"I was with Rhea and Hyatt," she answered.

“What did you do?"

“We went shopping, had hotpot and hit a bar. Then we came back," Erica answered honestly.

“Who drove you back?" asked Matthew.

"Oh, it was Watkins!"

There was another uncomfortable silence. Then Matthew continued, "Did you drink together?"

"Yes," she told him.

"Rhea and I had some beer and a cocktail. We're not drunk! Don't worry!"

Her cheery, light tone of voice did nothing to ease Matthew's concerns.

"Don't worry?' he thought to himself. 'I am on a business trip abroad.

How can I rest easy after hearing that some other man drank with my wife and drove her home?'

In his sternest voice he ordered, "Stay away from that Watkins from now on. Don't go to dinner with him!"

“What's wrong?" Erica wondered if he was jealous. The way she saw it, he shouldn't have been.

Matthew was incensed by his wife's obtuseness. How could she not see the problem here? “Listen to me. As Mrs. Hilton, do you think it's appropriate for you to have dinner with another man?"

“Well...I don't know if it's exactly appropriate," Erica said noncommittally.

"But he and I are just friends. A clean hand wants no washing."

Matthew didn't want to talk to Erica anymore. He could see that he wasn't getting through to her, and now he needed some time to calm himself down.

"Go to bed early," he said in a strained tone.

“Well, all right." Erica frowned. ‘Why is he hanging up so soon?’ she wondered. ‘I haven't even told him about Ethan yet. He must just be too tired to keep talking.'

Seeing her put her phone away, Rhea couldn't help but ask, "Was that your husband?"

“Yeah.”

“Does he know that Watkins took us back?"

Erica glared down at the pavement.

“Yes. He just told me to not have dinner with Watkins, and to stay away from him from now on. Don't I deserve to have friends?" Making friends in Alorith was not easy for her. And now that she'd finally found one, Matthew had immediately objected to it.

Rhea rolled her eyes at the sky.