"If I could turn back time, I still wouldn't want to marry you." After all, who would be stupid enough to willingly marry a man who didn't Like her and who she didn't like?

Truth be told, though, she had never regretted marrying Matthew except when she was angry.

Matthew's smile fled in an instant. Despite himself, he was a bit hurt by her words. His wife really could be heartless sometimes.

Unwilling to continue the conversation, he disappeared back into the closet.

Some minutes later he emerged, now in his pajamas. It was only then that Erica thought she understood the point of their conversation.

"Did

Phoebe tell you that I bullied Tessie back in school?" she asked at length.

Matthew didn't answer her.

In her eyes, his silence was an admission.

"So, you believe it's true?"

“Not yet." He wouldn't turn against his own wife just because of

Phoebe's words. Phoebe didn't have that much influence on him.

“What do you mean by ‘not yet'?" Erica asked, her heart beginning to sink.

“Because she's given me no evidence except for her word."

The girl continued, "So if she shows you some evidence, then you'll believe her?"

Matthew answered with a question of his own.

“If there is solid evidence of something, shouldn't I believe it?"

Erica was speechless at first. He was right, of course. She didn't believe a person's word was enough to prove a case; nobody did.

“Well, you're going to be disappointed," she told him.

“Phoebe can spend her life scouring the campus, and she'll never find evidence of any violence, let alone anything bad to do with me. Besides, I'm telling you the truth. I have never bullied Tessie. Phoebe was just jealous that I've become your wife, so she wanted to drive a wedge between us. So next time you see her, remember to tell her that if she has a problem with me, she can just come straight to me; she doesn't need to go tattling to you. Tell her to be brave, not a coward!"

‘Humph!' Erica snorted in her mind. Even the mere mention of Phoebe could bring out her rebellious side Like nothing else.

Her mind was made up that they would be enemies in the future! But to be exact, they were rivals in love!

‘Matthew, you can just wait and see how I trample on this meddler," thought Erica.

She had no doubt that Phoebe also wanted to marry Matthew and to have him to herself. But Erica wouldn't Let that woman's wish come true; she was Mrs. Hilton, and she would not let that status go for anything.

Matthew gracefully rolled up his sleeves, revealing one of his arms, the blue veins on which were partly visible.