Mr Carlos Huo, She's Your Wife

"Here's the divorce agreement, Philip. I've already signed it. Please give it to Carlos Huo."

It was difficult for Debbie Nian to work up the nerve to hand the agreement that would end her marriage to Philip Zhuo, the Huo family's steward.

Sighing in resignation, Philip Zhuo went over the document and noticed clauses that made him frown. He looked at the girl sharply and bellowed,"Debbie!" Incredulous, he asked,"Do you realize how stupid this is? I can understand if you want to divorce Mr. Huo. After all, you haven't seen the man for the past three years. But why aren't you asking for any money?"

At 20, Debbie Nian was an undergraduate. Her father died while she didn't know who her mother was. In Philip Zhuo's opinion, she shouldn't want a divorce, let alone get out of the marriage without any money.

Debbie Nian scratched the back of her head in embarrassment. She was well aware that Philip Zhuo always treated her as a daughter, so she had no plans to keep anything from him. "I... I want to drop out of school," she stammered.

"What? Why do you suddenly want to leave school? What happened? Are you being bullied?" The steward's eyes widened in astonishment.

"No, no, no! You're overreacting, Philip. You already know, I-I don't like studying. So, I don't want to waste my time in university," she explained.

The excuse of dropping out of school was lame but the only one that came to mind quickly to stall him off. But she was not telling anyone the real reason for wanting a divorce.

She was silent for a while, as several thoughts ran through her mind. 'Tomorrow is my 21st birthday and third wedding anniversary.

I'm still young. I don't want this hollow marriage to stand in the way of pursuing true love.

I've never even seen Carlos Huo in person. My father arranged this marriage. How can anyone live like this?' she thought desperately.

Sensing that the girl was not about to share anything else, Philip Zhuo conceded,"It appears you've made up your mind, so I will..." He waited for her to say something. "I'll hand the divorce papers to Mr. Huo tomorrow," the steward said with a deep sigh when she didn't respond.

"Thank you so much, Philip!" She let out a huge sigh of relief before giving the man a sweet smile.

But Philip Zhuo could not help himself as he stared at the young girl. "Debbie, Mr. Huo is a good man. I believe you are a perfect match, so I do hope you will think this through carefully and reconsider. If you change your mind, you may call me anytime," he said sincerely.

Of all he said, two words stood out that made Debbie Nian cringe. 'Perfect match? He didn't even show up at the wedding! The man was at a dinner reception for a foreign president at that time. And the photograph on our marriage certificate was Photoshopped.

haven't even laid eyes on him. So, what is Philip saying that we are a perfect match?' Debbie Nian couldn't

deep breath before speaking again. She had intended to say,"I've made up my mind," but as a sign of respect for Philip Zhuo who

the divorce papers. But to his disappointment, she

is that?" came the cold reply. He noted

hesitating briefly, the steward answered,"A divorce

in his hand froze as Carlos Huo let the words sink in. He closed his eyes and rubbed his

Philip didn't call me now, I wouldn't even remember that

papers in my study. I'll be back in Y City in a couple of days,"

Philip Zhuo acknowledged, and

City, the bar was dimly lit but packed with

the establishment, that was among the very popular

501 was a table littered with beer, wine, champagne

the venue for a birthday party. The celebrant

dress. This was one of the very few occasions that she donned something feminine

classmates. Stacked in one corner of the room were the many presents Debbie Nian received from friends and classmates.

tipsy Jared Han broke out in a song, with his arm slung around another boy's shoulders. "I

so grating that many of

that won't bust anybody's eardrums." It

of confidence, who always

suggestion had everyone in the room turning silent. The boys and girls in the room

was a known party animal, and was

mischief in her eyes, Kasie Zheng said,"Let's play Truth or Dare!"

girl. "Kasie, that game sucks!" This time, Jared Han, a rich second generation, got back

and continued,"Today is Debbie's 21st birthday, so we'll make the

still pure and innocent. They were familiar with the game; the consequences for the dares were usually singing the high notes

Nian. The celebrant's cheeks were already crimson from too much champagne and wine. As the first round started, Kasie Zheng winked at the

then kiss the first person of the opposite sex they run into on the lips. If he or she opts to skip this consequence, there is an alternative. He or she has to drink ten glasses of wine," Kasie Zheng