"But my husband seems to love her…" Erica said to Can't Do Anything. This was a sore spot for her. If Matthew wasn't still in love with Phoebe, Erica would have asked him to destroy that woman.
Can't Do Anything tried to reassure her. "No way!"
"Yes way. It's true. It's been going on for years, apparently. You must have heard about it. Everyone in the city knows Matthew has a crush on someone else."
"Yeah, I've heard the rumors. Who hasn't? But if he really loved Phoebe, he wouldn't have married you. Think about it: why would he do that? You're the one in his heart."
Many people had said this to Erica, and she knew they were right. But she just couldn't get rid of that niggling doubt that Matthew still carried a torch for Phoebe.
When Erica didn't text him back right away, Can't Do Anything sent her another message. "What you need is more spice in your marriage. Try your best to love him, or—failing that—make him fall in love with you. Stranger things have happened. Why not give it a shot?"
Can't Do Anything was right, though. Erica knew that. But he or she still couldn't banish all of Erica's doubts and worries. "I'm still not sure…" Erica tapped out.
"Then you can test your husband!"
"Test him? How?"
This time, Can't Do Anything didn't text back immediately. After a while, Erica received a call from Matthew. "I'd like you to come downstairs."
"You're back home?"
"Yes."
"Let me guess: Phoebe's with you. I'll pass, thanks."
Massaging his eyebrows, Matthew wondered, 'Are all women like that?' "Didn't you want her to come here?"
"Why would I…" The rest of her words caught in her throat. Oh, yes, she remembered now. She told Matthew that she was going to invite Phoebe to come to the villa and claim her status as the hostess. It was a momentary flash of anger and facetiousness.
She didn't expect that Matthew would really take her up on that. Wasn't he afraid she'd hurt Phoebe?
Phone in hand, Erica stomped downstairs.
Before she saw Matthew, she got a private message from Can't Do Anything. "Find out if he wants to sleep with you or not!"
Erica stopped on the steps. Find out if he wanted to sleep with her? Of course he wanted to. Matthew had said it himself! As she went downstairs, she replied, "I don't think that's such a hot idea."
She was hoping for other ideas to test Matthew.
Can't Do Anything replied, "He's your husband. What's wrong with finding out if your hubby wants to sleep with you or not? Do you want another woman to take him away from you?"
That made sense. She was almost convinced.
As she surveyed the living room, she saw Matthew had put away his phone and talking with Phoebe.
Phoebe silently handed the paper bag to Matthew.
Erica tore her gaze away and replied to Can't Do Anything, "But I'm still worried."
This time, Can't Do Anything took his own sweet time replying. Erica was already in the dining room and still nothing.
Why didn't he reply to her message? Did he find her annoying? Was he busy? The chefs were busy making Western food for lunch.
When the chefs saw her, one of them came over and asked, "Mrs. Huo, do you want to eat now?"
Glancing at the two people walking to the dining room, she raised her eyebrows at Matthew and said to the chef, "Ask Mr. Huo." She just wanted to be invisible now.
Matthew was holding his phone and looking at something. He was close enough to hear the cook's question. He nodded and said, "Let's eat."
The three of them sat down at the table. Naturally, Matthew sat next to Erica and said in a gentle voice, "You gotta be hungry. I was in the office and I guess the time got away from me. Sorry to keep you waiting!"
Erica was about to shake her head when she saw that Phoebe was staring at them. So, she got closer to him and gently stroked his collar. "It's okay," she said sweetly. "I'm very happy that you came here to have lunch with me."
Of course, Matthew knew what she was up to. A tinge of helplessness flashed in Matthew's eyes. He touched her head and said, "Okay."
After Erica sat back, he took his phone and sent a message before putting it back into his pocket.
The chefs put the appetizers in front of the three. Just then, Erica received a message from Can't Do Anything. "What are you worried about? Afraid that your husband won't be responsible for you after you make the beast with two backs?"
In fact, Erica didn't know what she was worried about. Maybe she was afraid one day Matthew would divorce her and marry Phoebe.
Thinking of this, she took a long look at the pregnant woman opposite her, ignoring what Matthew was doing.
A moment later, her phone buzzed again. Can't Do Anything wrote, "Your husband must love you. Don't worry. Just sleep with him! It'll make everything better."
Erica had a sudden suspicion. Why did this person want her to have sex with Matthew so much? Was she overthinking it, or was Mr. Can't Do Anything really her husband?
Thinking of this, she suddenly looked at the man next to her. Matthew was looking down at his mobile phone, and just like her, he hadn't touched his food at all.
She asked curiously, "What are you doing?"
A hint of nervousness flashed across Matthew's eyes. It was gone as soon as it appeared. He calmly put away his phone and said, "Nothing."
But Erica was perceptive. She noticed that momentary change in his expression. What was that? Nervousness? So, what was he doing on the phone?
Curiosity made her bold. "Hand me your phone."
Matthew's hand holding the fork paused. "We don't play with phones during mealtime. Eat first."
Erica snorted inwardly. That guy was up to something.
Phoebe was put in an awkward situation. The couple were flirting with each other as if no one else were around, and no one paid attention to her.
The second dish was Russian soup. According to Matthew's order, the chef served the first bowl of soup to Erica. However, Erica refused and told the chef with a smile, "Why don't you serve Mrs. Tu first? She's our guest, after all. Besides, she's pregnant and eating for two."
The chef did as he was bade and brought the bowl to Phoebe. She had been in a good mood, and was quite hungry. And she got to spend time with Matthew. But Erica killed the mood completely. Staring at the brightly-colored soup in front of her, she suddenly had no appetite at all.
She picked up the spoon and listlessly took a sip of the soup. It tasted wonderful, but she had no interest in eating anymore.
After tasting a few dishes, Phoebe said, "Thanks for lunch, Matthew, really. But I've lost my appetite and feel like I'm full.
But your chefs are incredible. Mind if I borrow one of them for a while?"
She thought Matthew would definitely agree to such a minor thing. It was not like she was lying.
Next to him, Erica had just put a lump of black pepper steak into her mouth and was chewing it. Hearing this, she quickly took hold of his big hand and said, "What a coincidence! I don't have much of an appetite either. I'm not pregnant, though. Besides, I'm really starting to like Western food. Why doesn't Mrs. Tu hire another cook herself? The Su family can get any kind of chef they want. Right, Mrs. Tu?" 'She needs a new title. Phoebe the Manipulative! Phoebe the Bitch!' Erica thought.
She put down the fork rather carelessly, leaving a bit of sauce from the fork on her face, right above the corner of her lips. She was angry and wasn't really paying attention.
But she didn't know about it at all. The sauce on her face and the fact that she talked with her eyes wide open…Phoebe didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She had to admit that Erica was really cute.
Not to mention Matthew, who always thought Erica was adorable and made him happy. This time, she was doubly so. The man who had always been indifferent to other people now had a bright smile on his face. He didn't answer Erica's question but pinched her chin to make her look at him.
While Erica was still confused, he lowered his head slowly, his face close to hers…
