Carlos jumped to his feet in anxiety. His heart broke when he saw how upset Erica was. Concern reflected in his tone as he asked, "Rika, what's wrong? Please don't cry! Tell me everything. Did Matthew bully you?"

Without giving anyone a chance to speak, he turned, glared at his son, and roared, "Don't you know that Rika is pregnant with two babies now? Why are you upsetting her? This kind of stress is bad for her and the babies. Are you out of your mind?"

Matthew cast a cold glance at him and thought, 'She's wronged me, not the other way around. The only reason you support her is that she's better at complaining.

Sure enough, as the saying goes, babies who cry to manipulate their parents get whatever they want.'

Since Carlos' back was turned to her, Erica smiled smugly before making a face at Matthew, whose eyes almost popped out. When Carlos turned to face Erica and express his concern for her, she resumed her aggrieved expression.

Matthew's frustration grew when he witnessed how his wife had tricked him. As he couldn't say anything in front of his parents, he gave her a thumbs up.

Debbie, who didn't see what Erica had done either, slapped her son's hand away, and reproached, "What are you doing? Rika, tell me, what did Matthew do to you? I'll punish him." 'How dare Matthew bully my daughter-in-law?' she thought angrily.

"Yes, tell us." Carlos patted her shoulder.

Erica glanced at Matthew, as though she were scared. Seeing her like this, Carlos wished he could beat Matthew. "Rika, don't be afraid of him. We're here. You're safe."

Matthew rolled his eyes. He couldn't believe how easily she had duped his parents. 'I should take her to bed and teach her a lesson!'

Erica held Debbie's arm and began to tell her in-laws what had happened. Of all the things they had thought she would say about Matthew, they were not expecting what she shared. With a deep sigh, she said, "Dad, Mom, Matthew is protecting his mistress!"

"What?" Debbie exclaimed. She was so stunned that she almost fell off the sofa. 'My son has a mistress?'

Carlos frowned as he processed what Erica had shared. 'Does Matthew wish for death?' His intense gaze fell on his silent son. "Rika, go on," he said through gritted teeth. If what she said were true, he would skin Matthew alive!

Erica could feel the anger radiating from Carlos. It suddenly dawned on her that perhaps this wasn't her best idea. After all, if Carlos became too angry, it

ate and supportive of her.

After comforting Erica, the Huo family sat down for dinner. Eventually, Carlos went out despite the late hour.

In the tea room of a big house, two men were drinking tea. The man in a Chinese tunic suit poured a cup of freshly-brewed hot tea for Carlos. "Mr. Huo, are you at odds with your son?"

The middle-aged man was candid and forthright.

So was Carlos. He took a sip of his tea and answered, "Yes. My son thinks he has grown up enough to defy me and be disobedient."

"Ha-ha, your son is just like you. If I do as you say, he will be offended, and then, I'm sure he'll find a way to back at me. Mr. Huo, please try talking to your son. Don't make things difficult for me!" the man said with a bitter smile.

As he was the most powerful person in the court system of Y City, Matthew had approached him to hold off Phoebe's case.

"I'm not talking to him. I'm asking for your help!" Carlos exclaimed. He was afraid that if he were forced into the same room as Matthew, he would lose his temper and whip his son.

The man put down his teacup and said, "Mr. Huo, you're his father. You know your son better than anyone else. I can't afford to offend either of you! Alas, you've put me in a dilemma!"

Carlos wasn't offended that the man had refused to aid him. On the contrary, with a faint smile, he assured, "You don't have to be so stressed. The problem arose as my son and daughter-in-law are at odds. You know what kind of person Matthew is. He won't compromise, nor will he be submissive before his wife. I want to teach him a lesson. He needs to learn that a man should do as his wife says."