Debbie answered with a smile, "I'm good, thanks. Really."

Everyone turned their attention back to Carlos. Before long, the car window rose, and the people inside were obscured once more. The car drove off.

Debbie was deeply disappointed. She had been hoping to get a ride back with Carlos. Now her chance was gone.

Some gentlemen were kind enough to ask her if she needed a hospital, or at least a ride there.

But since Carlos left, nothing else mattered. She shook her head dejectedly.

“Thanks everyone. I'll manage." The young mother had been desperate for an excuse to leave the dinner earlier. Now she had a good one.

Debbie turned down everyone's offers of help and watched them make their way back into the hotel.

She took a deep breath and pulled out a pack of tissue from her purse to wipe the blood off her leg. Then she limped towards the roadside.

She winced at every step. The injured knee was a bright red, not only from the laceration, but also the bruise. She knew in a couple hours that color would be purple.

Some taxis passed her in the next few minutes, but all of them were full.

Just when Debbie was starting to get frustrated, a familiar car came into view.

Her eyes glittered with joy. ‘I thought he left. Why is he here? Did he come back for me?"

She was so thrilled the pain was forgotten and she started to wave at the roaring Emperor.

The driver saw her. He slowed down the car and informed Carlos,

“Carlos, Debbie is here. She's waving at the car."

Carlos didn't respond. The driver wondered if he should stop the car.

Unexpectedly, when she saw that the car wasn't stopping, Debbie stepped into the road, right in the path of the oncoming car.

The car roared toward her, and Debbie squeezed her eyes shut, waiting for the inevitable impact. The tires squealed on the asphalt as the car skidded to a stop, just centimeters away from Debbie.

Luckily, the driver was a top-notch circuit driver, and he knew the

Limits of machine and man... and he was quick enough to step on the brake when she jumped out in the middle of the road. Or else she would have been hit.

After the car stopped, Debbie Limped to the back door. Still thinking that Carlos had come back for her, she tapped the car window excitedly.

She couldn't wait to see him, to kiss him, to have him hold her in his arms once more.

That same faint buzzing sound came to her ears again as the window descended, revealing the passengers inside. Debbie was smiling; Carlos looked gloomy. He gave her a cold sideways glance and remained silent.

His silence made her heart ache. ‘Didn't he come back for me?' Her blood froze in her veins. ‘What if he didn't?"

Carlos seemed to have lost all patience. Debbie said hurriedly,