The evening hours passed by, slow and subdued. At eleven o'clock, Ethan finally fell asleep.
Erica carefully tucked him into his crib.
Pausing, she looked at his smooth and round face. He seemed so peaceful and innocent that she couldn't help but give him a little pinch on the cheek.
"You'll have to soothe him if you wake him up," warned Blair softly.
Only then did Erica leave the baby alone and go back to the bed. Her mother gave her some of the quilt, and she made herself comfortable.
She yawned into her palm, then said, "Mom, I want to take Ethan to Y City for a few days so that you and Dad can have some time to relax."
"I don't think that's a good idea," answered Blair. "You have classes to attend to, and Matthew is a busy man. I'm sure the two of you have your hands full already without a baby to look after. Besides, we have servants to help take care of Ethan. We don't need to relax."
"I'm not that busy with classes," urged Erica. "I can take care of him for two or three days."
Wesley, who was lying on the couch and staring up at the ceiling, injected himself into the conversation. "Your mother is right. Your priority right now should be to study hard and to build a good relationship with Matthew. If Ethan stays with you, you two will have conflict because of him."
"Dad, Matthew is not that petty," protested Erica. "Trust me. It's only three days. Nothing will happen!"
At last, pestered by Erica's various arguments, Blair was swayed. She agreed that Ethan could go with Erica when she left the next day.
The minutes ticked by. Ethan was already sound asleep, and soon Blair was as well. Experimentally, Erica called to her father. When Wesley didn't answer, she thought that he was asleep as well.
But her sister was still awake. The two hid under the quilt and whispered to one another. "Is Matthew being good to you?" Yvette asked.
"Well, sort of," Erica answered. Realizing how she sounded, she added, "I mean, he's great. He just has a bad temper."
"Well, if he treats you well, stop fighting with him," Yvette said earnestly. "Go back to Y City tomorrow and just live a happy life with him, okay?"
Erica sighed. "I don't think it will be that simple. After all, he doesn't really love me, and I don't love him. A marriage without love will never be happy."
"Then what's your plan? Do you still want to divorce him?"
"Hush!" Erica hissed immediately. Even though they'd been whispering, she still feared that their father might hear them. Sure enough, Wesley, whom they had thought to be asleep, broke the silence. "If you dare to divorce Matthew, I'll skin you alive!" he threatened.
"Dad! You were eavesdropping on us!" Erica complained, outraged.
"You two have loud voices," Wesley snorted, unable to care less. "I couldn't help but hear you."
Yvette was too embarrassed to say anything more, but Erica pressed, "Dad, didn't you know that Matthew is interested in someone else?"
"Yes, I know."
Erica decided to ask the most burning question on her mind. "Then why are you insisting on putting me through this hell?"
"Putting you through hell?" he echoed. "On the contrary, I would have thought you'd find true happiness with Matthew." Privately, he had expected Erica to run back home within three days of her marriage. But he hadn't thought she would have cold feet for more than a week.
Besides, when she came back, she hadn't said anything bad about Matthew, except that he was bossy. But all wives thought that about their husbands.
Meanwhile, Erica was enraged, thinking her father was simply being insensitive. "I don't want to talk to you anymore. There's a gulf between us. You don't understand what I'm going through at all!" She started wondering if Matthew was actually Wesley's son, considering Wesley took his side all the time.
"Rika Li, I know what kind of person Matthew is," he said sternly. "You should learn to restrain your temper and be more composed. Acting rashly all the time will only get you into more and more trouble."
"Well, why don't you tell me what kind of person he is?" demanded his daughter.
"In my opinion, he is practically flawless, while you have a great many shortcomings."
Hearing this, Erica grabbed the quilt in her fists and pulled it over her head. "Father, I'm going to sleep!"
She felt totally unable to communicate with her father at all.
The room was silent again. Wesley peered through the dark at his wife and daughters for a long time.
Tenderly, he tilted his head and thought, 'Oh, Rika, although you are so naughty, you and your sister are and will always be my babies.
