Chapter 1157 Heading Home


    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 ir 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 herselffortable.


    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 rx."


    "I don''t think that''s a good idea," answered ir. "You have sses 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 rx."


    "I''m not that busy with sses," 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


    rtionship 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!"


    Atst, pestered by Erica''s various arguments, ir 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 ir 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 n? 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!" Ericained, 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 moreposed. 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 wless, while you have a great many shorings."


    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 tomunicate 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 me you.


    But someday in the future, perhaps then you will understand why your mother and I did what we did.


    And if that day everes, 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.


    ir had been incessantly fretting over Erica before they left the house, reminding her of things.


    "Before you board the ne, don''t forget that Ethan needs his milk form, 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''sing with me. You don''t need to worry about anything."


    "I know, I know," ir had said with a sigh.


    When the three finally arrived at the Pearl Vi 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 me for this


    whole incident.


    ''This is a true man, '' Wesley thought to himself. Stepping forward, he pped his son-inw 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 exined. "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-inw—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-inw. "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 atst.


    With that, the three of them went into the vi together. At first, Erica had nned 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


    Material ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    were his own.


    Laden with luggage, Wesley cast a burning nce at Erica before following his son-inw 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.