Erica was astounded by Matthew's suggestion. Hesitatingly, she asked, "You want Ethan to live with us in Y City?" 'Is he willing to be Ethan's stepfather?' she wondered.
Matthew nodded.
"Really?" Hope sprang in Erica's heart. She had believed that Matthew wouldn't agree to Ethan living with them. After all, it would bring shame to him if others learned that Matthew was raising the child his wife conceived with another man.
Matthew nodded again.
After some contemplation, Erica refused, "No, thanks. I can come back often to visit him. Let's go!" With Ethan settled at the Li family residence, she would have an excuse to travel home.
If she took Ethan to Y City, she was afraid that Matthew would eventually grow to resent him. Then Erica wouldn't know what she would do.
Blair agreed with Erica as she thought it was better to let Ethan stay with her and Wesley. "Matthew, Wesley and I have nothing to do at home. We are happy to take care of Ethan as the boy brings us great joy. If Rika misses Ethan, she can come back at any time. You don't need to take him home. Besides, Rika doesn't know how to take care of him." She thought that Matthew treated her daughter well enough. And so, she didn't want Ethan to be the source of trouble between them.
Erica restrained her emotions as she surrendered the baby to Blair. Then, she turned to Wesley, who was drinking water in the kitchen, and said, "Dad, let's go."
"On my way!" After downing the last mouthful of water, Wesley trotted to catch up with them.
He volunteered to drive them to the airport. However, Blair didn't accompany them as she had to watch Ethan. So, there were only three of them in the car.
On their way to the airport, Wesley repeatedly instructed Erica to go to school as soon as she arrived at Y City. He also told her not to make any trouble. He wanted her to study hard, be a good student, and listen to Matthew.
"I'm not a three-year-old kid. Why should I listen to him?" Erica whined in a low voice.
"Why? Because Matthew is much better than you in every aspect. If he weren't with you, I would worry about you being alone in Y City," Wesley snapped.
Hearing that, Erica could not help but pick her ears helplessly. "Dad, I have never heard you speak so highly of Gifford. I'm afraid that Matthew is your biological son. Isn't he? I've heard you praising him nonstop since my return yesterday. I'm tired of hearing it."
"I have a headache because I can't stand you being so stubborn. You're such a willful girl. How I wish Matthew were my son! Matthew, if she refuses to behave, call me, and I'll teach her a lesson!" Wesley blurted.
Erica rolled her eyes. She had lived in this world for over seven thousand days, and this was the seven thousandth time that she had suspected that she was not Wesley's biological daughter.
To her surprise, Matthew came to her defense. He said, "Rika is an obedient girl. She hasn't made any trouble in Y City. Rest assured, Dad."
Wesley shook his head and smiled wryly as he didn't believe Matthew. "Alas! Poor Matthew! You even have to put in a good word for her. Has she threatened you? If she has, tell me now, and I'll throw her on the roadside."
There was a hint of a smile on Matthew's face when he heard that.
Erica, on the other hand, glared at Wesley in disbelief. She moved a little closer to Wesley and grabbed his clothes. "Dad, do you want Mom to punish you? Believe it or not, I'll call her right now!"
"Let me go! I'm driving! Sit still!" Wesley ordered.
Erica's mouth twitched as she let go of his clothes. She hadn't used much strength at all.
When they arrived at Y City, Matthew escorted Erica to the villa first. When she got out of the car, he rolled down the window and said flatly, "People will come here with cameras for you to select. You are expected at Y City Film Academy's Photography Department tomorrow."
"What? So soon?" Erica blurted.
"Is there a problem?" he asked.
"No, no." Erica shook her head. How would she explain to him that she was just not ready?
Matthew glanced at Erica one last time before he rolled up the window and left the villa.
As Matthew had mentioned, many cameras were brought to the villa at about four o'clock in the afternoon. To Erica's surprise, more than ten people had come to show her the cameras.
They were dressed in uniforms and white gloves. Each of the men carried different styles of cameras and lenses in their hands for her to pick from.
What surprised Erica even more was that there were several boxes behind them—each filled with more cameras with different lenses and functions.
Erica was, after all, Wesley's youngest daughter, and the Li family was a wealthy family in A Country. It was true that Wesley led a frugal life. But whenever she needed something, people would bring many goods to their home and she would have to select from them.
Therefore, even though over a dozen people surrounded her, Erica calmly selected what she wanted.
Then, the manager asked her about her requirements. During the whole process, he smiled and explained to Erica the functions of different cameras and lenses and detailed how they matched her needs.
After an hour, Erica had tried several different kinds of cameras and lenses, and she liked them very much. But when she remembered that Matthew was going to pay for them, she felt embarrassed. She didn't know which one she should choose for the time being.
"Mrs. Huo, we were instructed by Mr. Huo to inform you that you can choose anything you like and that you don't have to worry about cost." The manager smiled as he spoke. It was almost as if he could tell what was on her mind.
'Huh? How did Matthew know what I would be worried about?' she wondered.
But since Matthew had already instructed the manager, she didn't want to refuse his generosity. After all, he didn't lack money. She kept all of the cameras and lenses that she liked. "I want this, this, this, and this. Thank you!"
After taking the cameras she wanted, Erica decided to test them by clicking pictures of Matthew's villa.
As Pearl Villa District was a high-grade community, there were many beautifully landscaped sections inside the villa and in the yard. Eager to experiment and familiarize herself with the cameras, Erica took many pictures. She even went to the wine cellar in the basement.
However, something tragic happened.
Just as she was about to leave the wine cellar, she knocked over a bottle of red wine. She had been so engrossed in her camera and her pictures that she didn't see the bottle when she turned.
A gasp escaped her lips as the wine bottle fell to the floor and shattered.
The intoxicating aroma of wine filled the cellar.
'I'm so screwed! I'm in big trouble!' Erica thought.
Mixed feelings coursed through her as she watched the wine pool on the floor. She felt sad to have wasted the money and the wine, and she was also afraid that Matthew would blame her for her carelessness.
As the wine bottle had shattered, and the wine was all over the floor, Erica was unable to see the label or taste the wine.
She had no time to clean either. Just then, an idea popped into her head. She quickly stood and checked the tag where the red wine bottle had been placed.
The tag read, "Chateau Lafite, a limited edition of wine from 1961."
As her grandma was an admirer of red wine, Erica knew the Chateau Lafite was the empress of the kingdom of wine. It was one of the five grand wineries in Bordeaux.
Not only was this bottle of wine produced in 1961, but it was also a limited edition. No wonder it smelled so good.
So, she felt she was indeed in big trouble!
She quickly pulled out her phone, and with nimble fingers, dialed Cecelia's number without hesitation. "Grandma, do you know Chateau Lafite?" Erica suddenly realized that she had asked a stupid question. How was it possible that her grandma didn't know Chateau Lafite?
"Of course, I know. What's wrong, girl?" Cecelia asked.
"What will be the price of a bottle of red wine produced by them in 1961? Oh, it's a limited edition."
After thinking for a while, Cecelia answered, "The price of a bottle of wine from 1961 could be worth at least tens of thousands of dollars. But, if it is a limited edition, it could be worth hundreds of thousands. Why do you ask this? Do you have such a bottle of wine?"
"Yes, I have, but…" Erica glanced at the debris on the floor helplessly. She was doomed.
'Forget it. If Matthew gets mad at me, I'll give him the money, ' she thought.
"But what?" Cecelia asked.
"But, I broke it," Erica cried when she couldn't contain the anxiety coursing through her.
