Ch. 11..20
A Spoonful of Sugar: Don’t Beg for Love Chapter 11
Rickard stepped forward abruptly and grabbed Julian by his collar. “Hesper is a member of the Duvals, and she will be with the Duvals even if she dies. Trying to get her to start her life again? Dream on!”
As he was speaking, he swung a punch at Julian’s face ferociously.
Hesper watched the scene incredulously. “Rickard! Have you lost your mind? Why are you beating him?”
Rickard grew even more furious after noticing how she defended Julian. “Why? Does it hurt you to watch?”
As he was speaking, he threw a few more punches.
Julian was a practicing doctor, so he was no match for Rickard. His face bruised and swelled up from the beating quickly.
“Stop it! Stop it, quick!”
Hesper’s eyes reddened with anger. Julian was the family that she did not have much of in the world, but he was beaten up ferociously by Rickard now.
“Rickard, if you hit him one more time, you can forget about working on grandfather’s matter together!” Hesper stretched her arms and defended Julian in anger.
Upon hearing her remark, the furious man gradually stopped.
Rickard narrowed his eyes in a dangerous manner. “What did you say?”
Hesper did not wish to threaten Rickard with Mr. Duval Sr., but there was nothing else she could do to stop him from hitting Julian. She could only brace herself to say, “Rickard, you can come at me if you hate me, don’t implicate others! I’m only staying with the Duvals for the sake of grandfather’s health. I’m not staying so your family can treat me inhumanely!”
“Good, very well. You’ve learned to talk back.” Rickard’s eyes were bloodshot from anger, and the veins on the back of his hands throbbed. He kicked over a rack next to him. “Hesper, how dare you threaten me for this man!”
“Who do you think you are, and how dare you!”
Rickard stretched out his arms in an attempt to grab her out of rage.
However, as soon as Rickard moved, Julian used his body to shield Hesper and wrapped his arms around her.
Rickard’s anger soared to its max when witnessing the scene. In fact, he felt like he wanted to tear up the people before him so he could let them experience the consequences of going against him.
“What’s going on?”
Juniper’s voice was heard coming from the door.
Rickard turned around and glanced at her. “Why are you here?”
Juniper was startled by the sight of the anger in his bloodshot eyes, but she feigned her calmness with great effort and said, “I went to meet Sophia at the Duvals’ residence and heard that Hesper was hospitalized, so I came to visit her with some healthy snacks.”
As she was speaking, she raised the box in her hands to show him.
The snacks in the box were all of superior quality food; she brought it to showcase her gentleness and thoughtfulness.
Rickard sneered. “That’s very kind of you, but it’s a shame that she doesn’t deserve it.”
“Huh, what do you mean?”
Juniper appeared to be dumbfounded, but in reality, she heard the loud quarrel from outside.
Rickard did not wish to continue fussing over the matter anymore, so he turned around nonchalantly and said, “Nothing. Let’s go.”
Juniper followed after him obediently and willingly.
Julian loosened his grip over Hesper and noticed that there was a blood backflow in the infusion tube on her arm. Her blood filled the whole tube, turning it bright red.
“Lie down, Hesper!”
Hesper was in pain as well, but she held back from talking about it earlier.
When everything was settled down, she said to Julian with fatigue, “I’m sorry that I got you beaten up for no reason earlier, Ian.”
“I’m fine. This trivial injury is nothing for a man. You, on the other hand… Is this how Rickard treats you at home too?”
Hesper turned her face to the side and did not answer.
How would he treat me like this at home?
At home, Rickard ignores me as if I don’t exist. He disregards my concern and favor, and doesn’t even look me in the eyes.
“B*st*rd!” Julian was furious. “Who was the woman earlier? Was she his mistress?”
“No, she’s Juniper Wight…” Hesper told him about the situation briefly before she said in all apparent seriousness in the end, “I know that you care about me, Ian, but I’m scared of Rickard bearing grudges against you, so it would be best if you could stay away from me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re my sister! How could I possibly not care about you?” Julian patted her shoulder and said sincerely, “Listen to my advice, Hesper. Your place is not with the Duval family or with Rickard. Will you leave him?”
“I know. Just hold on. We’ll get a divorce once grandfather has recovered.”
Julian, rendered speechless, heaved a sigh.
It did not take long before Rickard’s assistant came rushing over suddenly.
“Mrs. Duval, is my boss here?”
Hesper nodded after noticing how anxious he looked. “He was, but he left.”
“Left?” The assistant looked as if he feared for his life. They were supposed to have a discussion with the Haven Group that day, but when Rickard received information from the hospital, he came over without the slightest hesitation.
