"Gifford! What are you playing at? You're really clueless, you know that?" Instead of getting down from Matthew, Erica held him even more tightly. Her head cocked to one side, she retorted, "Besides, you kissed Chantel in front of your soldiers! Everyone knows that! Why can't I share a public display of affection with my own husband? I think you're jealous of me because I have someone. But Chantel's too far away to hold!"

Her words made Matthew laugh.

Gifford wanted to say something back, but he couldn't think of anything sharp enough. Erica was too good with the comebacks, and her words often stung! He had to threaten her, "You shut up! Did you forget where you are? This is a military installation—I'm in command here! What if I order you to run twenty kilometers with a five-kilo pack? Could you do it?"

Matthew held the woman in his arms tightly and told Gifford in a calm voice, "You're right. Rika's been a bad girl. But between you and me, we were supposed to teach her how to behave. We're responsible for this. So maybe we should be punished together."

'Together?' Gifford was not afraid of the twenty-kilometer run. He was afraid Matthew had spoiled Erica and never set any boundaries. "You gave her everything she wanted, and how did she thank you? She ran off for more than three years without so much as a word. Next time might be even worse. You sure you still want to spoil her without a care in the world?" He was afraid that if Matthew continued to mollycoddle her like that, this woman would really become a problem.

Erica glared at her brother. It was obvious what he was trying to do. "Gifford, you are such a dick! If I hadn't asked Chantel to come back, where would you be now? But now, when you see me with my husband, you start stirring up shit. See if I do anything for you again!"

Matthew scooped her up into his arms and said slowly, "You're right, of course. I won't make the same mistake twice!"

"What?" She was so sad.

Gifford suddenly felt a little guilty. Did he really drive a wedge between them?

However, what the man said next blew Gifford away again. "But you all have to spoil her. I'm the only one who can reign her in. Anyone tries, then they're going to have to go through me." Then his eyes

ed man and asked, "Where is Owen going?"

Matthew looked up at her and asked instead, "How's your training going?"

"I guess it's going okay. It's just so boring!" Because she had learned some martial arts in the past and was used to exercising, they didn't wear her out too much. In addition, the training officer was kind to her, so she didn't have to do the grueling regimen the others were subjected to.

"That's good!" As he said those words, he pulled her into his arms with his right hand.

Then she was pressed against the back seat, and he was on top of her.

She blinked and looked at her husband. She knew exactly what he had in mind, and it didn't matter whether she was in the mood or not. "Uh...I thought we were stopping for lunch? What's going on?"

"We are stopping for lunch. And you're on the menu!" He lowered his head and kissed her red lips.

Erica was dumbfounded. 'What kind of lunch is this?'

Erica had already thrown the camouflage cap aside. Now with her hair separated into two braids, she looked as young as a teenager. This made him feel a bit guilty about having sex with her.

Gritting his teeth, Matthew grabbed her camouflage cap and pulled it down over her face. The guilt in his heart diminished some.

They made love for a long time.

When he finally was finished, she opened one of her eyes and looked at the man who was busy mopping up the mess. She tried to say something to him, but her voice was a hoarse whisper. "Matthew Huo, you're crazy!"