Take My Breath Away

The moment Blair heard her daughter's voice, her heart softened. She held back tears and gritted her teeth, refusing to look at Erica.

Knowing that her mother was enraged, Erica felt bad for the trouble she'd caused. She turned and told Wesley, "I'm home now. I won't run away. Let me go!"

Wesley snorted and ignored her.

Erica hung her head, and her mood turned gloomy, rather than defiant. Hugo lifted his head and said, "I got this. Here you go, Aunt Rika!"

Erica then remembered her dear nephew was also here. She half-squatted down and looked at him in the eye. "Hi Hugo. So you know I'm your aunt?" she asked gently.

He drew himself up to his full height. The boy looked more and more like Chantel every day. He nodded and said, "Grandma said Grandpa was gonna pick you up!" So she must be his aunt.

Erica was amused by him. "You're so smart, Hugo!"

Hugo's eyes fell on the rope around her wrists. Noticing his gaze, Erica looked at Wesley helplessly and explained, "Grandpa tied me up. He's good with knots, and other people can't undo them. So I'm stuck— Wait! What?"

To everyone's surprise, Hugo grabbed the knot and undid it quickly, while Erica was still talking. The rope hung loosely, and she let it drop to her feet.

Everyone was gobsmacked. They had another genius in the family.

When she was free, Erica kissed the boy again and again in surprise. "Thank you, little one. You're definitely my nephew, Hugo. You are so smart!"

Hugo gave her a smug smile and said, "I'm happy if you are."

Wesley, however, rained on his daughter's parade. "Hugo's smart, but that's not your doing. He got it from your brother or Chantel. Maybe both of them. Don't flatter yourself."

"Dad, it's been more than three years. You can't say you didn't miss me." She didn't give up and asked the same question she had asked many times on the way here.

"Miss you? It's been quieter without you around. I brought you back just to teach you a good lesson. I'll send you back to the Huo family after you learn to behave," said Wesley. And he felt justified as her father. She was still finding new ways to act out. Time to nip this in the bud.

'Never mind. I better just be nice to them. Focus on one at a time, ' Erica thought to herself. She stood up and hugged Blair

ard time these years she's been gone. I don't think she really has anything more to learn. If you're still angry with her, punish me instead! Whatever you feel is right."

Erica gritted her teeth and refused, "No, thanks. If my dad didn't beat me today, he wouldn't let it go. Just get up, Tessie. None of this is your fault."

Tessie couldn't bear to see her being punished, but seeing that Wesley was about to get angry, she had to stand up and step aside.

Wesley cast a cold glance at his daughter and snapped, "Do you know what you did wrong?"

"I know, Dad!" Erica's attitude was so good.

"So what did you do?"

"I shouldn't have run away from home and made you worry," she answered.

"Kneel until I'm satisfied. Your brother will be back tomorrow. You obviously haven't learned after all these years, so some time training with him in seclusion will help you. Two weeks, maybe."

Hearing this, Erica widened her eyes. "Two weeks?" Gifford's men went through a grueling training regimen. That wasn't for beginners. She could hurt herself, or worse get herself killed. This was not cool.

"Yes! In fact, why don't we make it fifteen days?" Wesley asked rhetorically.

He had to teach Erica well before sending her back to the Huo family. Otherwise, the Huo family would keep worrying she'd pull the same tricks.

With a sad face, Erica sat on her feet. "Dad, I promise I'll never run away from home again, okay? I can write a letter guaranteeing this. Please don't send me to train with Gifford's men."