Take My Breath Away

Carlos' face darkened when Debbie refused to step inside the villa. "Don't you want to know what kind of place your daughter will be spending her next three days at?" he asked. The irritation in his voice was evident.

However, she didn't respond. As she stared at the villa, she remembered the black and white funerary couplet hanging on each side of the doorway and Carlos' black and white portrait in the living room.

The vision was so... terrifying.

The memories of what had happened three years ago returned to her in waves—the music studio Carlos had built for her, their dog Hum, the sunflowers they had planted together... And then James' vicious face popped into her mind, saying, "Debbie Nian, Carlos is dead! Ha-ha! He is really dead!"

Many nights, Debbie had woken up screaming, troubled by the nightmares of James' evil face and disgusting voice.

Some nights, she used to wake up crying after dreaming of Carlos' tender smile.

Other nights, she saw Carlos' cold gravestone in her dreams and used to wake up sweating.

She was in a strange state of mind as she stood in front of the villa where they used to live together happily.

Her face went pale and her legs became weak. She staggered, almost falling to the ground. Luckily, she supported herself by clinging on to her car hastily.

Seeing her distressed state, Carlos put Piggy down and coaxed her, "Evelyn, go find Uncle Frankie. I'll join you soon."

"Okay." Piggy looked at her mom, wanting to say something. But when she saw Carlos walking towards her mom, she turned around and ran into the villa.

Carlos held Debbie's arm to steady her footing and asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

Debbie's eyes were shut. After a few seconds, she opened her eyes and pain could be seen so clearly in them. She grabbed Carlos' arm tightly. "Carlos..." She held his arm tighter as if she was confirming that he was really alive. "You are not dead..."

'Carlos is alive! This is not a dream!'

Debbie cried and then laughed, which confused Carlos. In between sobs, she said, "I wanted to kill myself to give you company in death. But I had Piggy in my belly, and I couldn't..."

Before she had left Y City three years ago, she had been diagnosed with depression.

Every time she dreamed abou

gently. "I'm head over heels in love with you. Have always been." She could never accept any man in her life other than Carlos.

"If you loved me so much, then why did you have Piggy with another man?" he asked in a cold voice. He really couldn't understand that part.

Taken aback by his question, Debbie stood still for a moment and then slid out of his arms. She looked away from his eyes and said, "Time will tell."

Once she exposed James' true colors to him, she would tell Carlos the truth about Piggy.

"Tell what?" Carlos asked again.

"Um..." She couldn't tell him yet that Piggy was his daughter.

"Tell me!" Carlos didn't know why, but he had a hunch that Debbie was hiding something very important from him. He was dying to know.

Debbie took a few steps back. "I should go."

"No!" He grabbed her by the waist, pressed her against the car door and kissed her on her lips. Debbie's eyes widened.

He was always like this—bossy and non-negotiable.

After what seemed an eternity, Carlos let her go. Debbie was finally able to breathe freely.

Drops of sweat began to form on Carlos' forehead as he tried to supress his desire for her. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and called Frankie. "Stay in the villa and play with Piggy." Then he hung up.

Debbie stared at him blankly. 'Did he just call Frankie? Why? What is he planning to do now?' She looked into his dark eyes for an answer.

Carlos didn't explain. He opened the rear door and pushed the confused woman into the car.