“Mom, you're dead wrong!" Erica looked up to face her mother. Blair was changing the bed sheets, never missing a beat. Her daughter corrected her earnestly.

"Mom, I apologized to Matthew every time it was my fault. What more do you want?"

But Blair didn't see it that way.

"I really don't believe you."

Erica felt helpless.

"I'm telling the truth, Mom. Just like Last time when we were on a business trip to Skiyton, I followed him all the way and apologized endlessly. He finally forgave me because I was sick!"

Blair denied her explanation right off.

"Matthew's not an unreasonable man. I'm sure your apology was less than sincere."

‘What? Mom, how could you say a thing like that?’ Erica rolled her eyes when her mom was looking elsewhere.

Carlos and Debbie stayed in the Leonard family's house for a couple nights. On the last day of their visit, Erica came back to the hospital for a checkup. After making sure that the baby in her belly was safe and sound, the four of them took a private plane back to Alorith.

In Alorith

Debbie had floated the idea of letting Erica live in the Hilton family's manor, but Matthew nixed that idea. He took Erica back to their own villa. He'd hired several maids to take care of her.

He didn't want anyone to disturb him or his wife. Even his parents couldn't promise that. The maids could sleep on the first floor. A skeleton night crew was put in place as well. If anything happened, they could be upstairs at a moment's notice

Two days after returning from her parent's place, Erica resumed her studies.

Matthew's original plan was to hire tutors for her to learn at home, but she turned him down. What fun would that be, staying home every day? That would be too boring, so she decided to attend classes like a normal student.

The pregnancy didn't change Erica's basic nature, though maybe she was a little less stubborn than she usually was

Yes, just a little.

She still did many of the same things she always did. She continued to stop by that Little snack shop and bought spicy and sour rice noodles

Matthew would never approve, so she wouldn't tell him. She also still got into it with this or that classmate, so she'd spend time humiliating them.

When Matthew finally trusted her enough, she grabbed Hyatt and visited a fellow student.

In the school library

The three sat at a round table, all face to face. The girl opposite

Erica and Hyatt was understandably nervous. What did Erica want with her?

This girl was a senior, and was an art major.

Without beating around the bush, Erica showed her some pictures on her phone.