Debbie wiped her hand again and again before asking, “What’s so important that you have to tell me in


    person? What are you up to?”


    “Does Carlos treat you right? Why did you marry him? Did you two make a secret deal or something?


    How much is he paying you? Tell me, Deb. I’ve been worried about you ever since I found out you


    married hil


    “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but he really treasures me. And there’s no deal between us. We’re in love.


    Got it? Oh, my mistake. I forgot you never loved anyone, so you might not know what it is.”


    When they were dating, Hayden always thought he was better than Debbie and despised her on every


    Level. Soon after, he hooked up with some rich girl and often showed up as a happy couple in front of


    Debbie.


    That was when Debbie realized he had never Loved her.


    “Come on, Deb, our breakup was mutual. Don’t act all innocent.” Hayden sighed, trying to defend


    himself.


    “What do you mean? I poured my heart into our rtionship. Wasn’t that enough?”


    Hayden shook his head.


    “I didn’t say you weren‘t good to me. You were great to me. But, in that time, we only held hands. We


    were a couple, but we didn’t even kiss. Not fair.”


    That was something Hayden hated to mention. He had only kissed Debbie on the cheek. That was all.


    Debbie replied, “I was too young.” She hadn’t evene of age yet when they started dating. She


    thought she was progressive and free-spirited enough to do that. But she had standards, and she


    wasn’t going to vite those.


    Debbie thought that kissing was only appropriate for adults, so she had rebuffed Hayden’s requests all


    the time when they were dating.


    Once, he attempted to forcibly kiss her on the lips and promptly found himself on his back with the wind


    knocked out of him. She had thrown him over her shoulder. Afterwards they gave each other the silent


    treatment for months.


    It was Debbie who caved. She started to make up for what she did, but their rtionship was a shadow


    of what it was previously.


    “Deb, we live in the 21st century, for crying out loud.” Hayden was at a loss for words.


    Debbie felt she was maybe in the wrong about that, so she changed the subject.


    “That’s in the past. We’ve been apart for a long time. And


    I’ve found my true Love, so let’s move on.”


    Hayden’s heart ached when she said she had found the one.


    “If he really loved you, he would have announced your marriage and told everyone that you are his


    wife. But he didn’t. He doesn’t love you, Deb. Open your eyes!”


    “Wrong! I’m the one who wants it kept under wraps,” she told him. Her face betrayed no emotion.


    Hayden was so shocked he couldn’t even speak.


    “Deb, you know I love you. But Carlos? In the circles I run in, he’s known to be cold, distant, and


    calcting. Don’t get taken in by him. There is no such thing as the modern Cindere. So be realistic,? 2024 N?v/el/Dram/a.Org.


    okay


    Debbie withdrew her gaze from outside the window to look at him.


    “You don’t know me. You don‘t know us. How can you be so judgmental?”