Take My Breath Away

That night, as soon as Matthew stepped inside his house, he saw Erica walking down the stairs, a sweet smile on her lovely face.

She was dressed in a pink night robe, her long hair loose and cascading around her shoulders and down her back. She looked more mature than she usually did.

The smile on her face was far too wide. She looked like the cat who ate the canary. 'I wonder what kind of trouble she's in this time?' he thought. Finally, he asked, "What do you want from me?"

Erica smiled but said nothing. After he changed his shoes, she came over and held his arm. "You must be tired after a long day," she said. "Want something to drink?"

"I'm not tired or thirsty!" he answered. Truthfully, he'd been quite exhausted, but seeing her like this banished all thoughts of rest.

"Okay, honey. Whatever you want. Do you want to go upstairs?" 'After we go upstairs, we can go to our bedroom and have a romantic night, ' she thought.

Matthew wondered if he was imagining things. 'Is she trying to seduce me?' he thought. "Why now? What's the rush?" he asked tentatively.

She blinked her eyes and her smile grew wider. "Well, I thought we could...maybe...get some sexy time!" She had just bought a dozen night gowns, all different styles and colors. She wanted to see how he liked them.

'Now I know something's wrong! I'm not getting mixed up in this!' He pulled her hand away and said, "I'm tired. I'm heading to bed."

The smile on Erica's face froze. 'Yeah, he's tired. Tired of me!

I can't run away from home anymore. I have to be the only one in his heart, ' she thought to herself.

"Okay! Good night." Erica didn't pester him anymore and went upstairs alone.

Matthew was confused by her every move. "Erica!" he called out and stopped her.

She turned and looked at him blankly. "Anything else, Mr. Huo?"

'Mr. Huo?' He hated it when she called him that. She called him "honey" just moments before. It was affectionate and playful. Now she was stiff, cold, and calling him Mr. Huo.

He strode over and scooped her up in his arms.

Erica was alternately delighted and shocked. She patted her chest to calm her heart.

"I thought you weren'

A woman hid in a nearby garden. After a long time, she saw a maid coming out of the villa. She quickly followed her.

"Hey! It's me!" Erica ran up to the maid and greeted her warmly.

She was the one Erica met when she went to the hospital to see Phoebe last time. She looked at the girl in front of her in confusion and asked, "I'm sorry. Who are you?"

Erica raised her head so the maid could see her face.

Sure enough, she immediately recognized Erica. "It's you!"

With an innocent smile on her face, Erica said, "Yes, it's me! Who else would it be?"

"Something I can do for you?" the maid asked.

"Yeah! Follow me!" Erica held her arm and looked back to make sure no one saw them. Then she pulled the maid around the corner.

Under the maid's confused gaze, Erica opened her backpack and took out a huge wad of bills, at least a hundred thou. She didn't know exactly how much it was, because she didn't count it. She had just taken the money casually.

When the maid saw so much cash, her eyes widened and her jaw dropped.

Erica stuffed a wad of money into her arms. "Hey, do me a favor and the money's yours." After the maid took the money, she took out another wad of bills from her backpack. "And this!"

"Wow!" The maid widened her eyes in amazement. "What... do you want me to do?" She only earned a couple thousand a month working for the Su family. It would take her years to earn the amount that Erica had given her.