Because of what happened, Erica lost interest in taking photos anymore. She immediately decided to leave the Blessing Palace together with Watkins and Hyatt.
The other members of the Photography Association also gathered in front of the gate. When Erica was about to get in her car, Watkins stopped her. "Erica," he called out.
She turned to look at him, and she saw the tenderness in his eyes as he said, "I'll go ahead. Take care of yourself."
Glancing at the group of people who were getting on the minibus, she asked, "Aren't you coming with them?"
He shook his head. "No. My driver drove me here. By the way, how are you and Mr. Huo doing recently? Did you fight because of me?"
"We are fine, but…" She couldn't finish her words as she felt a little embarrassed when she remembered that Matthew was responsible for his serious injuries. Instead, she said, "I'm sorry again for what happened to you. But please, don't be angry at him. As long as we don't see each other often, he won't get mad again."
With a bitter smile that curved on his mouth, he said, "I know. But we are friends. Why can't we meet anytime we want? Don't you have the right to make friends anymore?"
She knew he was right, but she couldn't do anything. What could she do when she had a possessive husband? "Of course, we are still friends, Watkins. And you helped me just now. I owe you one. If you need my help in the future, don't hesitate to tell me."
"It seems that I can only contact you when I am in trouble."
"Erica," Hyatt called. When she turned and looked at him confusedly, he added, "Mr. Huo is here."
Erica looked around and saw that Matthew got out of his car and walked towards them.
He was wearing a dark suit. His eyes were fixed on her, full of coldness and malice. He was giving off a murderous aura as if he could tear Watkins into pieces at any time.
'Oh, crap!' Erica thought. She knew he was angry again.
She suddenly pushed the young man in front of her and said, "Go now, Watkins!"
Watkins, who was stunned for a moment, didn't know whether to laugh or to cry. "Erica, I'm not afraid of him."
"Oh, stop it! Just get in your car and go. You don't have much time left." Afraid that he would be beaten by Matthew again, she pushed him hard to the opposite direction without hesitation.
She then walked over and blocked Matthew's way. "Matthew, honey… where are you going?"
Glancing at her coldly, he replied, "Kill Watkins!"
Her heart skipped a beat. "Why do you want to kill him? Don't you know that he saved me just now? Don't be unreasonable, okay?"
Upon hearing the word "save," Matthew turned to her and asked, "What happened? Why did he save you? Were you hurt?"
"I'm fine, I'm not hurt. I was just frightened by a crazy woman."
After finding out that she wasn't hurt, Matthew turned around and walked over to Watkins.
Erica was so anxious. Watkins just stood still, waiting for Matthew to come over.
Seeing that the two men were about to fight, she held Matthew's waist from behind and said, "Honey, let's go home."
But it was too late. His punch had already landed on Watkins' face.
The impact shocked her. If she hadn't held Matthew's waist tightly, she would have been thrown away as well.
Watkins fell to the ground at once, unable to move for a long time.
On the verge of breaking down, Erica let go of him and shouted angrily, "Why are you so unreasonable?"
She then rushed to Watkins' side and called Hyatt. "Hyatt, come here! Let's help him up."
But before she could touch Watkins, Matthew stepped forward and picked her up. Ignoring her struggles, he pulled her into his arms and ordered coldly, "Come and take Mrs. Huo to the car!"
"Yes, sir!" The nearest bodyguard came over quickly and led Erica into the car politely.
Worried that Watkins would be beaten to death, she refused to get in. She went back and roared to Matthew, "We're just here for the activity. What's wrong with you?"
Seeing her protecting Watkins angered him more. With bloodthirsty eyes, he asked, "Erica, are you sure you are standing at the right place?"
His words confused her. But when she turned to look at Watkins, who was being helped by Hyatt behind her, she finally understood what he meant. "I just don't want you to hurt other people. But since you are so stubborn, what can I do?"
Watkins hadn't completely recovered yet. It wasn't right that he beat him to death just to satisfy himself.
"Come here!" Matthew ordered. His cold eyes narrowed even more while he was giving her a warning look.
"No!" she refused firmly. But her word added fuel to the fire. Seeing that he was about to explode again, she got frightened and quickly added, "Not unless you promise not to hit him anymore!"
He pursed his lips, and the air around him felt freezing. Eventually, he nodded, "Okay."
She hesitated for a while before she slowly walked towards him.
As soon as she stood in front of him, he immediately held her hand tightly as if afraid that she would run away again.
Fortunately, the other members of the association had already left, so no one had witnessed what happened aside from them. Matthew kept his words and left the Blessing Palace with Erica.
While being pulled by Matthew to the car, she turned and waved to Hyatt and Watkins a few times and mouthed to them, "I'm leaving now."
Matthew cast her a cold glance and said with a gloomy face, "Are you so reluctant to leave him?"
"Of course not!" she immediately denied.
He didn't let go of her hand until they both got into his Emperor car.
For a moment, Erica didn't know what to say. She was afraid that she might say something that would anger him again.
After a minute or two, Matthew was the one who broke the silence. "Starting today, you will have your classes at home. You can choose between the manor and the villa."
"No way!" she refused in an instant. She couldn't imagine staying at home all day long.
Glancing at her long face, he said, "Erica, I have already given you a chance, but you've just wasted it. This time, you won't be the one to decide." If she stayed at home all the time, she wouldn't get a chance to meet any men.
"No, I won't agree with that. Matthew, I am a human. I want my freedom."
"After our babies are born, I promise that you will return to your normal life." 'But not for now, ' he thought.
Erica's face flushed with anger. "You are going too far! You didn't even apologize to Watkins for hurting him before, and now you hurt him again." At least when she slapped Camille in the hospital the last time, she had never hit her again since then.
"Don't blame me for beating him. I warned him, but he didn't listen to me."
She raised her voice and argued with him, "We didn't meet in private. It was an activity organized by the Photography Association. Besides, if he hadn't come to help me, your sons might have been killed by that crazy woman."
Matthew sneered, straightened his sleeves, and replied with the same words that she had said before. "Who knows if it was all an act?" It was possible that Watkins planned the whole incident and pretended to save Erica. As an innocent woman, she could easily believe and be more grateful to him.
