True Love Waits novel Chapter 1354

When Tessie and Erica returned, Owen was sitting in the dimly-lit yard and playing on his cell phone. When he saw them, he stood and greeted them.

Erica had wanted Tessie to meet Matthew, but she was afraid of the man. And so, after much insistence, Erica let her friend retire to her room. She figured it might be better if the two met each other the next morning.

After bidding Tessie good night, she walked to the door to her bedroom and pushed it open. Matthew was sitting on the chair in her room, waiting for her.

When he saw his wife enter, the worry niggling at his heart gradually disappeared.

Erica ran forward and hugged the man who was sitting upright. "Matthew, why haven't you slept yet?"

He sat motionless and let her hold him, but he did not respond.

Erica didn't mind his attitude. After all, she hadn't seen him in years. And, he had just saved her from Pike and his men. She glanced at him and asked, "How about we go to bed now?"

It was late, and after all the events that had transpired, she was exhausted.

However, Matthew said flatly, "I'm hungry."

"What?" she exclaimed. She scratched the back of her head. It was late at night, and her kitchen was quite bare. What was she going to feed her husband? Finally, she stuttered, "I...I can cook noodles. Is that okay?"

'She can cook noodles?' Matthew shook his head. "I'm afraid your cooking will poison me."

"Okay. Then perhaps I can ask Tessie to cook for you. She is good. Your sons always enjoy meals prepared by her," Erica offered. She had volunteered to make him a bowl of noodles, but he didn't seem to trust her culinary abilities.

'Let Tessie do it? Never!' The man pinched the bridge of his nose and ordered, "You can make the noodles!"

'Me?' Erica was stunned with how quickly Matthew had changed his mind. "Aren't you afraid of getting poisoned?"

"Cut the crap and do as I say!" Whatever little patience Matthew had left seemed to have disappeared. He glared at his wife as he waited for her reaction.

"Okay, okay, I'll do it right now!" Erica ignored his tantrum, turned and ran out of the room.

Their kitchen was small, but it was spotless and orderly because Tessie would clean it every day.

Erica placed the water to boil before hunting for dried noodles in the cupboard. Then, guided by the beam of her flashlight, she scoured the corner of the yard for some vegetables. On the way back, she found a few mushrooms that Tessie had placed on the shelf to dry.

Curious, Owen followed her into the kitchen. After looking around the small shabby space, he couldn't help asking, "Mrs. Huo, why did you choose to stay here? This place is so..." He had inquired about the village before bringing Mr. Huo here. He hadn't believed the reports. But now that he was here, Owen could see that it was not much better than the slum.

While washing the vegetables, Erica raised her head and answered with a smile, "Technology in big cities is advanced. I was afraid that I would be caught on surveillance cameras less than two days after my escape and then be taken home!" Such a premature return would ruin all her plans.

After careful consideration, Erica had decided that only a poor and backward village, where even the phone signal was weak, would be a safe place to hide from Matthew and her family.

Owen had to admit that sometimes Erica was quite smart.

She threw the washed vegetables into a clean basin, tilted her head, and thought for a while. "Owen, I'll find a place where you and the others can sleep in a little while. We don't have the luxuries that you and the others are accustomed to. So, please make do with what I can offer."

"Thank you, Mrs. Huo. I'm not picky," Owen replied as casually as possible. Since his boss hadn't grumbled about this place, he didn't dare to complain.

Back in Y City, it was Owen's job to do odd jobs for Matthew. He, thus, felt very uncomfortable standing by while Erica was cooking. And so, he offered, "Mrs. Huo, let me help you."

"No, I'm good. Just wait outside. The noodles will be ready soon!" Erica replied with a smile. About ten minutes later, the noodles were ready.

Just as Owen was about to say something, he heard his boss summoning him. "Owen," Matthew called out.