True Love Waits

Chapter 68 A Broken Heart

"Who is the 'old man' you referred to?" Hayden asked as he was surprised by Debbie's response when she answered his call.

"Never mind, I was referring to no one in particular," Debbie replied casually. "What made you call?"

"I've been in Y City for a couple of days now. I have no plans tonight, so I'm thinking maybe we can have dinner together."

"Oh, sorry. I'm out of town. I'm on a trip."

Hayden hadn't expected her response. For a moment, he was in a daze but soon realized that Debbie was such a travel gal. He remembered how much she enjoyed going to places. She had visited different tourist destinations, more than he ever had. He envied her determination and her free spirit.

"Oh! I see. It's okay. Anyways, my schedule will be cleared out early next month. How about I take you to England for a vacation then?"

"No, thanks." Debbie turned him down immediately. "I've been busy lately. I have all these different classes every day. I had to make time for this trip."

Debbie was telling the truth. When her trip was over, she would once again be occupied with dance, yoga, English, and other classes.

"Debbie, don't lie to me. I know you. You always hate studying. You're just trying to blow me off by making up those classes."

"No, I'm not. That's the old me. People change. Now I have yoga, dance, English, Advanced Mathematics, and so on, but I don't learn martial arts anymore."

For a moment, there was only silence at the other end of the line. "You used to say you will never quit martial arts. My mom and I once asked you to quit, but you refused. Why now?" Hayden knew how much she used to hate those classes she just mentioned.

Debbie smiled and said, "Because I don't have to protect you anymore." One of the reasons why she had worked hard on martial arts was to protect Hayden and his sister, Portia Gu, who was frail like a willow leaf.

Debbie and Hayden started dating when she was 16 and their relationship lasted for two years. Just a few days before her 18th birthday, for some unknown reasons they broke up. During those two years, being his girlfriend, Debbie was the one who had protected Hayden and his sister, although she herself was a little girl.

her bravery, she got ridiculed by Hayden himself. "You are not womanly at all,"

I didn't treasure what we had. I've regretted it. I've

after Debbie had left him, but none of them truly loved him as

way that, even though she didn't know how to cook, to make sure he ate well, she used to bring takeouts to his

she changed her character for him. She was perky, but when she learned that Hayden's mom liked quiet

was wealthy, he got kidnapped or blackmailed a lot, or sometimes into some other kinds of trouble. All those times, Debbie tried her best to protect

every time Hayden had to drink at a dinner party, she drank his alcohol for him, just because drinking was bad for his health and she wanted him

done so many things

a fool. Now he was back, and he wanted her back. He promised himself that he would never let her go this time. "Hayden, it's too late."

still pained her when she reminisced about their past, but she was over him now. She had moved on. Except for the pain, she didn't

cake, icy pudding, and multi-layer steamed bread. Durian flavor was her favorite. She remembered how Hayden hated it. Every

was with Carlos. She could tell that Carlos hated durian's smell too. But he had eaten the snack with her even though he despised it. She knew by the look on his face that he was just forcing himself to eat the

ordered crispy durian cakes and durian pancakes for Debbie the other day

it was because he was several years older than Debbie, Carlos was thoughtful in many things. He would ask Julie

to sneak into his room again, but he never busted her. To

of thunder and lightning. She had come to Portia Gu's bedroom

sleeping alone in the guest room that night, suddenly thunder roared and lightning flashed. She was too scared to sleep. But she couldn't go to Hayden's room. That would be inappropriate. So

door. "Don't interrupt my sleep again!" she had warned her. She remembered how scared she

all of sudden, Debbie missed Carlos, that overbearing,

at her phone screen. There was one missed call from Carlos. She made up her mind that if he called

days had passed.

dinner she rubbed her stuffed belly and decided to stroll down the streets to hasten the digestion of the food. Then she came across an emerald store. She walked in and looked around. In the dim light, a lucky peace buckle caught her eyes. "I'd

pieces in our store are genuine.