"Not a problem. You've probably noticed I don't talk a whole lot, so it doesn't matter if I have nothing in common with you. Don't expect conversation from me, or tea, for that matter. I'm just too busy. Dad and Mom like you a lot, and it doesn't bother me you have a kid. The manor needs a little new blood. You can do what you want, but don't cheat on me," Matthew stated calmly.
If he hadn't mentioned that both Carlos and Debbie liked her, Erica would've thought he was confessing his love for her.
She asked tentatively, "What if the baby's father comes back? What if I get back together with him?"
Casting her a cold glance, Matthew replied, "I won't let that happen."
Erica leaned against the back of the sofa, her shoulders slumped. She looked frustrated.
"There's one thing I don't get. Why don't you just marry the girl you're in love with? Wouldn't that make more sense? Aren't you breaking her heart by doing this?"
"Don't worry about that. That's my business. You just have to attend to yours."
Erica was completely flabbergasted. After a while, she said in a timid voice, "Don't worry. I fucked up once. My mom and dad lost face because of me. That won't happen again." Wesley and Blair became the laughingstock in their country because their youngest daughter had a kid out of wedlock. No one said anything to their faces. They were the Li family, after all. But it was inevitable that they would gossip about it behind their backs.
Since her first shot of runaway failed, Erica would never have a second chance. She couldn't figure a way out of her marriage. She'd better marry Matthew and find an opportunity to divorce him peacefully in the future.
The disappointment was obvious in her eyes. She had always been this way—all of her emotions were plain on her face. Anyone could tell that she was sad at the moment.
Matthew took a deep look at her, but held his tongue. What else was there to say?
Finally, it was the day of the wedding.
Erica stayed in Wesley and Blair's old house in Y City. The house was well decorated, with lovely curtains, ornate doorknobs, and nice, tasteful paintings.
The dashing groom arrived at the bride's house promptly at 9 a.m., along with eight groomsmen.
However, Matthew wasn't in the mood for games. He was there to get married, not fool around. The groomsmen usually played games with the bridesmaids, even going so far as to ask for money before they let the bride out of the room. Matthew chased everyone out of Erica's room.
Everyone was shocked. It was the first time that even the emcee was locked outside the room. But it was Matthew's orders, and the elders were all downstairs, so nobody said a word about it. They didn't want to get booted out of the wedding.
Content they were alone, Matthew approached Erica with a beautiful bouquet of red roses. She was sitting on the bed, dressed in a lovely white gown. He said, "Look, I'm tall, rich, and handsome. I've got a long line of cars carrying the guests for our wedding. So come with me! Your carriage awaits."
Erica was dumbfounded. Matthew's line felt familiar, somehow. She knew she'd heard it somewhere before.
'Oh! That's what I said!' It occurred to her that she had said something like that to Wesley in the Huo family manor many years ago.
'Why did he say that? Did Dad tell him what I said? Or did he hear it then and remember it all this time?' she mused.
As Erica didn't respond, Matthew lost his patience. He put the roses into her arms and scooped her up into his arms.
Being lifted up all of a sudden, Erica stretched out one of her arms and put it around his neck to avoid falling.
It was not the first time that they had been close like this. When they took the pre-wedding photos, the photographer had him carry her in his arms for quite a few shots.
Nonetheless, Erica's face turned red.
After some tedious and traditional ceremony, Matthew left the house with Erica in his arms.
The scene outside shocked the bride.
In addition to dozens of luxury cars, there was also a Chinese-style luxury carriage. It was hitched to three black Ferghana horses, Genghis Khan's traditional mount.
Yet, the most eye-catching things were not the Ferghana horses, but rather the enclosed sedan chair which was placed on the cart behind the horses!
It was really a sedan chair! In ancient times, the sedan chair was carried on poles by people, but this one was wheeled, and pulled by Ferghana horses.
These were not common horses and were usually expensive, but Matthew had them pulling a sedan chair. What a waste!
Matthew carried her towards the sedan chair and was about to place her inside.
"Don't, don't…" Erica protested.
Matthew looked at her in confusion.
She thought he was joking. He wasn't. She didn't want to be carried to the wedding venue in a sedan chair. She stuttered, "I mean…what about you? Where are you going to sit?"
"In the car."
"No way! It looks so silly for me to sit in a litter like that alone."
Matthew sighed. Now she knew it was silly.
With a clever look in her eyes, Erica asked, "Can you ride a horse?"
He didn't say he couldn't.
"Then you ride the horse, and I'll sit in the sedan chair. If we're going to be laughed at, let's do it together." The man was silent for a moment. Erica waited for him to push her away when he was angry or lost his temper, and the wedding would be cancelled.
'Perfect! Come on, get mad at me now, ' she laughed silently in her heart. It was probably her last chance.
Finally, Matthew answered, "I don't have any riding gear here." She deserved the name "Miss Troublemaker." She was going to give him a hard time on their wedding day.
"So you won't do it? Then put me down here!" She didn't want to marry the guy. So she figured if she caused enough problems, she wouldn't have to. It would be good if he flew into a rage.
Casting her a cold glance, Matthew stepped on the saddle iron, and put her into the spacious sedan chair, despite her protests.
When he was about to turn around, Erica grasped his sleeve and said, "Okay. I think the sedan chair is large enough. Let's sit here together!"
"No, thanks." He indifferently pulled back his sleeve and got out, and stepped onto the ground near the carriage.
Erica stood up angrily and pulled open the curtains of the sedan chair, ready to argue with him. But just when she peaked outside, she saw Matthew climb onto the middle Ferghana horse.
His nimble moves and handsome features shocked the wedding guests, friends and relatives alike.
The anger in Erica's heart dissipated. The lines that she had thought about were no longer useful.
When the man looked back, she closed the curtains with a guilty conscience and sat back in the sedan chair.
They went to the Huo family manor first, and then headed for the hotel. After they arrived at the hotel, Erica went to the lounge to get changed. With the help of Rhea and the staff, she donned the bright red traditional Chinese bridal dress.
Their wedding would be a combination of Chinese and Western styles.
The Huo family had set everything up, including her wedding dress. She didn't have any idea what it was going to look like. By the time she finally saw it, the dress was already finished. Her wardrobe included a phoenix coronet and robes of rank. All that was needed was for her to try it on.
Now, a golden phoenix coronet was put on her head. The delicate textures on the phoenix's wings were crafted through the processes of wire-drawing, blasting and polishing. Under the exquisitely carved phoenix's wings, more than a hundred rubies were inlaid on the coronet.
Erica had to move to the hall after being made up, because the wedding had already begun.
Wesley waited for his daughter at the door to the hall. He wore his green military uniform, all neat and pressed, still looking as handsome as when he was young.
