Take My Breath Away

"What a coincidence. I'm almost never here. I come home about every six months or so to visit." Gifford walked towards the kitchen, trying to find something to eat.

Chantel followed. "Oh, I see. Sounds like you're really busy."

"Yeah, but I'm used to it! Where are Mom and Dad?" Gifford opened the fridge and started piling food on the counter, taking out everything he thought he could eat.

"They thought you weren't coming back today, so they went to bed early." She stared at the ever-growing pile of food on the counter. "You must be hungry." Chantel curiously looked at the man who was eagerly devouring a steamed bun.

He didn't say anything for a moment, working on swallowing what he was eating. "Sorry. Haven't eaten anything since noon."

"Hey, don't dig into the leftovers. I can cook, you know. What do you want? I'll make it for you."

Gifford was surprised. This girl was much nicer than Rika. He asked in disbelief, "You can cook?" She already told him that, but apparently he wasn't paying that much attention. How would she have taken care of her grandfather otherwise?

Erica was two years older than Chantel but was still very childish. She couldn't even hold a pan steadily. Fortunately, she married Matthew. She was his problem now.

Most girls in the Li family weren't particularly adept with stove or pan. Yvette only knew how to boil eggs, and almost nothing else. Gifford was a little worried for Yvette. She was going to marry into the You family. He wondered if her inability to cook would hurt her chances of domestic bliss.

But as spoiled as Rika was, her marriage to Matthew seemed pretty solid. If she got on his nerves, Matthew never let that show.

Thinking of this, Gifford had to admit that Erica was really lucky to marry into the Huo family.

"Yes, I can cook. What do you want to eat?" Chantel asked again.

Gifford shook his head. "I'm not picky. Fix whatever you want. You make it, I'll eat it." After all, it was almost midnight. He didn't want to keep her up half the night cooking for him.

"Okay."

So Chantel turned on burners and started to prep a basic meal. Gifford had nothing to do, so he watched her.

People always assumed that kids who grew up in the countryside learned how to take care of their family. Now it looked like that was true.

Chantel was good at everything from washing vegetab

my parents during the Spring Festival. Anyway, she'll be back."

"Okay," Chantel replied.

Early the next morning, when everyone was still asleep, Gifford left the Li family's house.

The sun rose slowly. In Y City, in the Pearl Villa District, it was half past nine before Erica got downstairs to have breakfast. She was surprised to see Matthew sitting at the table in his pajamas and reading a financial newspaper. He apparently didn't go to work today.

Hearing her footsteps, Matthew looked at his wife and said indifferently, "I'm staying home today."

"Oh wow. I won't be home today."

"Oh? Did your class schedule change?" He specifically took time off today so he could relax at home with her.

Erica took a sip of milk and said, "No classes. I have the day off, so I'm going out."

"For what?"

"That's private."

"Where are you going?"

The girl blinked. "Matthew Huo, you're just full of questions."

Matthew was so astonished he couldn't speak.

After breakfast, Erica's phone rang. Glancing at the caller ID, she quickly stood up from her seat and answered her phone. "I'm on my way."

Then she grabbed her backpack and ran towards the door.

"Stop!" Matthew called out to the girl who had ignored him.

Erica turned around and asked, "What's up?"

Matthew walked over to her and said, "I'll see you out." He wanted to see who was picking her up!

Puzzled, Erica didn't refuse. She changed into her shoes and walked out of the villa.

A silver SUV was parked right outside the villa. A man in a dark blue windbreaker left the car.