Erica idly fiddled with the bracelet on her wrist and glared at Reese. "Who told you Matthew didn't come with me? How do you know he's not at the house right now?"
"Come on, many people saw you at the high-speed train station. Your brother picked you up, and Matthew was nowhere in sight. Don't even try to lie!" Reese continued to provoke Erica as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
Erica laughed instead of getting angry. "How about this? Let's make a bet. If Matthew is really here, you owe me one hundred thousand dollars. If he isn't, I'll give you two hundred grand! How does that sound?"
"One hundred thousand? Wow, what a greedy bitch you are!" Although Reese was from a rich family, she wasn't rich enough to squander one hundred thousand without a second thought.
"Tsk, tsk. I thought you had a boyfriend? One with a fat wallet? What? My bet too rich for your blood?" 'Maybe not just one boyfriend, but probably a few, ' Erica thought disdainfully.
An embarrassed look appeared on Reese's face. "What about you? You're Mrs. Huo. You're stinking rich. But you offer up a measly two hundred thousand dollars. That's a bit stingy, don't you think?"
"Okay. How much are we talking, then?"
"Five hundred grand!"
"Sounds good! When I'm done here, I'll take you to my home and show you what Matthew Huo looks like. I hope you won't be too jealous. He's my husband now. So there's no point in crying over it." Although Matthew wasn't actually at the Li family house now, Erica was sure that Reese wouldn't call her bluff and show up at her doorstep.
Moreover, she was playing with words. She didn't say that Matthew was around TODAY, so she could take Reese to her house tomorrow if the girl insisted.
'Don't be too jealous?' Easier said than done. Reese was really envious of Erica. This notorious Miss Troublemaker was so lucky to get married to Matthew Huo! How could she not be jealous?
The Li family and the Huo family were good friends. Reese believed that Erica's parents pushed for the marriage and the Huo family didn't want to turn them down, so they agreed to it. "What if you run away?"
Erica rolled her eyes and said disdainfully, "Do you think everyone is like you? Matthew promised me that he would stay here with me for a few days. Believe me, you'll see him soon!"
Erica had a lot of weaknesses, and bragging was just one of them. She wasn't sure whether Matthew would come stay with her or not, but her mouth moved before her brain could think about it.
Rhea's classes were over, and she had just walked out of the building. She heard the bet. She rushed over and covered Erica's mouth. "Hi Erica. Don't bother with a troll like her. She won't be happy unless you're unhappy. Your hubby's a big shot. He doesn't have time to look pretty for everyone. Reese is way too full of herself. Who does she think she is?"
Rhea already knew that Matthew wasn't there. She had to save Erica from herself. Erica told her earlier he might come tomorrow. Might! She was not 100% sure.
Money could be made again, respect, not so much. In order to save Erica the embarrassment, Rhea tried her best to defuse the situation.
Rhea nudged her back to reality, and Erica finally realized that she was bluffing. She straightened her body and echoed, "You're right, Rhea. She doesn't deserve to meet my husband."
"Yeah, that's what I think. She just wants to find an excuse to see your husband. Don't fall for it."
The two best friends agreed. Erica seriously glanced at Reese, who was blushing in anger, and said, "Yeah, you're right. Bet's off, Reese. Go away!"
"Erica Li, are you going back on your word? You are afraid of being found out, aren't you?" Reese's friends began to defend her.
"Sounds like. I think Erica is just bragging."
"Liar!"
Just as Erica was about to regret what she had bragged about, she caught a glimpse of a black car. The car rolled to a stop at the school gate, less than two meters away.
The rear window slowly descended, revealing a very handsome and expressionless face—not to mention a familiar one.
At that moment, Erica felt Matthew was like an angel, an angel who descended from heaven to save her!
For the first time in her life, her eyes lit up and her heart raced when she saw Matthew. On impulse, she called to him in a sweet voice, "Honey!"
An enigmatic look flashed in his eyes as Matthew looked at her smiling face. After a bit, he answered in a near-whisper, "Mom said you were here."
'So... did he come for me?'
She immediately started towards him. But something occurred to her so she said to Matthew, "Wait a minute, okay?"
She ran back to the stunned Reese and took out her cell phone. "A bet's a bet. My husband is waiting to take me home. One hundred thousand dollars! Not a cent less!"
Reese was too stunned to respond. She felt her heart ache. 'One hundred thousand dollars!' She didn't want to lose money to Erica in this way. She lowered her voice saying, "You're cheating! You implied Mr. Huo came back with you. But I'm not blind. He just got here, from his residence in Y City!"
Erica was a little annoyed. "You can't afford to lose, can you? Does it matter when he arrived? What matters is that he's here! Right here, right now! So, are you going to honor our bet? If not, then it's no more Mrs. Nice Guy." Erica put away her phone and started rubbing her hands, ready to fight.
Reese had stopped paying attention to her and took a few steps towards Matthew. She cleared her throat and gave Matthew the sweetest smile she had. In a soft voice, she asked, "Excuse me, Mr. Huo, when did you get here?"
Erica was astonished. She had never thought that Reese had the guts to seek confirmation from Matthew. 'I'm so screwed!
What should I do? Oh, wait. I've got it!' After a brainstorm, she secretly reached out two fingers and made a gesture of the number "11" in front of her chest.
She wondered if Matthew would play along with her.
Matthew glanced at the two girls, and finally looked at Reese. His eyes grew colder. "What makes you think I would tell you anything about my schedule?"
His cold tone sent a chill down Reese's spine. "I'm sorry, Mr. Huo," she apologized, her face pale.
"Since you are my wife's schoolmate, I won't bother with it this time. I got here at 11 this morning. What's the matter?"
"No, no. Nothing..." Reese had embarrassed herself. In her mind, she cursed those people who spread the rumor that Matthew hadn't come back to the Li family together with Erica. She then took out her phone to transfer the money to Erica.
Erica was totally incredulous. Matthew cooperated with her and lied to Reese for her. He wasn't just a good guy. He was an awesome one.
When she completed the transfer, Reese bit her lower lip and told Erica, "I've wired you the money. A hundred grand."
When she was about to leave, Matthew suddenly stopped her. "Wait a minute!"
All eyes were on him.
He asked, "What was the bet?"
Everyone looked at each other after hearing what he said. No one dared say a word.
Even Erica was quiet. And it wasn't because she was afraid. It was because she was embarrassed.
After a significant pregnant pause, no one answered him. With a livid face, Matthew ordered, "Tell me!"
The girls were frightened by the simple order coming from the angry man. He was giving off a terrible aura.
Erica replied at once, "The bet was—"
"I didn't ask you," Matthew interrupted her. "It's not for you to say anything. You're not in trouble. They might be."
Erica was dumbfounded. 'Why is he so protective of me?'