Erica figured that if she didn't go to the charity auction with Matthew, her husband would definitely ask Phoebe to accompany him.
Matthew didn't answer right away. Phoebe's name hadn't even crossed his mind at that point.
Nonetheless, he nodded calmly, "Well, yeah. I wouldn't want to waste my time looking for someone else."
Erica handed him the banana peel and said, "If you throw that into the trash can for me, I'll go with you."
It was really childish, but she just didn't want to leave her seat.
"If you don't want to go, don't force yourself to do so." He remained in his seat.
"I want to! Why wouldn't I want to go? How could I refuse such a good opportunity?" If she didn't go, she would be creating an opportunity for her husband to spend his time and money on Phoebe! 'No way! That woman had treated me like that. Why should I create opportunities for Phoebe to be with Matthew?'
After getting the answer he had hoped for, Matthew stood up to dispose the banana peel.
He took out his phone and made a call. After making some arrangements, he returned to Erica and watched TV with her for a while.
Half an hour later, the doorbell rang. Erica, who had dozed off in Matthew's arms, woke up with a start when she heard the doorbell. "Who is it?"
Matthew checked his phone and then answered, "I'll get it."
Erica sat up straight and watched as he walked to the door.
She heard Paige's voice. "Mr. Huo, we've brought everything that you had asked for. And the chefs are here too."
"Good." Matthew entered the living room first.
Paige walked in after him, followed by several others, all carrying boxes in their hands. The two chefs at the back of the group went straight to the kitchen.
Matthew called out to Erica, "Come and have a look."
Four people carried in two racks of clothes—evening dresses of different styles and colors.
Paige opened one of the wooden cases which was filled with stylish shoes, and several brocade boxes beside it were filled with all kinds of jewelry.
All Erica had to do was choose.
She looked at Matthew in astonishment and asked him in a low voice, "Is the auction that grand? Do I need to be dressed so formally?"
"Not really. These are simple dresses." In Matthew's eyes, these were not the kind of evening dresses a woman would wear at a grand banquet. It was suitable for special activities and small parties.
'Whatever you say, ' Erica thought with a smile. She walked to the clothes rack and tried to choose the best one. She asked the man behind her, "Isn't it still too early? I have classes this afternoon."
"Pick the dress now. You won't have to do it in a hurry later. After class, you can have dinner and then do your hairdressing. I think you can make it in time that way." Matthew had arranged everything in advance.
"Alright!"
With his help, Erica carried a few dresses upstairs and tried them on. Finally, she decided on a light pink Korean dress with a short front and a long back hemline.
It was a halter dress, with her collarbones and shoulders slightly exposed, and the hemline was embroidered with flower petals.
She chose crystal stilettos to go with the dress.
Erica didn't pay much attention to the jewelry. She didn't need to wear a necklace since it was a halter dress, and she preferred the earrings which she was already wearing. She also picked out a platinum bracelet to go with the crystal shoes and the pink dress.
Post lunch, the chocolate batter in the fridge was frozen. Erica took out a chocolate bar and bit into it. Matthew's handmade chocolate was yummier than the ones sold outside!
She grabbed a square piece and brought it near Matthew's mouth. "Have a taste of your own cooking. It's so delicious!"
After hesitating for a moment, he finally opened his mouth.
"I'll give some to Gwyn when I pass by their place," she said. Sheffield's villa was less than a kilometer away from Matthew's.
"You don't have to," Matthew said dismissively.
"Why not?" she asked, chewing on another piece of chocolate.
"I just called Evelyn. Gwyn is at the Tang family house."
"Oh no! But you made so many chocolates. Such a pity!" Staring at the dozens of chocolate bars of different sizes, Erica sighed. She felt sorry for Gwyn.
"Eat them all yourself."
"No way! How about I bring some to Godwin and Godfrey?"
Matthew sighed silently. "They are not home either. Godfrey is at the Fan family house, and Godwin is with Gwyn." 'I made the chocolates for her. Why is it so difficult to make this woman understand that?' he wondered in resignation.
"Are you serious? So… I'll have to eat all this by myself?"
"Yes."
She tilted her head and suggested, "How about I bring some for Hyatt?"
Matthew was speechless. He didn't even want to give the chocolates to the kids; why would he let Hyatt eat the chocolates he made? Why did this woman have to share the things he gave her with someone else? "No! Keep them for yourself!"
"But why? Hyatt is my good friend!"
"Well, he is not MY good friend! If you want to share chocolates with him, make some yourself!" Of course, if she did make chocolates, Matthew wouldn't let her give them to anyone either. He would eat them himself!
'Humph! What a mean fellow!' Erica thought grumpily. She had no choice but to eat all those delicious treats herself.
After their little spat over the chocolate, Matthew drove Erica to school.
As soon as the car stopped in front of the gate, she unfastened the seat belt. "Thank you for the ride! Bye!" Just as she opened the door to get out, he grabbed her hand.
Confused, she turned around and asked, "What's wrong?"
Matthew looked at her, expressionless. "Aren't you going to thank me for dropping you to school?"
'I just did. Didn't he hear?' she wondered. She repeated anyway, "Thank you!"
"That's not what I want." So he heard her thanks, but that did not satisfy him. "Then what do you want?" she asked, confused.
Matthew pulled her closer to him. He looked down at the girl in his arms and accused her softly, "I thought you already knew my needs very well."
'His needs? Oh!' Erica understood immediately. She sat up, held the man's face and kissed his lips gently. "Thank you, Matthew!"
With a smile in his eyes, he decided to let her go for the time being.
He kissed her forehead and said, "I'll pick you up after class."
"Okay, bye!"
That night, at the tenth autumn charity auction in Y City
The auction hall was filled with hundreds of people when Matthew arrived at the venue with Erica.
The other guests had to pay a deposit, but Matthew was the only one who didn't need to go through this procedure.
The person in charge led Matthew and Erica to the exclusive VIP seats. Along the way, many people walked over to greet Matthew.
Erica was in the spotlight as well. She looked very young in her light pink evening dress, and her long black hair was combed into a princess style bun.
She wore light make-up and had an innocent smile on her lips, revealing her lovely canines and her adorable dimples. She looked lively all the while as she held on to Matthew's arm and followed him obediently.
Her image that day was not in line with her title of "Miss Troublemaker" at all. She looked like a lovely, noble princess from a royal family.
Two seats were open for them in the front row of the auditorium; they were the best seats to appreciate the items on auction.
But... Erica's smile froze at the sight of the woman sitting next to their seats. It was Phoebe Su! Didn't Matthew say that he wouldn't bring Phoebe?