Take My Breath Away

"Mom, you're dead wrong!" Erica looked up to face her mother. Blair was changing the bed sheets, never missing a beat. Her daughter corrected her earnestly. "Mom, I apologized to Matthew every time it was my fault. What more do you want?"

But Blair didn't see it that way. "I really don't believe you."

Erica felt helpless. "I'm telling the truth, Mom. Just like last time when we were on a business trip to South City, I followed him all the way and apologized endlessly. He finally forgave me because I was sick!"

Blair denied her explanation right off. "Matthew's not an unreasonable man. I'm sure your apology was less than sincere."

'What? Mom, how could you say a thing like that?' Erica rolled her eyes when her mom was looking elsewhere.

Carlos and Debbie stayed in the Li family's house for a couple nights. On the last day of their visit, Erica came back to the hospital for a checkup. After making sure that the baby in her belly was safe and sound, the four of them took a private plane back to Y City.

In Y City

Debbie had floated the idea of letting Erica live in the Huo family's manor, but Matthew nixed that idea. He took Erica back to their own villa. He'd hired several maids to take care of her.

He didn't want anyone to disturb him or his wife. Even his parents couldn't promise that. The maids could sleep on the first floor. A skeleton night crew was put in place as well. If anything happened, they could be upstairs at a moment's notice.

Two days after returning from her parent's place, Erica resumed her studies.

Matthew's original plan was to hire tutors for her to learn at home, but she turned him down. What fun would that be, staying home every day? That would be too boring, so she decided to attend classes like a normal student.

The pregnancy didn't change Erica's basic nature, though maybe she was a little less stubborn than she usually was.

Yes, just a little.

She still did many of the same things she always did. She continued to stop by that little snack shop and bought spicy and sour rice noodles. Matthew would never approve, so she wouldn't tell him. She also still got into it with this or that classmate, so she'd spend time humiliating them.

When Matthew finally trusted her enough, she grabbed Hyatt and visited a fellow student.

In the school library

The three sat at a round table, all face to face. The girl opposite Erica and Hyatt was understandably nervous. What did Mrs. Huo want with her?

This girl was a se

l you she did it behind my back?" Speaking of Phoebe's sketch, Matthew suddenly remembered one thing. The sketch was gone, and Erica hadn't mentioned anything about it recently.

Was it because that Phoebe was afraid of telling on Erica, or was it because that Erica was biding her time until she could truly unleash hell on Phoebe?

"Fine! I won't force you. After all, you're a pretty busy guy," she said. It was rare for Erica to stop pestering him. So what was really going on?

"Thanks, honey."

Erica pretended to be thinking out loud. "There is another option," she murmured. "They're having a showcase of male models at the convention center in a couple days. I thought I might head down there and snap a few pics. They shouldn't mind. They're paid to be comfortable naked..."

"Erica Li!" The man's cold voice came from the other end of the line.

The girl pretended to be surprised. "Oh, you haven't hung up yet? You've been so quiet!"

'Why would I hang up?' he thought angrily. "Fine. Meet me in my office!"

"No. Like you said, you're busy. I'll just go with the models at the showcase!"

"My office! Now!" The man gritted his teeth and wanted to strangle his wife.

Erica decided to lay it on thick, just to make absolutely sure he wouldn't back out at the last minute. "I really think that's a bad idea. You never let me snap a pic of you, so I won't waste your time!"

"Okay, okay! I'll do it!" The man had to compromise again and again.

"Okay! I'll be there soon! Love you!" Erica was so happy! Her plan worked! Now to gather the equipment she needed.

'My loving husband, your dearest wife is on her way!' she thought happily.