Erica felt angry and betrayed when she learned that Matthew had been hiding the fact that he had been using condoms. Obviously, he had taken advantage of her because she was ignorant about condoms.
She decided to watch some adult movies to advance her knowledge after she returned to Y City. That way, she wouldn't be deceived by the cunning Matthew again!
"It's late!" Matthew whispered as he turned her over and kissed her without hesitation.
The next morning
When Matthew went downstairs, Erica and Wesley were having a heated discussion.
There was a trace of anger in her tone as she said, "We are not destined to be together. Don't force us." She rubbed her aching waist secretly. If she hadn't been at home today, she would have missed her lunch because of the previous passionate night.
Wesley was baffled by his daughter's stance. He just couldn't understand why she would behave this way. What was the girl thinking? From what he had seen, Matthew was an ideal son-in-law, and he wouldn't be able to find a better one even if he searched the world! However, when Erica persisted, he argued, "I have to tell you that an arranged marriage can sometimes work! You are so lucky to be with Matthew. Why do you always have to complain?"
"Dad! How can you know that this is right for me?"
"I'm your father. What I say is right! Well, since you insist, how about this? Don't return to Y City. Instead, get a divorce. Then he can marry Tessie's sister. By the way, what's her name?" Wesley said as he crossed his arms across his chest.
Erica's expression soured at the reminder. Reluctantly, she replied, "Phoebe."
"Yes. If you're so unhappy, then divorce Matthew and let Phoebe be Mrs. Huo. This way, I won't have to hear you whine about him anymore!"
Erica snorted, "I won't give him to her. She hasn't apologized for slandering me! She will never be Mrs. Huo. Not in this life or the next!"
The more Erica thought about the scheming woman and how much she coveted the position of Mrs. Huo, the more unappealing the idea of divorcing Matthew became. 'If I continue to be angry with him, Phoebe might get her chance!' she thought sullenly.
Blair, who had taken Chantel to the supermarket to buy some food, returned at this point. As soon as they entered the living room, she saw Matthew standing at the stairs. She immediately walked up to him and asked with concern, "Matthew, have you finished your work? Are you tired?"
"Thank you for asking, Mom. I'm not tired."
When she heard Blair call Matthew's name, Erica's eyes almost popped out of her head. She whipped around only to find that he was standing at the stairway. With a shrug, he pushed his hands deep in his pockets and stared at her intensely.
How long had he been standing there? How much had he heard? She had no idea that he'd been listening to her conversation with her father.
She immediately lay prone on the sofa and asked the man who was talking to Blair, "When did you come down? What did you hear?" 'What did I just say to Dad? Let me think. Did I say something bad about Matthew?' She racked her brain.
"He came downstairs when you were telling me not to force you and him. Rika, you broke Matthew's heart!" Wesley snorted. 'Perhaps she will feel bad if she understands that she broke his heart, ' he thought.
And Wesley was right. Erica shifted her guilt-filled gaze to Matthew. Uneasily, she asked, "Did you hear everything?"
Matthew nodded as he approached her. Instead of being angry, his expression reflected the deep affection he felt for his wife. He looked at her gently and said, "Well, Rika, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry that being with me makes you unhappy."
'Wait a minute! What is he doing? Is he tricking me again?' Erica thought.
Blair glared at her daughter, who was half-kneeling on the sofa. She was so disappointed with her. "Erica, see how he treats you! You should treat Matthew better from now on." 'Poor Matthew. Rika must have bullied him a lot.'
Erica's mouth fell open with disbelief. She couldn't believe her ears. 'I don't want to come back to this house anymore. I don't want to see my parents anymore. I miss Carlos and Debbie.
Matthew has deceived Dad and Mom. They don't know how fierce and frightening Matthew can be when he is angry! He knows how to pretend in front of my dad and mom!' she argued in her mind. However, no matter how many objections she thought of, she couldn't find the words to express them.
Matthew rubbed her head when he saw her crestfallen expression. He said, "Mom, Rika is very kind to me. Don't worry!"
Blair glared suspiciously at her daughter, who was nodding vigorously. "Really?"
"Just like last night. I upset her at first, but then I made up for it. Now, she isn't angry with me, right, Rika?" Matthew said.
Erica was too quick to react. Before she could analyze what Matthew meant, she had nodded her head several times.
Part-way through her emphatic nodding, realization struck her like a bolt of lightning. Suddenly, she glared at the man, who was trying to hold back his laughter. "You manipulated me again!" She never said that she would forgive him! So then why was she so quick to agree with what he had said?
Matthew coughed and said, "No, I wouldn't dare!" 'My Rika is so silly. It is so easy to trick her!'
"Well, Erica, just get along well with Matthew, and don't be childish! Look at Chantel. She is gentle and obedient. You should learn from her," Blair announced with a sniff. If Erica were as obedient as Chantel, they would worry less, and Blair would have more reasons to smile.
"Why do I even bother? To you, everyone is better than me. I know. I'm a pair of old smelly socks that you want to throw away!" Erica pouted discontentedly.
She finally realized how Matthew felt when he was in his own home, as she was treated the same when she came to see the Li family.
Matthew ignored Wesley's presence and whispered in her ear, "It doesn't matter. I believe that you are the best!"
Joy coursed through Erica. However, a split second later, blood rushed to her cheeks. Wesley was still there, and he must have heard Matthew's declaration. What would her father think? She placed her hand over his mouth and protested softly, "What are you talking about?" Matthew thought her shyness was endearing.
He smiled at her but remained silent. Did she not know that he was truthful? She was the best girl in the world!
Wesley understood that perhaps he had heard something he shouldn't have. And so, he turned to Blair, raised his phone, and said, "Blair, Remus' family just called…" Then he stood and left the living room.
Still red-faced, Erica turned to Matthew and complained that he was too bold. She even fiercely warned him not to behave like this in front of the elders next time.
Matthew had no choice but to agree.
Blair happened to see how angry Erica was with Matthew and scolded her daughter.
Erica stopped defending herself. She knew that no matter what she did, everyone in this family believed that she was at fault.
On the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, Gifford returned to work. On the eighth day, Matthew and Erica left the Li family's house and headed for Y City.
Yvette's wedding was set for the second day of the second Lunar month as, by then, everyone would visit A Country to attend the ceremony.
Erica ran to her bedroom the minute they stepped into their villa in Y City. She found all the condoms that Matthew had bought and threw them in the trash can in front of him.
After that, she placed her hands on her hips and raised her chin proudly. "If you are not convinced, just hold it! Or I'll tell your parents that you're preventing them from having a grandchild."
Suppressing the smile in his eyes, Matthew took out two cards and waved them in front of her. He had promised her that he would give them to her in A Country.
The arrogance on the woman's face disappeared in an instant. She ran to him happily and said in a sweet voice, "Dear Matthew."
Matthew didn't mind that the money had changed her attitude toward him. He hooked her collar with his left index finger and placed the cards into her clothes with his right hand. "I'll keep my promise. I won't use condoms anymore from now on."
What was the worst that could happen? If she got pregnant, he would have to wait for about a year. Then, he would be able to have sex with her again.
Erica removed the two cards from her clothes and looked at them. One of them was the card he had showed her in the office the other day.
