Matthew quietly glanced at the woman whose face was gradually turning red.
"Matthew, you see? Rika is so kind to you. Remember to treat her well in the future, understood?" Carlos was a firm believer that it was mostly the man's fault when something went wrong in the marriage.
Matthew rarely did not oppose his father. But this time, he simply nodded in agreement and said, "I understand."
In shock, Erica looked back at the man beside her and said in a low voice, "But it's all my fault."
Pouring her some tea, he answered lightly, "It takes two to quarrel. It was my fault too."
Erica didn't know how to react to his behavior.
However, that was not the time or place to voice out her concerns. So, for the time being, she suppressed her anxiety and forced herself to continue to eat.
Two hours later, the dinner was over. As the kids had school in the morning, Erica and Matthew decided to bid everyone farewell.
The elders wanted the four kids to stay in the manor, but that wasn't the children's wish. They missed their mother and wanted to spend some time with her.
Therefore, the kids followed Erica and Matthew back to the Pearl Villa District.
The moment they arrived, Matthew went straight to his study to get some work done. After a while, he headed back to the bedroom and heard some noises coming from the bathroom. When he walked in there, he found the four children and their mother.
The scene in front of him rendered him speechless.
While Adkins was getting a basin of water to wash Erica's feet, Boswell stood on a chair to get her a towel. At the same time, Colman was on his feet behind her, massaging her shoulders and back, as Damian held a glass of juice to Erica's lips. There was no doubt how much she was enjoying their services.
When Adkins noticed his father coming in, he requested casually, "Dad, help me carry the basin to Mom. I've filled it with too much water." The basin was so heavy that the kid could barely hold it.
Matthew twitched his lips.
'Is this my place in this family? Of a servant?'
Before he could say anything, Erica handed the juice she was drinking back to Damian and stood up. Then she pulled Matthew over and let him sit down on the chair. "My dear children, listen! Dad is the greatest and works the hardest in this family, so from now on, we should treat him well. C, you massage Dad. D, you let Dad drink the juice! A, I'll help you carry the basin of water."
"Got it, Mom!" they answered in unison. Immediately, the children began to move to follow their mother's instructions.
Matthew didn't know what to say. He wondered if that was really happening.
When Matthew saw Erica coming with the basin of water in her hands, he came back to his senses and abruptly rose from the chair.
Under the woman's confused gaze, he told his four sons, "Mom is wrong on something. Mom is the only girl in this family, and it's the responsibility of men to protect and take care of the women in their lives. You were doing everything right before I came. Keep it up like this. From now on, I'll help you take good care of your mother as well!"
"Okay, Dad!" the kids answered in unison again, as if they had a connection.
The next moment, a dumbfounded Erica and the four kids watched Matthew take off his coat. Colman thoughtfully stepped forward to get the piece of clothing from his father before throwing it into the basket.
Matthew then rolled up his sleeves and squatted down to begin to wash Erica's feet.
After he was done, he stretched out his hand and commanded, "Towel!"
"Here it is, Dad!" Boswell promptly handed him the towel.
"Thank you!"
"You're welcome, Dad!"
Matthew wiped her feet and then carried her back to the bedroom, not bothering to put on her shoes for her.
The four kids were left to clean up the mess. Boswell and Colman carried the basin together and poured the water into the sink. Damian took the slippers Erica had worn before to her bedside. And Adkins, who was obsessed with cleanliness, threw the towel into another basket.
Erica couldn't be any happier receiving that kind of treatment. In fact, she felt like a queen.
As soon as the four kids finished their chores, they threw themselves on their parents' bed and played with Erica.
This was a habit they had developed in Tow Village. Every night before going to bed, the kids would stay with Erica and chat for a while.
Only now things were a bit different since they had their father with them too!
The children didn't stay in the master bedroom for long, though. Matthew picked up Adkins and Damian in each one of his arms while Boswell held his neck from the front and Colman from behind. Matthew carried the kids towards the door this way and then sent everyone to their rooms simultaneously.
As Adkins had to take a shower every night, he was the last one to be taken back to his bedroom. Thankfully, the servant had already gotten his bath ready for him.
Despite having several servants at his disposal, Matthew had the feeling he had become a bit of a mother after the arrival of his four sons.
Once he was finally back to his bedroom, Erica wasn't there anymore. Assuming that she must have gone after their sons, Matthew headed straight to the shower.
At ten o'clock sharp, all the lights in the four kids' rooms were turned off. After saying good night to each one of them, Erica went back to the master bedroom.
Matthew had been waiting for her for a while. When he saw her coming, he asked casually, "Are they all asleep?"
"Yes."
She walked towards his side of the bed and threw herself into his arms. "Honey, I feel dizzy."
Anxiety flashed through his eyes. "What happened?"
"I drank too much tonight. I guess I'm drunk!" The woman held back a laugh and continued to hug him.
Matthew was speechless. She had only had a small glass of wine during the whole evening, and it had been almost three hours since. How could she still be drunk?
Matthew was sure she had something in mind but didn't question it. Instead, he said cooperatively, "Drink some warm water if you feel dizzy."
"What? Why? Why do I need to drink some warm water if I feel dizzy?"
"Warm water can heal any illness!" he answered.
She pouted her lips. 'That's what a jerk who doesn't care about his wife would say!' "Come on, honey, please give me a massage!"
"A massage?" The man smirked. "Okay." Matthew put down his tablet and lay his wife on the mattress, beginning to caress her body.
The woman was soon screaming with his touch, "No, it's not there! I'm dizzy. Rub my temples!"
Matthew pretended not to hear her protest and went on caressing her.
Naturally, his advances led them to make love. In the end, Erica was lying in the bed, exhausted. "Tomorrow night... I want to sleep with my sons!"
"With whom?"
"Anyone of them." 'As long as I don't need to share a bed with you!' she thought.
The man relentlessly refused, "No way!"
"I will die!"
"Don't worry. You won't die so easily!" At worst, he could give her a night off tomorrow.
Erica was so frustrated. Was this man really her husband?
The next morning, Erica was still asleep when the kids jumped on her bed.
"Shh, Mommy seems tired," Adkins warned.
"You're right. We should leave her alone," agreed Boswell.
"Okay, but first let's give Mom a kiss," suggested Colman.
"We need to be gentle not to wake her up!" said Damian.
After the four kids kissed their mother gently, they ran back to their rooms in their pajamas to wash up.