Take My Breath Away

"But my husband seems to love her..." Erica said to Can't Do Anything. This was a sore spot for her. If Matthew wasn't still in love with Phoebe, Erica would have asked him to destroy that woman.

Can't Do Anything tried to reassure her. "No way!"

"Yes way. It's true. It's been going on for years, apparently. You must have heard about it. Everyone in the city knows Matthew has a crush on someone else."

"Yeah, I've heard the rumors. Who hasn't? But if he really loved Phoebe, he wouldn't have married you. Think about it: why would he do that? You're the one in his heart."

Many people had said this to Erica, and she knew they were right. But she just couldn't get rid of that niggling doubt that Matthew still carried a torch for Phoebe.

When Erica didn't text him back right away, Can't Do Anything sent her another message. "What you need is more spice in your marriage. Try your best to love him, or—failing that—make him fall in love with you. Stranger things have happened. Why not give it a shot?"

Can't Do Anything was right, though. Erica knew that. But he or she still couldn't banish all of Erica's doubts and worries. "I'm still not sure..." Erica tapped out.

"Then you can test your husband!"

"Test him? How?"

This time, Can't Do Anything didn't text back immediately. After a while, Erica received a call from Matthew. "I'd like you to come downstairs."

"You're back home?"

"Yes."

"Let me guess: Phoebe's with you. I'll pass, thanks."

Massaging his eyebrows, Matthew wondered, 'Are all women like that?' "Didn't you want her to come here?"

"Why would I..." The rest of her words caught in her throat. Oh, yes, she remembered now. She told Matthew that she was going to invite Phoebe to come to the villa and claim her status as the hostess. It was a momentary flash of anger and facetiousness.

She didn't expect that Matthew would really take her up on that. Wasn't he afraid she'd hurt Phoebe?

Phone in hand, Erica stomped downstairs.

Before she saw Matthew, she got a private message from Can't Do Anything. "Find out if he wants to sleep with you or not!"

Erica stopped on the steps. Find out if he wanted to sleep with her? Of course he wanted to. Matthew had said it himself! As she went downstairs, she replied, "I don't think that's such a hot idea."

She was hoping for other ideas to test Matthew.

Can't Do Anything replied, "He's your husband. What

ed wonderful, but she had no interest in eating anymore.

After tasting a few dishes, Phoebe said, "Thanks for lunch, Matthew, really. But I've lost my appetite and feel like I'm full. But your chefs are incredible. Mind if I borrow one of them for a while?"

She thought Matthew would definitely agree to such a minor thing. It was not like she was lying.

Next to him, Erica had just put a lump of black pepper steak into her mouth and was chewing it. Hearing this, she quickly took hold of his big hand and said, "What a coincidence! I don't have much of an appetite either. I'm not pregnant, though. Besides, I'm really starting to like Western food. Why doesn't Mrs. Tu hire another cook herself? The Su family can get any kind of chef they want. Right, Mrs. Tu?" 'She needs a new title. Phoebe the Manipulative! Phoebe the Bitch!' Erica thought.

She put down the fork rather carelessly, leaving a bit of sauce from the fork on her face, right above the corner of her lips. She was angry and wasn't really paying attention.

But she didn't know about it at all. The sauce on her face and the fact that she talked with her eyes wide open...Phoebe didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She had to admit that Erica was really cute.

Not to mention Matthew, who always thought Erica was adorable and made him happy. This time, she was doubly so. The man who had always been indifferent to other people now had a bright smile on his face. He didn't answer Erica's question but pinched her chin to make her look at him.

While Erica was still confused, he lowered his head slowly, his face close to hers...