Take My Breath Away

'It's just an auction. Why did Matthew invite both Phoebe and me? What does he want?' Erica thought.

While the crowd watched, Phoebe waved at Matthew gracefully and called his name enthusiastically. But she knew she had to at least acknowledge Erica, so she reluctantly nodded to her.

Erica gave her a fake smile and thought, 'This woman is really annoying. It's like she's stalking Matthew.'

Matthew held Erica's hand and helped her sit down first.

Erica wasn't playing that game, though. She was about to take a seat, then suddenly moved one seat over. Now Matthew had to sit next to Erica, no matter what. Phoebe would be on the end.

And Erica was there, smiling smugly. She wasn't going to let Phoebe get any closer to Matthew than she already was.

After the person in charge of the event walked away from them, Erica whispered in the man's ear, "You told me you weren't inviting Phoebe along. Why is she here?"

Matthew looked at her, a hint of a smile in his eyes. "She isn't here because of me."

If his suspicions were correct, Phoebe might be attending this charity auction representing the Su family.

"Then why is she here?" Erica said, in a demanding tone. If she hadn't chosen a seat first, Phoebe would have sat next to Matthew.

After thinking for a while, Matthew answered honestly, "Hard to say. Maybe the organizer knows that Phoebe and I are friends, and invited her along." After all, he had attended quite a few events with Nathan and Phoebe before.

What he said made sense. Seeing that she couldn't win this one, Erica dropped the topic. She didn't care why Phoebe was there as long as Matthew hadn't specifically invited her.

Many people saw Erica and Matthew sitting together in the first row and whispering intimately. While they didn't know what was being said, this helped bust the rumor that Matthew was in love with another woman.

Soon, the auction formally began. It was held once a year, and the guests were famous people in the city. The items on auction were real rarities.

The first item was a jade pendant from the Qing Dynasty with two fish as decoration. Its final price—six million—shocked Erica.

Matthew handed the bidding sign to Erica and said, "Bid on whatever you want." Knowing that his wife was loath to spend money, he added, "I'll pay for it. Consider it a gift from me. Use my credit card!"

Sure enough! His words excited her. "Really?"

"Absolutely!" He had never lied to her.

Erica nodded her head and said excitedly, "Wow! Okay, thanks!"

"No problem!" As long as she was happy.

However, Erica was not interested in the first

Drugged one night by her ex-boyfriend, a mysterious man took advantage of her in an ecstatic night filled with sex.

To take her revenge, she married the man, and used him.

"As long as I'm alive, I'm still his legal wife, while all of you are just his mistresses."

She remained adamant even when he was involved in scandals with other women.

Eventually she stormed off after she learned that he had betrayed her again.But life brought her back to him a few years later, to his astonishment.

let him talk to Mr. Huo in private to see if he can get you the earrings?"

"Well... I don't think it's a good idea."

"Why not? Money can work magic. I like that vase too. I'm going to ask my husband to do the same thing."

Erica overheard the whole conversation.

She rolled her eyes and came up with an idea.

Matthew was busy with logistics and organization at his own company, tapping a message out on his phone. Erica leaned in and whispered in her husband's ear. "Can I give the items we bid on to someone else?"

"They are yours now. Up to you."

"But you spent so much money on them!"

The man laughed. 'Since she owns the items, shouldn't I be asking that question?' "And? It's only money."

'Wow. What a nice guy, ' Erica thought.

When she was at the auction she noticed the oohs and ahhs by the rich women in attendance. They were excited by the items Matthew bid on. But they knew there was no way to put up more money than him, so they gave up.

Erica made a note of who wanted what, then had the auctioneers hand out the items to each one of them, under the name Mrs. Huo.

The women's mood turned from disappointment to elation, and not a little surprise. They didn't need to bid on the treasures they wanted, and someone even arranged for these precious items to be given to them directly. Who could turn down an offer like that?

So, Erica, or rather Mrs. Huo, earned a reputation for being generous. She impressed the other aristocrats. And all before the charity dinner had even ended.

In the evening, when they returned to the villa, Erica wept silently holding two of the treasures. She felt sorry for herself for being so generous. She had just given total strangers gifts worth tens of millions.