Everyone, including Julianna, knew that Tessie had lied about what had happened between her and Erica.

Erica didn't want to hold a grudge against Julianna over this issue as she knew that she could put it behind her after Tam and his family left Y City tomorrow.

Erica forced back her tears, turned, and nodded at Julianna. "Thank you for accepting Ethan."

She could now sympathize with Julianna. After all, her father suddenly had a son, and she had a younger brother.

And all this was because her father had an affair with her best friend. Who could accept such a reprehensible relationship? However, Julianna's actions showed that she seemed to have accepted Ethan as her father's son and her baby brother.

Julianna smiled, "Why should you thank me? He is my father's son. I should thank your family for being so kind to him even though they know that he is not your child."

Her reassurance appeared genuine.

Her mother had been pale-faced and dispirited when she had told Julianna about how she had fought with her father when she learned about Ethan. Between sobs, she had said that she didn't want to divorce him.

After all, Tam had been very good to her before. As they had been married for more than twenty years, it was not easy to break up. She wanted to give him another chance.

If her mother could forgive her father, why couldn't she?

Despite her unwillingness, Erica handed Ethan to Julianna. "My baby, go to your...sister!"

Tears welled in his eyes, and Ethan's chubby arms tightened their grip around Erica's neck. He refused to let go.

Seeing that Ethan was about to cry, Tam stepped forward and said, "Let me do it."

As he had spent more time with Ethan than Julianna, Tam believed that Ethan would be more willing to go to him.

Tam removed a corn candy from his pocket and held it in front of Ethan. With a kind smile, he said, "Ethan, here is a candy for you. Come to Dad."

Ethan glanced at Erica, hesitated for a short while, and then stretched a hand toward Tam.

The smile on Tam's face grew as he lifted the little boy in his arms. Seeing that the little boy was about to cry again, he quickly opened the candy and gave it to him. "Good boy, don't cry. Daddy will buy some toys for you, okay?" Tam coaxed as he walked further away from Erica and Julianna.

Complex feelings coursed through the two girls as they watched father and son leave.

Shortly after, Tam informed Erica that they had to return to the Wu Clan's old house to say goodbye to the clan members. It was time for them to leave.

The car engine roared to life, but Ethan seemed distracted by the toys he was playing with while sitting in Julianna's arms. He didn't notice that he was parting from Erica.

Erica's heart shattered when the car pulled away. The anguish of separation ran so deep that she covered her mouth to suppress her sobs.

At a loss about what to do, Watkins' tone was gentle as he comforted her, "Erica, don't cry..."

Tears blurred Erica's sight. As she couldn't see Watkins' face clearly, she closed her eyes. But her tears continued to fall.

Watkins removed a pack of tissues from his car, took out a wipe, and gently dried the tears on Erica's face. "Nowadays, communication and transportation are very developed. It's not difficult to see a person even if they are far away. You can visit Ethan whenever you want."

At that moment, another car pulled into the driveway, but Erica was too overwhelmed with sadness to notice it.

She was still crying when the car stopped near them.

The car door opened and a man stepped out. When the door slammed shut, Erica was shaken from her sorrow.

But tears blurred her vision. She couldn't see much but vaguely guessed that Matthew had returned.

'It must be an illusion, ' she thought.

When the car pulled into the driveway, and Matthew saw Erica and Watkins stand so close to each other, he couldn't wait for the driver to open the door for him. So he pushed the door open and got out of the car.

Watkins, who was wiping Erica's tears, sensed the coldness emanating from the man. He withdrew his hand, smiled politely, and nodded at Matthew.

Matthew was pissed. He felt that he couldn't go on any more business trips as he would find Watkins and Erica together every time he returned.

Last time, he saw Erica apply ointment to Watkins' wound, and this time, he saw the man wipe Erica's tears.

The two were so intimate when alone. Did Erica and Watkins not care for what people would think if they saw them together? And what about Matthew? Did neither worry about his feelings or reputation?

Fury coursed through Matthew at the thought. Just as he was about to speak

Erica grabbed the tissue in Watkins' hand and wiped her tears.

When she saw that Matthew had indeed returned, she ignored his grim expression and threw herself in his arms. Hysterical sobs escaped her lips as she tried to tell him what had happened. "Matthew, Ethan... Ethan left... Boo... hoo... He is moving to Australia!"

As the woman in his arms seemed so anguished, Matthew held back his anger.

After a while, he reached out with his hand and stiffly stroked her hair to comfort her.

His scent and warm embrace, which she was familiar with, were enough to relieve the grievance in her heart. Erica's weeping gradually turned into gentle sobs.

Watkins knew he should leave the couple alone. He pushed his hands deep into the pockets of his jacket and said, "Mr. Huo, Erica, I will leave now."

Erica wanted to raise her head from Matthew's arms, but he pressed her head against his chest so that she couldn't look at Watkins.

With a grim expression, Matthew warned Watkins, "Mr. Chai, please leave as soon as possible. You'd better not appear in front of my wife again."

Watkins was stunned by his harsh tone. As Matthew had misunderstood his relationship with Erica, Watkins decided to explain. "Mr. Huo, you might have mistaken my intentions. I believe Mrs. Huo is lovely, like a little girl. I just want to be friends with her."

"Yes, my wife is cute. But, she is a married woman and carries the Huo family surname. It is not suitable for her to be friends with a single man. Besides, there are many lovely girls in the world. If you want, I can arrange for a dozen of them to be at your service." The man stood still with his wife in his arms. The imperial aura he emitted was beyond the reach of Watkins, a boy who had not yet graduated from university.

Erica wanted to refute Matthew's words, but Matthew didn't allow her to look up.

But then, Watkins conveyed what she wanted to say. "Mr. Huo, you're too overbearing. How can you deprive Erica of the right to make friends? She won't be happy if you keep doing this!"

Erica repeatedly nodded as she agreed with Watkins.

Matthew held her head tightly so that she couldn't raise her head at all. "Mr. Chai, you're wrong. Rika was very happy before she met you. Most importantly, as her husband, I'm responsible for her happiness. A bachelor like you wouldn't understand the fun and romance Erica and I have."

That was a harsh comment, especially his use of the word "bachelor."

As Watkins got in his car, Erica struggled to free herself from Matthew's hold. It was not until the car had disappeared that Matthew let go of the woman in his arms and looked at her indifferently. "Matthew Huo, how could you say that about Watkins?"

"What do you mean?"

"You said that he was a bachelor."

Matthew asked, "Isn't he?"

Erica didn't know how to respond. 'Well, he seems to be unattached. Otherwise, why did he have the time to come to see me?'

Her reaction deepened Matthew's annoyance. Every time he got off the plane, he would go straight home. And every time he reached the villa, he would see her and Watkins. He warned, "Erica!"

"Yes?"

"I'm warning you now. Stay away from Watkins in the future!"

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