Love’s New Bloom By Simone Hastings - Season 1 Episode 84

Erin was a tad shocked as she had expected him to send her straight home.

“Where to?”

Matthew had removed his mask and flashed her an enigmatic smile. “My recording studio.”

Erin glanced at her wristwatch, looking uncertain.

“If you do not wish to go, I’ll send you home right away,” Matthew offered.

The hint of disappointment in his voice had Erin reluctant to decline his invitation. She thought that since she didn’t need to go to work the next day, she might as well go along with his plan.

Matthew sped up happily when Erin agreed to go with him. “Drive slower, Matthew. We’ve got low visibility due to the rain. Better to be safe than sorry.” Erin was worried.

He gave her a sidelong glance as the corners of his lips lifted. “Sure, whatever you say.”

The adoration in Matthew’s eyes made Erin feel awkward, so she turned to look out the window. Her heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.

Out of nowhere, Erin suddenly said, “I would like to apologize to you for what my cousin did.”

“That’s all in the past. I’ve almost forgotten about it already. Besides, you shouldn’t be the one apologizing when she’s the one who’s done something wrong.”

Matthew spoke calmly, but Erin could tell from his tone that he felt an aversion towards May and her actions.

A long silence followed throughout the ride as Matthew drove to his recording studio.

When his sports car entered a housing estate, a hint of anxiety crept up on Erin. She had assumed that his recording studio would be in a high–rise building in some commercial district, or a proper studio at least. It had never occurred to her that it would be in a housing estate.

And most importantly, this was the neighborhood she used to live in and was exactly where Ian’s mansion was located. How awkward…

“You have your recording studio here?” She asked.

Matthew had just taken a turn into the premise of a mansion. He parked the car and removed the keys from the ignition before turning to Erin, saying, “Yes, this is a mansion I own here. But because I rarely ever stay here, I’ve converted it into my recording studio.”

Erin’s smile was stiff. “Oh, I see…”

“You don’t seem too happy about this?” Matthew asked earnestly.

“No, it’s not that…” Erin was quick to deny it, waving her hand hurriedly.

Matthew stopped to consider her reaction and suddenly recalled something. He looked at her apologetically. “Erin, I’m really sorry! It totally slipped my mind that your ex–husband stays here too.”

As if to prove that Ian no longer affected her emotions, she smiled and said, “That’s alright. Don’t worry about it. Let’s go on in.”

“Okay then. I just thought that I’d show you my recording studio. If you like, you can even sing a few songs too!” Matthew gushed excitedly.

The thunderstorm had stopped by the time they arrived at the mansion, so they walked in together.

The instant Matthew shut the door, a white van pulled up by the roadside, right outside the mansion.

A short while later, two men with cameras and long lenses emerged.

1/3

Hans stayed put in his car the entire time. However, a man came out of a black BMW a short distance away.

It was lan Sloan. He had just come out from the management office when a blue sports car sped past him. Though it passed him by in a blur, he caught a glimpse of Erin in the passenger seat. He now stood outside the mansion, eyeing the place with indescribable frustration.

All along, he had thought that Chandler Frost was his only and greatest competitor. But as he received more and more information from the private investigator, he found out about Caleb Grant, Matthew Burgess, and Eugene Hall’s existence.

The private investigator had yet to provide concrete evidence, but just the photos of Erin in close proximity to those three men were enough to irk him so much that he lost sleep over it. He watched coldly as the iron gates rolled shut. Then, he immediately whipped out his phone and called Erin.

The moment the call got through, Ian wasted no time telling her, “There are paparazzi lying in wait outside Matthew’s mansion right now, Erin. You are bound to get your photos taken when he sends you out! The photos of both of you circulating online had stirred up quite a storm back then. Had Matthew not spoken up to clarify things, it would have spiraled out of hand! If you’re caught being together again this time, your life might be in danger!”

Erin had deliberately gone into the washroom to pick up the call so that Matthew would not hear it.

“Why do you say that?” Erin had a bad premonition. Ian might exaggerate things at times, but it didn’t feel like he was fooling around this time.

Ian answered impassively. “Matthew’s too popular! He has die–hard fans all over the globe these days! Some of his crazed fans even made statements online saying that they’ll end themselves if it was ever found that he’s really having any form of intimate relationship with you! I know that you don’t really pay attention to the internet, but I’m just telling you what I chanced upon.”

Erin was stupefied. “Such fans exist?”

Ian scoffed. “Nothing’s impossible. It might sound crazy to you, but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. These crazed fans will do anything! They will pay exorbitant prices to buy information on celebrities‘ schedules and find out their exact whereabouts. Remember, they are in the dark, and you are in the light. You’ll never know if and when they might just attack you. This is a potential risk! If you trust me, leave Matthew’s mansion and come with me right now! Even if the paparazzi get any photos, the only photos they will get are of both of us. They won’t be able to fabricate lies about you and Matthew with them.”

Ian spoke seriously the entire time, and Erin felt that there was no reason for him to make things up. Putting herself in Matthew’s shoes, she ruminated over things for a while before coming to a decision. “Alright, I’ll go inform Matthew about this now. Where are you?”

“I’m right outside Matthew’s mansion.”

“See you in a bit then.” Erin stashed her phone away in her pocket and left the washroom for the living room.

Matthew had just poured her a glass of juice and some water. Erin looked at him.

What Ian had told her were just speculations, but she could not rule out the possibility of it happening. She wasn’t planning. on telling Matthew what she just learned, so all she told him was that something had cropped up and that she needed to go back urgently.

Matthew was taken aback. “What happened?”

“It’s not a big deal. My cousin just called me. I need to go back now.”

Seeing that Erin wasn’t about to go into details, he did not probe.

He simply picked his car keys off the table and said, “Alright, I’ll send you back now.”

“That won’t be necessary!”

Her instant rejection put Matthew on the spot. His smile froze into an unnatural arc. “Do you really not need me to give you a lift? How will you go back then?”

“I…I just called for a taxi. It’s already waiting outside. You really do not need to send me back.”

Erin had already picked up her bag and went toward the door. Matthew followed after her in long strides as he said helplessly, “Well, let me see you out the door at least.”

Erin couldn’t find it in her to say no when she saw the dejection in his eyes. “Alright then.”

Ian stood outside the mansion as he watched Erin and Matthew step out together. From the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the paparazzi hiding in a well–hidden location. A scheming glint flashed in his eyes. “Erin.” Ian waved at her.

Matthew felt a burst of irritation within him when he saw Ian. Her ex–husband was lying in wait right outside his mansion! He pressed a button, and the gates opened automatically. Ian came forward nonchalantly, and Erin walked naturally in his

direction.

“He…” Erin did not know how she should explain Ian’s presence.

Matthew said disdainfully, “There’s no need to explain. I know who he is. He’s your cheating ex–husband!”

Ian heard every word Matthew said. But he didn’t seem to be affected by it, at least not on the surface. He simply chuckled. ” Erin, your friend here is standing up for you. But he’s right. I was in the wrong, to begin with.”