Matthew's words sent Lucia to the floor on her knees and she begged, "Mr. Huo, I'm sorry. I promise that it will never happen again! I know that it was my fault, but…"
The man didn't seem to care about the woman's pleading and he ruthlessly watched her get taken away. There were over a thousand people in the cruise ship, but not one person dared to speak for her.
Matthew whispered in Erica's ear, "The ship is heading back. We'll go straight home when it reaches the shore."
"Okay!" She nodded in response.
"I'll have someone bring you a fresh set of clothes first."
"Thanks, but that won't be necessary. I've cleaned up most of the stains with wet tissues. We'll be home soon, so don't bother!"
"Fine." Matthew didn't force her.
For the remainder of the party, there wasn't a single man or woman who dared to provoke Erica.
When Chantel was in the bathroom, Erica took the chance to call Gifford. "Gifford, I think that Chantel has offended someone she shouldn't have because of me. You have to keep her safe."
"Are you serious? What kind of trouble have you gotten Chantel into now? You've already made every member of the Li family suffer. Just make trouble for the Huo family if you have nothing better to do!"
Erica stuck out her tongue and goaded him deliberately, "I didn't mean to get her in trouble. Are you going to help her or not? If you don't, I'll find someone to protect her!"
"Who said I wasn't going to help her? I know how to take care of my wife. I don't need your help. You'd better worry about having to coax your husband."
Erica answered proudly, "My husband is not angry with me anymore. Just now, he punished a bad woman for hitting on him in front of everyone."
"Humph, you think too simply of your husband. Just because he is looking out for you doesn't mean he isn't angry with you. I bet he was just being nice in front of everyone. Wait till you get home, that's when you'll have to apologize to him." Any good man would look out for his wife in front of others, but it didn't mean that Matthew wasn't angry at Erica.
"It doesn't matter! At least, my husband has shown me enough respect in front of people. I don't mind apologizing to him later when we go home." After returning home, Erica was planning on doing whatever Matthew would ask of her without any complaint.
"What's on your mind? Matthew is not an ordinary man and he is very successful. Shouldn't you show him respect in public as well? How can you let him act humble around you in public? You're wrong there!" Gifford lectured his sister.
"No, no, no. Gifford, I disagree. Yes, he is a successful man, but all men and women are equal. Only when he gives me enough respect can I return him the same respect. Don't you think so?"
"Um… I guess you're right." Gifford seemed to have been brainwashed by his sister.
"Listen, you need to treat Chantel well in the future too. Don't always try to make her give you face. Forget your male chauvinism and just take good care of her. Only in this way will she love you more!"
Gifford came to his senses and said, "I don't need you to tell me what to do. She's my wife. I can take care of my own problems. Mind your own business."
"Okay, don't forget to keep your wife safe."
"If there is nothing else, I will hang up." Gifford hung up before Erica could even respond.
She was rendered speechless. Ever since she came back from Tow Village, Gifford had been indifferent to her. He must have been mad at her about something!
'Forget it. Just let him be angry. Chantel will cheer him up for me, ' she thought.
Erica picked up a cherry and put it into her mouth. A moment later, several women surrounded her and looked at her with smile. One of them plucked up the courage to speak and finally said, "Mrs. Huo, we want to ask you a question."
Erica glanced at the women in front of her and recognized them instantly. They were the rich ladies who had a good relationship with the Su family from a few years ago. Now some of them had already been married as well.
The two women she had dealt with earlier were from the entertainment circle, and now this group of women was from the business circle. Erica thought to herself, wondering why she was so popular among women. 'Why can't I attract more handsome men instead?'
Nonetheless, she still nodded expressionlessly. "Please go ahead!"
The women approached her with excitement and asked, "Mrs. Huo, how did you get pregnant with four sons? Is there some kind of secret? We are all so envious of you!"
'Secret?' Erica nodded and smiled mischievously, "Yes!" 'Of course it's because my husband is strong and has good genes!' she laughed in her mind.
"Mrs. Huo, will you please share your secret with us?" After all, if they could sire a few sons as well, the rich ladies wouldn't have to worry about their status in their husband's family.
Erica took out a tissue, wiped her mouth and leaned her head forward.
The ladies leaned in closer with their ears as if to listen in carefully.
When Chantel came out from the bathroom, she heard Erica say, "The secret of having four sons… I only drank the holy water from a river of Tow Village in K Country. The origin of the river is a spring that has existed for thousands of years. After the baptism of time and nature, it's said that it's become a river with spirituality. Many women in Tow Village have been pregnant with three babies, four babies, and even eight babies because of drinking the water of that river."
"What? Really?"
"Oh my God! Eight babies? How is that possible?"
"Calm down. There was something on the news about a woman who got pregnant with eight babies!"
"Yes, I've heard of that news as well. It's a true story based in M Country! Apparently, this kind of thing also happens in K Country."
Erica's words caused all the women to break into heated discussions.
Chantel remained silent and shook her head in amusement. How could she not admire that woman's skills? Erica went to Tow Village for the first time when she was about to give birth. What did her pregnancy with four babies have anything to do with the water from the river?
Besides, Chantel had been to Tow Village more than ten times, but she had never heard of such stories.
"Mrs. Huo, please give us the specific location of that river."
"Yes, Mrs. Huo. We will remember your kindness for the rest of our lives."
Erica pretended to be baffled. "Okay!"
Meanwhile, Matthew, who had been keeping an eye on Erica all this time, thought that Erica was being bullied by someone again, so he strode over, leaving his business partners behind.
He only heard the woman's last words. "It's at the entrance of Tow Village. There is only one entrance and the other three paths are surrounded by mountains. The spring water comes down from the mountain. If you can live there and drink the water for a few months, you'll be sure to be pregnant with at least a set of twins! If you are lucky enough, giving birth to four babies like me will be a piece of cake!"
"Wow! Thank you so much, Mrs. Huo!"
"Mrs. Huo, you're so kind. You're an angel!"
"You're welcome. We're friends. Glad to be of help," said Erica with a bright smile on her face. 'Not real friends at all, ' she sneered in her mind.
"Yes, yes!"
Matthew stood still and he couldn't help but shake his head as he listened to their conversation. 'Just another group of brainless women! The only reason why Erica was able to give birth to four babies was because of me. Was there any other reason?'
