He genuinely believed what he had said before-she didn't need to do anything. She brought him happiness simply by being with him.

“Matthew, you indulge her too much! She will cause serious trouble in the future!" Phoebe had never been bold enough to speak this way in

Matthew's presence. This was the first time, and perhaps, the last.

“Why is it wrong to indulge my wife? Can't I take responsibility for her actions? Phoebe, Erica didn't cause your miscarriage, and even if she did, I would not let anything happen to her!" If he couldn't bear responsibility for such a trifle matter, he didn't deserve Erica.

The woman on the bed shook her head in disbelief and murmured, "This can't be happening! Matthew, I've loved you for six years. How can you do this to me?"

After all these years, in the end, she got nothing but the status of a married woman.

"Six years? So what?' Matthew thought. The years he had harbored feelings for Erica were... It had been so long that he couldn't even remember!

She had attracted his attention from the very beginning. Perhaps those early days didn't count as he hadn't developed feelings for her then.

A few years ago, Wesley brought Erica to the Hilton family manor, and that was when Matthew began to like her. He thought he had fallen in love with her only after their engagement.

It was possible that he became infatuated with her earlier, so early that he couldn't be sure when it began. Irrespective of the time, Erica was a capable woman who had stolen his heart at such a young age.

“You are a vicious woman. You killed your child. That was Nathan's only child. I won't let you get away without facing the consequences of your actions! You are fortunate as this is not the right time to ask you to leave Alorith. But, I'm warning you. Pray for yourself, and don't ever mess with Erica again!"

‘What? He is going to force me out of Alorith?' Fear coursed through

Phoebe at the thought. She didn't want to be reduced to living in a slum as Tessie had been. She begged the man with tear-filled eyes,

“Matthew... Let's be friends, okay? Just Like old times..."

Before Matthew could say anything, the phone in his pocket vibrated.

It was Erica.

When she learned that he had gone to the hospital, Erica had been so consumed with anxiety that she had paced the room hundreds of times.

After much deliberation, she finally dialed his number. Once the call connected, she ordered, “Come back!"

“What's wrong?" Matthew asked.

Erica glimpsed at the nearest window. It was still bright outside, too early to go to bed. But Erica didn't care about the time. She insisted,

"It's time to come home and make a baby with me!"

She wasn't ready to be a mother yet. But, she made the offer as she just didn't want him to see Phoebe.

Matthew froze. Too tempted to refuse, he strode out of the ward without giving Phoebe a parting glance.

The drive to the villa usually took him half an hour, but he arrived in less than twenty minutes!

Pretending to sulk, he playfully scolded the woman, "You've started ordering me around now. I have to rush back home as soon as I get your phone call. You're getting bolder, woman.”