Take My Breath Away

Once he figured out Erica was crying over twelve billion dollars, Wesley thought that she was just making trouble out of nothing. Where would a girl like Erica get twelve billion?

Wesley opened his mouth to sort her out, but Matthew hurried to interrupt him. "Dad, Mom, it's really my fault this time."

Blair felt sorry for Erica. After all, the girl was beside herself with grief, but she also felt sorry for Matthew. The man was always taking the blame for things. "Don't blame yourself, Matthew. I think she's blowing things out of proportion."

Matthew nodded but proceeded to apologize gracefully and sincerely. "Rika, I'm sorry. It's all my fault," he said.

Wesley patted Erica's back and tried to calm her down. "There, there. Matthew's apologized to you. You don't need to cry anymore! If you keep crying, that's on you!"

Erica anxiously explained, "Dad, no. It's really on him..."

"Yeah, Rika's right. It's all my bad." Matthew came over and pulled her into his arms. He apologized again, "I'm sorry. Please don't cry."

Yvette already had a hunch something was wrong. Erica was acting weird in the supermarket earlier, and it got worse when they came back home. She asked in confusion, "What happened? You've been all weirded out since we got back from the supermarket. So, Rika—what's going on?"

Matthew answered for her, "Don't blame Rika, Yvette. And it's kind of awkward. Just know that I'm the one to pin it on."

Seeing him defending his wife all this time, Yvette nodded and just decided to drop it.

Gifford picked his ear casually and told Erica, "Look at Matthew. He's completely cool with this. Stop crying. It's the middle of the night, for Chrissake? You're crying like a pig in the slaughterhouse! I'm pretty sure our neighbors know by now."

When she heard this, Erica glared at her brother, eyes red from crying. She wanted to skin him alive. "Who are you calling a pig? Dad, look, even my brother is mean to me." And the waterworks started once more.

They had almost snapped her out of it. Now, thanks to Gifford, Erica was crying all over again. Wesley was so angry he kicked his son's leg and asked sternly, "A pig? Seriously? She's your sister!"

Gifford wanted to avoid the kick, but he knew that would just cause more trouble. He stood there and took it like a man.

He felt so frustrated. He was a colonel, and a 33-year-old man. Yet, somehow, he was still like a little kid being disciplined by his father. "I was comparing shit. I wasn't calling her a pig!" He just felt that Erica's crying fit was just her being a drama queen.

However, he didn't know that he'd pissed anyone off. But it was more than that, he angered everyone. Even Matthew cast a cold glance at Gifford and said, "Rika has good reason to cry. Let her." 'Comparing my wife to a pig! What in the world were you thinking? If anyone needs a lesson, it's you, ' Matthew thought.

The young colonel was speechless. 'Well, forget it.'

Fighting the urge to slap Erica to end her hysteria, Blair tried persuading again, "Alright, simmer down! How old are you?

You're still acting like a child. Work it out with Matthew. He's been apologizing to you." The aging mother felt Erica was becoming more and more childish, acting like a spoiled brat.

"Mom, you don't know what you're talking about! I can't forgive him." Erica stopped crying and answered decisively, her eyes as red as a rabbit's.

'Can't forgive Matthew? So she's going to keep causing problems?' Wesley thought, then glanced at his daughter expressionlessly. "Rika, your mother is right. Start giving a little!"

"That's right. Matthew, take Rika back to the bedroom and have a good talk. I think she'll understand." As she said this, Yvette pushed her sister towards Matthew.

Yvette's push brought them almost nose to nose. Erica lost her balance and fell into Matthew's waiting arms

"Okay, thank you, Yvette. We'll have a good talk."

Since Matthew had been apologizing the whole time and his attitude was very sincere, Erica was the one they started harping on by the time everything was said and done.

Blair sighed heavily. "Damn it! Matthew's a great guy. Stop making a scene. Go to bed!" After saying that, she not only pushed them inside the bedroom, but also closed the door behind them.

Erica felt so helpless. She was so down in the dumps. Why didn't anyone nag Matthew?

In a fit of anger, she broke free of his grip and sat back on the bed with a burp.

Rubbing his eyebrows, Matthew wondered how Erica figured out what he was doing. He had been very careful every time he used the condoms, so where did she even get the idea?

In fact, he didn't mean to hide it from her. He didn't tell her because he was afraid she wouldn't agree. Why shouldn't he get to enjoy himself without worrying about whether a kid might come along?

He didn't know whether she would believe him or not, but he also didn't like using condoms. But if he didn't use them, she'd get pregnant, and he wouldn't be able to make love to her for almost a year.

He had waited so long to get to the point where she felt comfortable sharing a bed with him. They were practically newlyweds; who would satisfy his needs if his wife got pregnant so soon? He didn't want to be horny for so many months...

Anyway, it was his fault.

He pulled her into his arms and whispered in her ear, "Honey, my money, my houses and my cars are all yours, and me too. I'll give everything to you, but can you forgive me?"

Erica stopped sobbing. After a while, she said, "I only want the first three things." She was still angry with him and didn't want him at all. At least, not right now.

She wouldn't be cooling off that easily. Even if she had his money, houses and cars, she would still be angry.

Matthew had never felt so distressed before. He knew she still didn't love him. "No way!" If she didn't want him, what was he going to do? "Um, my money and stuff is kind of a package deal. You don't get any of it without me."

Erica pulled a long face again, but she didn't want to say that she didn't want the twelve billion. Forget that!

She knew she needed to get some sleep. Erica knew she'd probably feel better in the morning.

So, she lay silently in bed. Matthew lay down beside her, hugged her and continued to cajole her, "I swear I'll never use condoms again, okay?"

She didn't say anything.

She was trying to have a kid with him because she promised him one, but now it looked like she was just desperate. How was she going to get herself out of this?

Matthew kissed her earlobe, and the woman in his arms shivered, which made the man laugh quietly.

Hearing his laughter, Erica felt both ashamed and angry. She buried her face in the pillow, hammered the pillow and shouted, "Matthew Huo!"

Settling his weight on her, he whispered, "I can show you I'm trying. How about that black card when I get back? And the credit card with the unlimited balance? How does that sound?"

She feigned nonchalance and said, "Don't try to bribe me with money! I'm not that kind of girl!" But in fact, that was what she wanted...

"Then what can I bribe you with? Yes, I know. My wife is not that kind of girl. It's just that I have too much money and no place to keep it. So why don't I give it to you?"

Unable to resist the temptation of money, Erica tilted her head and said, "That's what you said. This isn't some kind of trick?"

"No trick. This is just me being a loving husband!" Matthew propped himself up with his right elbow, put his hand on her waist and started to caress her.

"Okay! It's a deal!"

"It's a deal!" He lowered his head and kissed her hair. "Since you can't wait to have a baby with me, I guess I need to work harder at it."

His words made Erica tremble with fear. "Come to think of it, having a child is not real high on my list. I don't want it anymore..."