I once regretted forcing you to marry Matthew. But now, I don't regret it at all!
If you don't understand now, I won't blame you.
But someday in the future, perhaps then you will understand why your mother and I did what we did.
And if that day ever comes, I think it will be the happiest day of your life.'
Early the next morning, Wesley left the Li family home for Y City, with one hand holding Ethan and the other practically dragging Erica.
She was carrying a suitcase full of Ethan's things.
Blair had been incessantly fretting over Erica before they left the house, reminding her of things. "Before you board the plane, don't forget that Ethan needs his milk formula, and some smashed fruit."
"I've got it, Mom. You've told me eight times," Erica had said, turning around and looking at her sadly. "You know, Dad's coming with me. You don't need to worry about anything."
"I know, I know," Blair had said with a sigh.
When the three finally arrived at the Pearl Villa District, Matthew was there, meaning to drive them the rest of the way.
Wesley got out of his rental car first.
Seeing him, Matthew got out of his own vehicle. Shutting the door swiftly, he called, "Hi, Dad!"
Wesley trotted over, smiling genially. "Matthew, I've brought Erica to you! Please, don't be mad at her."
At that moment, Erica was still inside the car, holding Ethan in her arms. The windows were open a crack, allowing her to hear the conversation. She couldn't believe what her father had just said. Why was he apologizing for her?
Matthew shook his head. "Oh no, Dad, this is actually my fault. I was on my way to pick Erica up anyway. I didn't expect you to bring her back."
There was a pause. Wesley was touched by Matthew's entire demeanor. Clearly, Erica was in the wrong, but her husband was here taking the initiative for her. He was even taking the blame for this whole incident.
'This is a true man, ' Wesley thought to himself. Stepping forward, he clapped his son-in-law on the shoulder. "Matthew, thank you."
"Oh, I just did what I should," Matthew replied modestly. His eyes drifted past Wesley's shoulder and settled on the car behind him.
"Ethan is here too," Wesley explained. "Erica wants to have the baby with her for three more days. Do you mind? If you do, I can just take him back…"
"No, no problem, Dad. It's good that you brought him along. The house will be livelier with him around." Matthew sounded sincere.
The longer the conversation went on, the more impressed Wesley was with his son-in-law—and the more cross he became with his daughter for the trouble she had caused. Turning around, he barked, "Come on out of the car! We don't have all day!"
Slowly, with obvious reluctance, Erica emerged from the car and handed the sleeping Ethan to her father.
Wesley indicated Matthew and in a serious tone said, "Rika, you need to apologize to your husband."
"Why should I apologize to him..." Erica's voice was low, as if she were talking to herself just as much as to Wesley.
"No, Dad," Matthew broke in. "I'm the one who should apologize." Then he looked at Erica, his tone gentle. "I'm sorry, Erica. This is all my fault. I apologize to you in front of Father."
Erica stared at him, taken aback. 'His tone is suddenly so soft. What is he up to?' she thought. 'I must be careful not to fall into his trap.'
Wesley was very satisfied with his son-in-law. "All right, Erica," he said. "Since Matthew has apologized, you'd better behave yourself now, okay?"
Erica paused, but in the end she could think of nothing to say or do but give in. "Okay," she said at last.
With that, the three of them went into the villa together. At first, Erica had planned to carry Ethan upstairs and put him to sleep in the bedroom. However, Matthew took Ethan from her arms with a smoothness that caught her off-guard. "Here, let me help you," he said.
Then, under Wesley's approving gaze, he took Ethan upstairs, holding the baby as naturally as if he were his own.
Laden with luggage, Wesley cast a burning glance at Erica before following his son-in-law upstairs.
Erica stood still for a long moment, stewing in her confusion and frustration. She could not fathom her father's disapproval toward her, or his incredible admiration for her husband.
After a long time, she reluctantly followed them.
On the third floor, she found Wesley situating her luggage in the bedroom, and Matthew already putting Ethan to bed.