After helping Debbie with her high heels, Carlos opened the jewelry box on the desk and helped her put each piece on one by one, despite her reluctance.
At last, he took out a ring. He held it up to her, displaying the huge heart-shaped diamond, a 3.50ct princess cut. "And now, the piece de resistance," he announced. He was about to put it on her ring finger, but Debbie protested silently with her index finger pointing forward. Her meaning was obvious.
Carlos flashed a thin smile. He obeyed her this time and put the diamond ring on her index finger instead.
After that, she tried to draw her hand back, but he grabbed hold of it again. Staring into her eyes, he declared imperiously, "I'm just going to take your protests in stride. It's normal to fight every once in a while. But no matter what, you'll be my wife. I'm not budging on this one!"
Debbie looked back at him sullenly. In her mind, she thought, 'Do you have to be so possessive?'
Carlos carried Debbie in his arms as they descended the staircase. Her dress was floor-length, and he didn't want her to trip on it. A fall down the stairs could be lethal.
Miranda was on the phone in the living room. Seeing them come downstairs, she smiled at Debbie and nodded her head. She mouthed to her, "You look great."
Debbie felt shy at her praise. Blushing, she returned, "Thanks."
A loving smile hit Carlos' lips when he saw her blushing face. Then, holding her hand, he led her towards the door.
The moment they set foot in the venue, every guest's eyes were fixed on them. Seeing the legendary couple walking side by side with their fingers entwined, a lot of people couldn't help complimenting and blessing them. They looked every inch the aristocratic couple.
Carlos was in a good mood, of course. Everyone was sure about that because they were surprised to get a rare smile or nod from the usually cold CEO.
Barlow was a big shot in business circles. A bevvy of distinguished guests and celebrities were invited to his grand birthday party. Debbie and Carlos walked up to him and greeted him. As Carlos and Barlow exchanged some pleasantries, Debbie took a gift from Frankie's hands and handed it to the old man. It was an authentic Chinese painting.
Barlow accepted the gift happily. When his assistant helped him unroll the painting on the spot, the guests just had to get a look. Many of them were astonished at the magnificent piece.
It was a traditional painting with some symbolic elements that meant longevity, such as deer, cranes, pine trees, cypress. A few Chinese characters were beautifully written in the margin, blessing Barlow and wishing him a long and happy life. More importantly, the signature was none other than the famous painter and calligrapher—Mr. Chai. The artist was still living, and this was his magnum opus. The price for his services was at least a million per square meter. This one was about five square meters, so it should be worth about five million.
The guests were so impressed by how generous Carlos was.
The one-hundred-year-old man grinned from ear to ear. He looked very impish then. In an instant, he instructed his son to take it home and hang it on the wall of his bedroom. He wanted to be able to appreciate it every day.
After excusing themselves, Carlos held Debbie's hand and walked away. They went to greet Curtis and Colleen.
The two couples chatted casually for a while. Colleen suddenly pointed to a corner and signaled to Debbie with her eyes. Debbie looked towards the corner and saw Stephanie there.
She was dressed in a black evening dress tonight, obviously trying to keep a low profile. Her arm was wrapped around another man's. Debbie guessed the guy next to her was her father, Angus Li. But of course, Debbie already knew that Angus wasn't her true father.
A fun prank sprang into her thoughts. She nudged Carlos, who was talking with Curtis. He shifted his eyes to her and asked, "What's up?"
Debbie tilted her head to indicate where Stephanie was standing. Carlos followed her gaze and saw Stephanie and Angus. Coincidentally, father and daughter also looked at him. Their eyes met.
From a distance, Angus raised his glass of wine in the air, as if proposing a toast to Carlos. The CEO raised his glass in return, nodding at him. Then, Carlos turned to Debbie and asked, "Okay. And?"
She cocked her eyebrows and scoffed, "Your fiancee and future father-in-law are there. Go say hi." As she spoke, she happened to make eye contact with Stephanie.