The discussion was about to begin, but the assistant was unable to locate Rickard.
The assistant was troubled, but before he left, he seemed to remember something and pulled out a new phone from his bag.
“Mrs. Duval, this the phone my boss ordered me to get for you. Your sim card is inside. Frankly, Mr. Duval…cares about you.”
Hesper did not appreciate Rickard’s concern.
If he really cared about me, why would he humiliate me?
If this is how he shows his care, I would rather not have it!
Meanwhile, Juniper was also provoking Rickard casually by saying, “Who was that man protecting Hesper in the hospital earlier, Rickard? Why haven’t I seen him before?”
“Don’t mention them to me anymore. They disgust me.”
Rickard waved his hand impatiently and picked up the glass before him to down the alcoholic.
Juniper’s eyes glistened. “It’s boring to drink alone, so I’ll drink with you.”
Soon, an exchange of glasses quickly happened, and Rickard drank more and more out of anger.
He began to gradually grow tipsy.
Juniper seized the opportunity to take an intimate selfie with Rickard and sent it to Hesper right away. “Don’t worry. Rickard is with me tonight. I’ll take good care of him.”
The interpretation of what her care meant was up to Hesper.
Hesper stared at the photo for three full seconds before finally sneering.
So, he was kind enough got me a new phone just so he could show off their loving relationship. Thank you for the trouble you’ve taken and your consideration!
“Thank you for taking the trouble. Although, I’m afraid there’s nothing impressive about Rickard’s performance when he’s drunk. You might not be able to fully enjoy yourself.”
Hesper turned off the phone right after sending the provocative message.
All I have to do is disgust her, right? Anyone can do that.
Not having expected Hesper to actually reply to her text message, Juniper turned green with rage.
She could not suppress her jealousy at the thought of how they had once been so intimate that they had a child together.
Let’s wait and see, Hesper!
A Spoonful of Sugar: Don’t Beg for Love Chapter 12
Hesper’s fever broke the next day. She was not severely ill to begin with; she just caught a cold after bowing down for a night in her malnourished state.
It was fortunate that she was sent to the hospital in time and received an intravenous infusion, which allowed her body to gradually recover its functions.
It was quite amusing, really. She risked her life to give birth to the Duvals’ eldest grandchild, yet she could only replenish her nutrition in the hospital. No one would believe her if she were to tell them what happened.
Hesper consumed her chicken soup in small sips when someone kicked open the door of her room all of a sudden. The elegantly-dressed Madam Duval walked into the room with two other women.
“Yikes, look at you having the appetite to eat chicken soup. It seems that you’re not all that seriously ill.”
Hesper coldly glanced at her. She did not have a favorable impression toward the Duvals after experiencing the recent ordeals. She replied in a mocking tone, “I’m sorry for disappointing you by not dying from the illness.”
“Stop your smart-mouthing!”
Madam Duval looked like she was about to lose her temper when she suddenly caught herself and cracked a ghastly smile. “Judging from how stubborn you are, it seems you still haven’t learned your lesson. Then I’ll fulfill your wish to endure more hardships!”
“Come!” She waved her hand with a sneer. “Since Mrs. Duval is hospitalized, she can’t feed breastmilk to the baby, who is at home. Go ahead and help her!”
“What are you doing!”
Before Hesper could respond to the situation, the two women were already surrounding her with a ghastly grin on their faces. They grabbed her hospital gown and tugged at it to remove it.
“What are we doing? You should know how to pump breast milk by now. There’s no need for us to explain anymore, right?”
The button of Hesper’s hospital gown was forcefully removed, revealing a large area of her fair skin. One of the women stretched out her hands and squeezed Hesper’s breasts ferociously.
Hesper’s eyes widened in shock. She thought that Madam Duval’s previous tricks were obscene enough, but Madam Duval was able to stoop even lower!
“Go away! Don’t you dare touch me!”
Hesper struggled with all her might, but she could not move because of the two women’s strength.
They squeezed her breasts strenuously with their large, coarse hands…
“Gah! It hurts!”
Hesper’s forehead instantly drenched in cold sweat. Her breasts were weak and sensitive since the delivery, so she felt as if her blood vessels were about to burst when abused by them in this manner.
Her eyes reddened with tears, and hateful, humiliating thoughts filled her head. In the end, Hesper could not bear it anymore and pulled out a fork that she hid under the pillow before stabbing the person next to her visciously.
“Gah!”
