What about Erica? She didn't look like a mother at all; she was just as free as before.
Originally, when she heard the baby cry, she'd be at his crib, ready to help him. But eventually, she got used to the infant's cries, and turned a deaf ear to them.
Luckily for her, she was at the Li family's house. If she were living with her mother-in-law, she would have been kicked out long before now. After all, what good was a daughter-in-law who wouldn't take care of her own child?
It looked like it was hard times ahead for Erica. Wesley and Blair could see them coming a mile away.
In the Huo family manor
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSomeone knocked on the door of Carlos' bedroom. He sprang out of bed and opened it. It was Matthew.
"You wanted to talk to me?" the younger man said. Before he got in, Matthew received a text from Carlos. The old man said he had things to discuss with his son.
Carlos pointed in a particular direction and said, "Let's go to the study."
In the study, before the young man could even take a seat, Carlos cut to the chase. "Phoebe Su is married to Nathan. Just forget her."
Nathan Tu was Matthew's best friend. He just got married to his girlfriend, Phoebe Su. Carlos believed this was the girl that Matthew had a major thing for.
Matthew was about to sit down when Carlos spoke. But he stopped and stood straight instead, listening to the old man. "I know you've had a crush on her since...well...forever."
"How do you know?"
"That's not the point. The point is I know. I don't care whether she is a goddess or a muse in your heart. Just give up on her and date someone else. If you're too busy to find a girlfriend, I can introduce one to you." Carlos knew that there were many similarities between him and Matthew. They were driven, career-minded, and would do anything to get what they wanted.
He was afraid Matthew would screw up his friendship with Nathan Tu, if he focused all his energies on making Phoebe Su his. He needed to give up on that idea. He was too high-profile now to create a scandal like that.
"You? Introduce a girl to me?"
"That's right. There's nothing good about pursuing a married woman. I'll find someone far better for you." Carlos had already found the right woman for his son.
"Mind your own business, old man!" With an emotionless face,
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmul consideration, I've decided Matthew should marry Erica. This way, Feb can have a father and a family. What do you think?"
His words astonished everyone in the room.
Erica was too shocked to say a word. Spoon in hand, she shifted her gaze among the people involved in this scheme. She looked at Carlos, as poker-faced as ever. Matthew wore a gloomy expression. Debbie was smiling. Finally, she looked back at Matthew.
'Am I hearing things? Marry Matthew?! Me?' Erica couldn't wrap her brain around such a wild suggestion.
Wesley hesitated. "But... Carlos, that's unfair to Matthew." Although Erica was his daughter, he couldn't say yes to that.
Matthew was a great guy. Why should he marry a woman who had another man's baby? And he didn't look super happy about it. It was just an order from his parents. Wesley felt bad for Matthew.
But Carlos didn't think so. He simply remarked, "Rika's a good girl. So she made a mistake. She's young. As long as she knows what she did wrong and lives happily with Matthew after they're married, we should just let bygones be bygones." No matter who Matthew married, it was much better than his best friend's wife.
Moreover, Erica was lively and outgoing while Matthew was cold and reserved. Their characters would be complementary to each other.
Debbie chimed in, "Yeah, Carlos is right. Blair, I know this city is a ways away from where you live, but you don't need to worry about anything. Our home will be her home too. She can do whatever she wants, just like she does now."
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