Chapter 199 Only a Clean Heart Can Accommodate People
Erica's number popped up on his phone, and each ring felt like a death sentence hammering into Maddox's head.
He thought to himself, was she not satisfied with cursing him out on WhatsApp and now calling to continue?
At least she was acknowledging him. Even getting yelled at was better than being ignored.
One second before hitting answer, Maddox saw a message synced to WhatsApp on his computer.
Leopold: [I told you to act like you're crying over missing her. Work up some emotion.]
"Maddox." Erica's aggressive voice came through the receiver.
Maddox instantly switched to a tearful tone, "What?"
Hearing his heavily nasal voice, Erica paused, asking suspiciously, "What's wrong with you?"
Her softened voice meant there was hope.
Maddox seized the opportunity, sniffling to put on a show of forced strength, "Nothing."
Erica figured he was mostly acting. They knew each other well—he shouldn't put on a show in front of her.
"Maddox, you know what I hate most in men?"
"What?"
Erica said, "Crying all the time. It's annoying to listen to."
She didn't believe he wouldn't give himself away.
Maddox was about to explain he was faking it when he suddenly realized Erica might be testing him.
He paused strategically, grabbed a tissue to blow his nose. Erica listened on the other end, waiting for him to finish before he picked up the phone again. Maddox said, "You done? If not, I'm hanging up."
Erica was stunned.
Acting like a wronged little wife, he somehow deflated the anger she'd been holding for days.
"Maddox, what's this about? I call you and you're putting on an act? You're not that flirty guy anymore?"
"I'm not, I'm not." Maddox looked out the window awkwardly, this time genuinely emotional. "Erica, please forgive me. I admit when she sent those photos, I did look at them a few times, but I really didn't want anything physical to happen with them, really. I swear on my life, really. If you don't believe me, check my phone however you want, whenever you want. Just let me off this once."
This whole conflict was Maddox's fault. Last year, while skiing, he met a girl who didn't know how to ski. Seeing she was young and pretty, he offered to teach her, holding her hands and helping her ski for half the day.
The girl thought he was handsome and nice, so she asked to add him on WhatsApp. After they parted, they never contacted each other again, and Maddox almost forgot about her.
But last week, this girl suddenly said she was visiting Seaside City with her friend to help her get over a breakup. Then she sent photos of two girls in sexy swimsuits at a pool—very suggestive photos.
Anyone would be tempted by those photos, Maddox included. He probably only zoomed in to look at them thirty or forty times.
He didn't have dirty intentions—he just figured since the two girls were visiting from out of town and didn't know anyone, he'd be hospitable, treat them to a meal, maybe pay for some attraction tickets. Just being a good host.
He'd just gotten to this point when Erica showed up at the office. Maddox happened to be sitting on the couch with his back to the door. Erica wanted to surprise him, so she tiptoed up behind him. Just as she was about to cover his eyes, she saw the shocking content on WhatsApp.
The girl said: [My friend and I are running low on money, and she just broke up, she's really down and just wants to get away. How about this—you cover our travel expenses, and we'll keep you company for a few days?]
She was pretty forward with her words, but who could handle that? Whether he had money or not, Maddox wouldn't dare do something that crazy. Sleeping with two strange girls? Was he looking to die? Plus he had Erica now, but even without Erica, he couldn't be that reckless.
Before he could reply, his phone was snatched away.
It really startled Maddox. He turned to see Erica glaring at him coldly, looking like she wanted to kill him. He broke out in a cold sweat, barely able to speak properly.
"Erica, I, I, I didn't... I didn't." The more panicked Maddox got, the more he stuttered. "I, I, I didn't do anything, I didn't agree."
Erica's face was cold as she scrolled up through the chat history. Maddox remembered the wet swimsuit photos above and swung his long legs over the couch to grab his phone. "Let me explain."
Erica raised a finger, "You stand right there. Don't move."
Maddox froze like he'd been hit with a paralysis spell, watching her open the photos of the two girls. He swallowed hard, waiting for his judgment.
Actually, being with Erica, even with all their bickering, had been pretty fun. But this time was different.
After reading everything, Erica was very calm and handed back his phone.
"Maddox, I thought too highly of you. Let's just call it quits."
"Don't," Maddox grabbed her and pressed her onto the couch. "Sit down, sit down, don't get worked up, let me explain."
Maddox kept insisting he was shocked when he saw the message too. "Really, when she said that I was scared. Even if she dared suggest it, I wouldn't dare go. Who knows if it's safe?"
"What did you say?" Erica frowned, a deep crease between her brows. "Still saying you didn't think about it? You even thought about the safety issue, and you're saying you didn't think about it? Afraid of getting dirty? Just wear a condom, don't let yourself die of frustration."
Maddox slapped himself. "My big mouth, that's not what I meant. I meant, she's willing, but I'm not. I have you, what would I want with her? What part of you isn't bigger than hers?"
Erica's eyes flashed sharply. "Get lost! You're comparing me to them! I'll kick you to death!"
She stood up and kicked Maddox in the shin. He clutched his leg in pain, grimacing. "I really didn't think anything, I was about to refuse, but before I could send it, you grabbed my phone."
Erica didn't want to hear his explanations anymore and headed for the door. Maddox chased after her but was pushed back by Erica.
She looked into Maddox's eyes and said, "Maddox, from when we met until now, you should know what kind of person I am. I'm not casual. I can't just adapt to any man. When fate comes and feelings develop, I don't resist. I'm open and serious about dating. The day we got together, we agreed—no one does shady stuff. But what are you doing now?"
Erica pointed at his phone. "I believe only a clean heart can let someone in. But yours,"
She poked his chest where his heart was, "is almost overloaded."
She said "let's just end it" and left.
From that day on, Maddox kept begging Erica to forgive him. He sent a rejection message to that girl, screen-recorded himself deleting her WhatsApp, and sent all the videos and screenshots to Erica to prove he really had no contact with them and would never contact them again.
He'd been trying to make up with her for a week, but Erica ignored him. If it weren't for Leopold's idea, Erica probably still wouldn't be talking to him.
The receiver was quiet. Maddox pleaded, "Erica, never again, I really won't dare."
This past week, Erica had been calming down and thinking too. She was considering whether to continue her relationship with Maddox.
He was too attractive to women. When they went out, sometimes when she wasn't around, people would try to get his contact info. She'd deliberately hidden and watched—Maddox refused them all, which showed he had some principles at his core.