Chapter 195 Catching Up


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


    the time when they were dating.


    ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .


    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 Huo? 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, 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?"


    Hayden was reduced to silence again. After a while, he stood up, came to her, pulled her to her feet,


    and embraced her tightly. "Did you know I was so worried about you when I learned you married Carlos


    Huo I immediately booked a ticket to New York? Do you really think he can manage a bigpany like


    ZL Group without being underhanded and scheming? Impossible. He''s known as a ruthless


    businessman. Even if you don''t love me, let me in. Don''t push me away. I''ll wait for you, until the day


    you finally figure out who he really is. You''lle back to me.


    " Debbie was only human. When someone she had once loved whispered to her how much he cared


    about her, she froze and didn''t know how to turn him down.


    Hayden went on, "I won''t get married to anyone else. I''ll wait for you. When Carlos Huo hurts you, I''ll be


    waiting. My arms are your harbor. You loved me once, but I never stopped loving you.


    Babe, I know it''s toote, but I won''t give up. My life is a dark ce without you. I''m a walking zombie. I


    work my ass off at Gu Group. I do it for you. I used to be a jerk, I know. That''s why I want to make


    money, a lot of money. I want to give you everything."


    Words like "no," "never," "can''t" were on the tip of Debbie''s tongue, but she didn''t have a chance to cut


    in. She was waiting for him to calm down and then to turn him down.


    However...


    "Mr. Gu, I see you came to New York to dere your love for my wife. How touching!" a familiar and


    cold voice said. His voice was like a thunderbolt over Debbie''s head.


    She pushed Hayden away in a fluster. Nheless, when she turned around, she saw Carlos sitting


    comfortably in an armchair. He seemed to have been there for a while.


    Her face went pale. She trotted over to Carlos and said, "Carlos—" Before she could continue, Carlos


    took her hand, stood up, and strode towards Hayden with her.


    Hayden, however, wasn''t nervous at all at Carlos'' sudden appearance. He held out his right hand


    confidently to shake hands with him. "Mr. Huo, what a coincidence!"


    "Yeah, it is." They shook hands just as they had the other day in the restaurant. Debbie watched them,


    her mouth agape.


    As if nothing had happened, Hayden invited them to sit with him. "Care for a cup of coffee?"


    Carlos shook his head and wrapped his arm around Debbie''s waist. After giving her an affectionate


    look, he replied, "No, thanks. My wife is kinda snacky, and I have another cafe in mind. If you''ll excuse


    me. Bye, Mr. Gu."


    ''When did I say I was hungry?'' Debbie wondered.


    But she was more confused by the weird interaction between the two men. She watched them, holding


    her breath, and didn''t dare to say anything. She knew how this looked, and she knew Carlos'' temper.


    Debbie was extremely surprised that her husband had found her here, much less was behaving quite


    cordially to Hayden. This man had practically proposed to her, bared his soul, and begged Debbie to


    ditch Carlos ande with him. As possessive as Carlos was, he didn''t have any further reaction. That


    shocked her.


    "I see. Then I''ll leave you to it." Hayden looked at Debbie and continued, "Deb says that you two love


    each other very much. I can tell. You should spend more time with her. Did you know she loves to


    travel? Doesn''t look like she gets out much, though."


    Carlos tightened his hand around Debbie''s waist. "Of course. We''re nning to go to the Maldives in


    February, heading to H Country in March, and A Country in April. I''ll go wherever she wants."


    Debbie pulled Carlos'' arm and whispered in his ear on tiptoe, "I knew about the Maldives, but H and A?


    When did you decide on those?"


    He turned towards her, just a bit. "Just now," he answered.


    Debbie was dumbstruck.


    Seeing them together, Hayden smiled resignedly. "Awesome! Take care."


    When Carlos passed by the cashier''s desk, he released Debbie''s hand and took care of the bill.


    Before they walked out of the coffee house, he wrapped Debbie''s scarf around her neck and zipped up


    her down jacket. Everything he did seemed so natural and gentle it worried Debbie even more. What


    was going on in his head?


    She followed Carlos to a spacious, bright, and well-equipped minivan.


    He sat on the couch, and then forcefully pulled Debbie into the seat next to him. "Drive," he told the


    driver.


    Debbie sensed the coldness around him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and exined, "I...


    He... We were just catching up."


    "Catching up?" She felt he was about to explode with rage. When he spoke, it felt as if the carriage


    were a missile silo.


    Since Carlos had seen Hayden holding her in his arms, Debbie understood why he was mad. "I don''t


    love him anymore. So tell me, Mr. Handsome, why were you there?"