True Love Waits novel Chapter 1234

Erica looked at the villa and said, "Rhea and I just arrived at the gate of the villa. We haven't gone in yet."

Matthew was about to answer when he heard a man's voice come over the line. "Erica, Rhea, I'm leaving now! Go get some good rest!"

"Okay, thank you! Bye!" That was Erica. Though she had reflexively covered the speaker with her hand, Matthew was still able to hear and discern that it was a man who had spoken to her.

Meanwhile, Watkins was about to get into his car, but stopped as though he'd suddenly remembered something. Seemingly not noticing that Erica was on the phone, he came over and told her, "You know, I've always wanted to invite you to dinner, but I never got the chance. Now that we've friended each other on WeChat, I'll contact you and invite you to a proper dinner sometime soon."

Holding her phone low beside her body, Erica answered, "Okay. But look, it doesn't matter if you're too busy..."

"No, I'm not busy. I haven't had many classes to deal with lately," he said quickly, and then broke off. "Look, we should both be going. It's too cold outside, and it'll be colder tomorrow. Remember to dress warm!" Saying this, Watkins half-raised his arms as though to give her a hug goodbye. However, he remembered that she was married and thought better of it.

Erica pretended not to notice and smiled at him pleasantly. "Oh, I will. Thank you, goodbye!"

Watkins turned and hurried off, leaving Erica to breathe a sigh of relief. Remembering that she was still on the phone with her husband, she brought it back up to her ear. "Hello, Matthew, haven't you gone to bed yet?"

For a moment there was only silence. Fearing the call was disconnected, Erica glanced at the phone's screen to find that it wasn't. "Hello? Are you busy now?"

Matthew's voice came through at last, cold as the air. "No, I'm not. Who's that you were just hanging out with?"

Erica shivered and held onto Rhea's arm as they started toward the villa. "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. Huo, 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 Y City 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. "What are you talking about? Rika, you silly girl! Mr. Huo is being jealous! Can't you see it?"

'He is being jealous?' This idea flashed through Erica's mind, but didn't stay there long. "No, he's not," she said. "That's impossible. He doesn't love me! How could he be jealous because of me?" The best she could say about herself and Matthew was that he didn't hate her. Maybe he even sort of liked her, but surely there was no love there.

For her part, Rhea really wanted to open Erica's skull to see if there was brain in it. "Let's not talk about whether he loves you or not. Listen, all men are keen when it comes to saving face. His wife was just sent home by another man. Believe me, he is angry!"