and even pulling it out, so I had to give it away."
Carlos wrote, "Well, maybe your son wants one now. When Millie gives birth, I'll have Frankie send one of the puppies to you."
Before responding, Damon glanced at his son who was busy finishing off a lollipop and asked in a confused tone, "Baby, did you tell your uncle Carlos that you wanted a dog?"
'Uncle Carlos?' The mention of this name sent a shiver down the little boy's spine. He stopped licking the lollipop and shook his head vigorously. "No, no." He couldn't even look at Carlos, so how could he possibly tell him that he wanted a dog?
This confused Damon even more. "Hey, what's the puppy for?" He texted Carlos.
"A gift for my godson."
Damon didn't know what else to say. He wondered what the hell was going on in Carlos' mind. Resigned, Damon warned his son, "Okay, so your uncle Carlos is going to give you a puppy as his gift to you. Don't pull its hair off again or your uncle's going to pull all your teeth off." His son was so frightened that he covered his mouth with his little hands. He also said that he would name the puppy King because he would treat it like a king every day.
Meanwhile, Debbie burst into laughter. "Good job, Harley! Mr. Handsome, rest assured. Harley will take the responsibility for Millie. We will pay for her daily expenses!"
Debbie couldn't help but marvel at Harley's efficiency. Harley had made Millie pregnant in such a short time, but she still hadn't been able to get Carlos back after pursuing him for so long. They hadn't had sex yet since they met again, no matter how she tried to seduce him.
Carlos didn't expect Debbie to respond like that. He didn't tell her so she could take responsibility for the puppies.
But he didn't want to say anything anymore.
He gestured to Frankie who was standing a short distance away. On seeing his boss's signal, Frankie immediately came over and handed him a gift bag. "Mr. Huo, here you are."
Carlos nodded. Frankie quickly stepped away, giving them privacy. Carlos handed the gift bag to Debbie and said, "Take it."
She lowered her head to look at the bag, confused. "What's this?"
He said coolly, "Just open it."
She was intrigued.
She handed the dog leash to Carlos before she took the gift bag and opened it. There was a black brocade box in it. When she opened the box, a sparkling crystal piano model came into her sight.
The piano body was carved from a whole piece of pink crystal stone, and the 88 keys were made by black and white crystal stones. The whole artwork was exquisite.
Debbie's eyes lit up with excitement. She couldn't help but praise it heartily, "Wow! It's gorgeous! It's like a real piano!"
"Hmm." Seeing the excitement sparking in her eyes made him grin.
When he visited a client's company in New York, he noticed that piano model in the client's office. It caught his attention right away. It was not that he liked this artwork, but it reminded him of Debbie. He knew she would love it.
The materials of this piano model were very precious, and on top of it all, it was carved by a famous international sculptor in A Country. That sculptor had won a gold medal for almost all of his artworks. So even if you had the money, you'd have a hard time buying his artworks.
The client who owned this piano model had always looked up to Carlos and was eager to make good friends with him. So when he found out that Carlos wanted the piano model and was willing to pay double for it, he agreed right away.
Debbie tried to suppress the excitement exploding in her heart. "So… what does this mean?" 'Is he giving it to me or is he going to give it to another woman?' she wondered eagerly.
Carlos cast her a sidelong glance. "What do you think?"
Debbie pursed her lips. She deliberately scoffed, "I think it's a nice gift for your fiancee…"
Frowning, he said in a stern voice, "Keep it. Don't damage it or lose it, or else I'll make you pay for it."
Debbie rolled her eyes. Was this the right attitude in giving a present?
But she was already grateful to have received a present in the first place—she didn't want to fight over a petty thing. She cautiously put the piano model back to the brocade box, and then put the box back to the gift bag. Carrying it in her hand, she happily held his arm. "Mr. Handsome, thank you. I love it very much!"
Happiness filled Debbie's heart. She could suddenly see her future with Carlos again.
Carlos slightly grinned and silently watched their two dogs play.
After returning to her apartment, Debbie sat on the edge of her bed and stared at the piano model, her mind racing. She thought about a lot of things—frowning at sad thoughts and smiling at happy thoughts.
She got trapped in her daze for about an hour. When she snapped out of it, she put back the piano model in its box.
She changed into a fresh set of clothes, ready to go to Curtis' house and see her daughter whom she dearly missed.
