Debbie slumped back lazily on the sofa as she watched the news. What Carlos was saying made her tense. She sat up abruptly and focused her full attention on the screen and hung on his every word. He stood there, dashing as ever.
There were no tears on his face, nor did he look sad. However, his words touched every listener. "I lost my memory and oppressed Debbie. Heartbroken, she finally gave up on me and left. During her absence, I was miserable and started reflecting on my acts. I'm not proud of what I did, and I regret every bit of it. Even though I want my ex-wife back, I have never cheated on Miss Li, because she was never my girlfriend. After I had lost my memory, she worked with someone else on a scheme against me, posing to be my girlfriend. This was only her role in the scheme that they had concocted together. So she is not the victim here. Debbie is. From three years ago up until this moment, Debbie has been suffering too much because of me."
Debbie gaped in shock and put her hand to her mouth. The tears flowed freely down her cheeks like a broken dam. Then her phone began to ring incessantly from people who were concerned about her, but she hung up without answering each time. How could she possibly speak on the phone in this condition? She had lost all sense of composure and could only hold her bleary eyes fixed to the screen on Carlos.
He was clearing her name in front of everybody. He was declaring his love for her to the world. Every word he said warmed her. Once her heart was broken, but now she felt that she was whole again.
Unable to contact Debbie on her phone, Ruby ran over to Debbie's office instead. She wanted to tell Debbie to watch the news. But when she walked into the office and stopped to catch her breath, she saw that Debbie was already watching it. Ruby was relieved. She handed Debbie a tissue and consoled her. "Debbie, don't cry, although I feel like crying too. What Mr. Huo said is so touching," Ruby said choking on the words.
Debbie wiped her eyes silently, but it was no use. Each time she did, the tears would just roll down her cheeks again. If Carlos were by her side now, she would hug him tightly and wail in his arms. She would tell him how much she loved him and that her love for him had never stopped and never would.
Carlos went on, "I had loved and treasured Debbie. In the past three years, she was framed and had endured unbearable pain. It's all my fault. I owe her an apology. Debbie, I'm so sorry for everything. From now on, I'll protect you and make sure no harm comes near you. I will remarry Debbie as soon as possible. I hope that I have made my feelings and intentions for Debbie loud and clear. Thank you."
The reporters were in a frenzy now and wanted to ask Carlos more questions, but Carlos turned them down.
Just then, Ruby thought of something. She urged Debbie, "Release the proof! Hurry!"
Debbie looked at her bewildered. She remembered that she was going to do something before the news had started but forgot what it was.
'Proof, proof…' "Oh, right!" she remembered.
Quickly she scrolled through the pictures on her phone and found the one she was looking for, and posted it on Weibo. It was her single status certificate proving that ever since she divorced Carlos three years ago, she had remained single and never married Ivan.
Once the photo was out, the rumors were shattered.
Under three minutes, Ivan posted a picture too. It was his marriage license. Beside the picture, he wrote, "Kasie and I are holding our wedding ceremony at the end of next month. Welcome!"
It was like a slap across the face of the culprit.
Kasie re-posted it. In the comment section, she explained that she and Debbie were besties, and Debbie was the matchmaker.
Stephanie was in shock while everything was unraveling right before her eyes.
Carlos' determination to break it off with her was beyond all of her expectations. There was not a trace of affection in his tone when he spoke of her. Each sentence was harsher than the last.
'Has he recovered his memory?' she wondered.
She wasted no time calling James. "Uncle James, who told you that Debbie and Ivan got married?" James had sent her those pictures. Initially, Stephanie planned to wait for the perfect moment to release them online. But when Debbie hit Glenda, it was the last straw. Stephanie was pushed over the edge and sold the pictures to the press.
When she called, James was already beside himself with rage. The news made his blood pressure soar. He placed his hand on his chest and said slowly, "It was Debbie. She told me she and Ivan got married and that she had given up on Carlos. She asked me not to harm her daughter."
It wasn't until he saw the news that he realized that Debbie had duped him.
Judging by what Carlos said, he wasn't sure if his amnesia was gone or not. Feeling confused, he called Dr. Zhu to confirm. The doctor informed him that Carlos had been having the injections. Whether Carlos remembered or not, it didn't matter anymore.
The most important thing was that Carlos was totally on Debbie's side now. James had lost control over him.
Carlos had even started dealing with Stephanie. James assumed that Carlos would take action against him next. Either way, he had to exercise extreme caution and avoid making any mistakes.
Stephanie put her phone on the table and then threw a file folder against the wall out of frustration. The entrance of the office building was swarming with reporters demanding an interview with her.
To add insult to injury, her boss called her after watching the news and said, "Considering that you have done a pretty good job for the company, I'll give you the liberty of resigning instead of firing you. Perhaps you should take some time and travel the world."
Stephanie waited it out in her office until it was late in the evening, avoiding the media and not saying a word.
When Debbie finished work, Carlos' car was already waiting for her in front of the building.
Debbie ignored the curious gazes from the onlookers and walked up to his car and hopped in.
She was considering talking with Carlos to find out whether he had remembered everything.
Because only the Carlos from three years ago would have protected her as he had when he made an appearance on the news.
Once she entered the car, Carlos took her into his arms, and she leaned against him.
They sat quietly like that until the car reached the gate of Carlos' manor.
"Stop!" Debbie suddenly said, sitting up.
Frankie hit the brakes.
"Carlos, get out of the car," she said, turning to him. Then she opened the door and got out herself.
Carlos said nothing and followed her out of the vehicle.
"What's wrong?" he asked, smiling.
Debbie gazed at him and smiled. Gently she began to straighten his tie. "I think you have regained your memory, although I can't prove it. If you don't give me an answer now, I won't enter the manor."
Carlos knew he had no choice but to tell her.
"Why did you tell me that you got married to Ivan?" he asked. It pained him to think about how she put on a wedding gown for another man and how he carried her into the wedding car himself. He even walked her down the aisle and handed her over to another man.
When he recalled all of that, it hurt him so much. However, it turned out that it was all just one of her tricks. She pulled it off so well that everyone had been convinced. Carlos had to applaud her, though his heart ached. As for Ivan, Carlos hated him so much that he wanted to kill him.
"You didn't love me. What did it matter whom I married?" she asked in an innocent tone.
Carlos pinched his forehead in frustration and explained, "You should have understood me given the circumstances."
"Well, too bad! I didn't!" she retorted bluntly.
"Fine. Let's drop that. Why did you tell me that you had sex with Ivan?"
