Matthew arranged for a private ward for Erica when she was nine and a half months pregnant. He took two days off from work so he could file in all the necessary documents required for her admission so that she could spend the days before her delivery in the hospital.
No one enjoyed staying in a place like that and such was the case with Erica. She felt that it would be a better use of her time to stay at home and be with her sons.
Besides, they had an entire team of bodyguards and servants at home, ready to tend to her needs. In fact, it wouldn't be such a big deal for them to take her to the hospital even just hours before she needed to give birth.
One day as Sheffield happened to pass by Matthew's villa, he checked Erica's pulse and made sure that everything was in order.
Fortunately, the boys were also home at the time which gave Sheffield a chance to play and spend some time with them.
Sheffield was very much in touch with his inner child. His youthful exuberance allowed him to bond with the four kids in a different level.
All the while, Erica lounged casually on the chaise longue in the balcony, munching on a plate of mung bean cakes and watched them with a smile on her face.
"Your dad's always bullying me, but you know what? Now I'm going to get my revenge on you boys!" As soon as Sheffield took one step forward, the four kids dispersed and ran away in different directions so he wouldn't be able to catch them all at once.
After playing with the four children for a while, Sheffield glanced at his wristwatch and realized that it was time for him to pick Gwyn up from her dancing class.
Just as he was about to leave, Matthew came in. "Oh, hey man! I was just leaving," said Sheffield.
Matthew took off his coat and let it hang from his arm. "Has everything been settled with Mr. Li?"
Suddenly, Sheffield's face contorted and his lips started to twitch. Mr. Li was an important client of Matthew's. 'He wants me to settle things with Mr. Li, but the person who benefits most in the end will be him!' Sheffield remained silent, but it was clear that he was angry.
He ran to the balcony and confronted the pregnant woman. "Rika, I want to ask you a question."
"What is it?" Erica asked, wondering if something bad had happened.
"You know that Matthew and I are partners in the business world, right? It's the same with our companies. Hypothetically speaking, if we were to fall out one day, would you help your kind brother-in-law or your cold husband?" he asked.
"Are you being serious right now?" Erica asked in disbelief.
Sheffield nodded, "Yes, I am dead serious! I want an honest answer!"
Erica showed no hesitation to retort. "First of all, my husband is not as cold as people think he is. However, I think everyone is right about you. You're always talking nonsense. You have a good relationship with my husband, and your companies are partners, right? Then you can rest assured that my husband will not fall out with you. After all, no matter how much trouble you make, he will treat you as his own brother. In the end, however, no matter what happens… I'm on my husband's side! What did you think I was going to do? What gave you the idea that I would be standing on your side? Sheffield, why are you running so fast? I haven't finished talking yet!"
Sheffield was forced to see Erica's display of affection for her husband. The poor man had no choice but to leave as he felt defeated and outnumbered.
As he ran all the way to where his car was parked, he could still hear Erica's voice fading in the distance. "I love my husband very much, so you'd better stop trying to sow discord between us!"
Matthew's eyes were glowing with satisfaction. He put his arms around the pregnant woman's back and whispered in her ear, "Honey, I love you too."
Erica turned around and wrapped her hands around his waist, murmuring, "Sheffield needs to be taught a lesson every now and then. I guess I'll have to call Evelyn and ask her to punish her husband."
"Yes, I can get onboard with that," said Matthew dotingly.
In truth, he would support his wife unconditionally in whatever she did.
After all, his wife was the most important person in the world to him.
There were still ten days left before the expected date of childbirth, but Matthew persisted on taking Erica to the hospital. After settling her down, Matthew had a detailed discussion with the doctor about giving her a C-section in three days.
However, to everyone's surprise, on the second morning, Erica woke up in pain. "Honey, it hurts…" she cried weakly.
It was only six o'clock in the morning when Matthew woke up and went to the bathroom to brush his teeth. As soon as he wiped his face with a towel, he heard Erica's cry.
He dropped the towel to the floor and ran back to Erica as quickly as he could. "Did your water break?"
Erica shook her head at first and then nodded. "Maybe… It hurts, honey. It hurts so much… Please…"
She felt a sharp pain stabbing in her belly.
Matthew, who had never experienced such a thing before, felt completely lost. The man who had always been adept at decision-making didn't know what to do next.
Finally, Erica reminded him, "Call the doctor!"
'Yes! Call the doctor!'
Matthew was still in shock as he ran to the nursing station in his slippers and stammered, "My…my wife… is going to deliver the babies…"
Luckily, the nurses reacted quickly and called the doctor.
The doctor, who had been on standby since Erica moved in, came soon after receiving the notice.
Unfortunately, Erica's physical condition didn't allow her to have a natural birth. If she insisted on having a natural birth, there would be a greater chance of risk to her and the babies.
Matthew foresaw this and decisively signed his consent on the operation notice of the C-section.
That morning, Erica gave birth to a boy and a girl by C-section. It was the first time the world had seen Matthew grinning from one ear to the other. He finally had a baby daughter.
The girl was born three minutes earlier than the boy.
Later, after a short discussion, Matthew and his father announced to the public that the boy was older than the girl.
That way the baby girl would have five elder brothers to dote on her and take care of her.
The boy who was made to become an elder brother was named Edmond Huo and his sister was called Erma Huo.
Erica was the one who had picked the boy's name and Matthew had no objections.
However, when Erica wanted to name the girl Elise, Matthew disagreed and suggested Erma instead. Erma was the combination of their names—Erica and Matthew.
Erica didn't object. She gave birth to a daughter just to make Matthew happy. He could call his daughter whatever he wanted.
Erma's birth had fulfilled many people's dreams. Matthew had so many sons, and now he finally had a daughter as well. He felt like the happiest man in the world.
In the ward
With her eyes closed, Erica drifted off to sleep.
Beside the crib next to her bed, stood six boys with eyes wide open—the quadruplets along with Godwin and Godfrey.
Adkins whispered to Carlos, "Grandpa, were we also this ugly when we were born?"
Carlos bent down and answered in a low voice, "Yes. Babies can look very strange after they are just born. They will be fine in two days. Your younger brother and sister will be as beautiful as you soon."
With his eyes wide open, Boswell looked at the little girl who was sleeping with her eyes closed. "Grandpa, can I hug my sister?"
Colman was so anxious that he almost jumped. "Grandpa, I want to hug her too." He was so happy to have a sister.
Carlos patted his two grandsons on the shoulder and said in a low voice, "Not now. She just fell asleep. You can hug her when she wakes up, okay?"
Carlos was hiding the fact that he was very angry. Ever since the doctor gave Erma to them, Matthew had been holding the baby girl in his arms. Now that he had just put the baby down, she fell asleep. Carlos didn't even get a chance to hold her yet. However, he couldn't lose his temper in front of his grandsons, so he kept his cool.
The two kids nodded their heads obediently. "Okay!"
Damian held the twins' hands with utmost care. "Grandpa, their hands are so tiny!"
"Yes, you were the same when you were born."
"Really?"
The four boys didn't leave the hospital soon. When the twins woke up, they hugged their brother and sister for a while before coming back home with their grandparents.
Carlos looked ten years younger as soon as he held his granddaughter in his arms. However, he didn't completely ignore his grandson. He also held him in his arms for a while. After all, they were both his grandchildren and he loved them very much.
After putting away the presents he bought for the twins, he left the hospital with Debbie and the four boys.