By one glance, she could clearly see the resentment and jealousy in her eyes.
Carlos put his hand on her waist and pulled her closer. Looking down at her delicate face, he warned, "Quit it. You're my wife, and don't you forget it! And I have only one father-in-law. Your late father."
Colleen and Curtis tittered when they saw them bantering back and forth. Curtis pushed up his glasses and joked, "Then call me Uncle, Carlos. Colleen would be your aunt. Come on, be a good boy. Say it, and I'll give you the dowry." He had waited a long time for this. He wouldn't miss it for the world.
Debbie burst into laughter. Carlos stared at Curtis, his face deadpan. To add fuel to the fire, the naughty girl echoed her uncle, "Come on, Mr. Handsome. Aren't you always saying I'm your wife? Curtis is my uncle, so he's yours too, right? You're not showing much sincerity."
Curtis pulled out his phone and told Debbie, "Ah, Debbie. Be a dear, and open your WeChat. I need your 2D barcode. If Carlos calls me Uncle even once, I'll scan it and wire a million to you right now." '
A million?!' Debbie's eyes lit up with excitement. She nodded admiringly and marveled, "Uncle Curtis, you're amazing!"
The sullen man suddenly thought of something. A cunning smile broke on his face. He gently swirled the red wine in his glass, looking at it, and gulped it down. Then he said casually, "Okay, deal. Honey, take out your phone and get ready."
Debbie thought Curtis was just joking, so she didn't even mess with her phone. Seeing that, Carlos lunged for her, grabbed her purse, and took out her phone himself. He opened her WeChat and tapped on the 2D barcode. Lifting the phone in front of Curtis, Carlos called out respectfully, "Hi Uncle Curtis and Aunt Colleen."
At this, the couple laughed heartily. Colleen even said "hi" back.
Curtis felt like he was on cloud nine. The ever-proud CEO, who everyone deferred to, who bowed to no one, was now calling him Uncle respectfully. Of course Curtis was excited. Without any ado, he scanned Debbie's barcode and wired her a cool million.
When it was all said and done, Carlos wasn't done. He didn't put the phone away. "Uncle Curtis and Aunt Colleen," he repeated.
Curtis nodded smugly. "Good, my dear nephew-in-law."
Emotionless, Carlos spat, "Money."
Colleen looked at him, doubt in her eyes. "Didn't he wire the money just now?"
Carlos grinned evilly. "Aunt Colleen, Uncle Curtis said that if I called him Uncle even once, he would give Debbie a million. Now that I've said it twice, it should be two million. A deal's a deal."
Colleen was left speechless. It did sound like that.
Curtis smiled bitterly. "Hey, Carlos. Are you twisting my words to rip me off?"
With a nod, Carlos admitted honestly, "Yeah. Cut the crap. Where's my money?"
Sighing resignedly, Curtis scanned the barcode again and wired one more million. When Carlos was about to address them the third time, Debbie hastily reached up and covered his mouth. "Stop. Are you trying to bankrupt them?"
As she said this, she yanked her phone away from him.
The CEO winked at her and nodded.
Debbie put away her phone and scolded him. "God, you're such a jerk."
He smiled innocently. "It's not my fault. He said it, I didn't."
Curtis chuckled under his breath. Patting Carlos' shoulder, he joked, "Carlos, you haven't remarried Debbie yet. Payback's a bitch." He turned to his niece and advised, "Debbie, I've got the perfect guy for you—young, handsome, rich. Unlike this sourpuss, my friend is tons of fun. He'll make you laugh every day. What do you think?"
Pulling a pure and innocent face, Debbie clapped her hands and nodded, "Sounds like my ideal type."
The next second, the unhappy man grabbed hold of her arm and pulled her behind him. Facing Curtis, who was smiling playfully, Carlos warned again, "I said, Debbie is mine for the rest of her life. You want to find another man for her? Let them go through me first."