A bitter, agonizing roar rang in the room. The woman grabbed her arm and said with an agonizing expression, “Madam, blood… I’m bleeding…”
The other woman was so startled that she loosened her grip upon noticing the situation, leaving Hesper slumped down on the bed weakly.
Her hair was messy and she was in a disheveled state. Only her eyes were filled with sarcasm and hatred.
Madam Duval was startled by Hesper’s gaze, but she feigned calmness by saying, “You were prepared, Hesper. Very well. Did you prepare the fork so you could stab me? Aren’t you afraid that Rickard will leave you when he finds out about this?”
“Make him leave then!”
Hesper’s patience had run out despite her good temperament. She glared at Madam Duval as if she was looking at a dead man. “You are more than welcome to convince him!”
“You you you…” Madam Duval was at a loss for words to refute, not having expected that Hesper would make a remark like this in view of how much she loved Rickard.
Meanwhile, the sound of a man’s leather shoes walking on the ground was heard coming from outside.
Rickard’s eyebrows tightly furrowed when he saw the scene before his eyes. “What the heck is going on this time?”
“You’re here, my son!” Madam Duval looked at Rickard as if he was her savior. She immediately told him about the incident earlier with exaggerated embellishments.
“I was only worried that she would suffer from clogged milk ducts, so I kindly hired two experienced masseuses to help her. Not only was she unappreciative, but she injured the masseuse. Look at that poor, bleeding woman. I have no idea how I’m supposed to deal with Hesper anymore!”
“Is that so?” Rickard looked toward Hesper suspiciously.
She smirked in a mocking manner. “Would you believe me if I told you that’s not what happened?”
“Indeed.” Rickard’s eyes were gloomy. There were only the three of them in the room now. Who else would do something like this if not Hesper?
Noticing that Rickard was on her side, Madam Duval grew fearless. “Son, don’t let Hesper off so easily in view of how sinister she is. Otherwise, there’s no telling who she’ll attack next time.”
“I understand. Take the woman and get her wound dressed first.”
Rickard spoke in a cold tone. Green veins could be seen bulging on his forehead.
“Son…” Madam Duval wanted to instigate further but was startled by his icy cold gaze. She hastily shut her mouth and left with the two women.
As soon as the door was shut, Rickard revealed his true self.
“So, you think you’re capable now and have become lawless?”
He took a step forward with each word he said. He rolled up his sleeves, revealing his muscular, fair-complexion arms.
Hesper could feel the incoming danger, but she forced herself to calm down and braced his cold gaze. At the very moment he got close to her, she said coldly, “Rickard, if you dare lay a hand on me, I’ll make you regret it.”
The usually arrogant, aloof Rickard would never be bothered by a lowly threat like this.
However, seeing the determination in her eyes, he stopped for no apparent reason. His gaze was as deep as the sea.
“What are you doing? Are you threatening me?”
“No.” Hesper inhaled a deep breath and enunciated her words clearly with a determined tone when she said, “I’m negotiating a deal with you.”
Under the man’s slightly puzzled gaze, she narrated a statement that she composed, “Although I proposed a divorce, I agreed to stay and put on an act with you out of consideration for grandfather’s health. However, I can’t put up with you and your family’s doings anymore. Let’s have a one-off conversation today, and if you can’t accept my condition, I’m sorry but I’ll have to forfeit what I agreed to do.”
“Heh.” Rickard chuckled in anger.
Who does she think she is to say something like that? Was it not her who plotted so that she could marry me in the past? Now that she got her wish fulfilled to become Mrs. Duval, why is she still acting like she’s been treated wrongly?
I’d like to see what trick this woman still has up her sleeve!
“Firstly, we’ll live out our lives separately from now on. I won’t regard you as my husband, and you don’t need to regard me as your wife to others. I won’t get in the way of you dating Juniper, and you’re not allowed to meddle with my personal affairs either. We’ll only need to play the roles of husband and wife in grandfather’s presence.”
“Secondly, I’m only living in the Duvals’ residence temporarily. When grandfather is back, I’ll leave. So, I’m officially informing you now that if anyone in your family continues to make things difficult for me, I’ll return what’s done to me ten fold. It would be best for us to mind our own business.”
Rickard’s expression grew more unpleasant with every remark she made. In the end, he was almost clenching his teeth in rage when he said, “When did you have this thought out? What could you do if I don’t agree to your conditions?”
A Spoonful of Sugar: Don’t Beg for Love Chapter 13
Hesper was mentally prepared for this. If Rickard were such an amiable person, she would not have to endure contempt, humiliation, and disgrace for so many years.
However, she should not be the only one to endure pain. Hesper said in nonchalant tone, “If you don’t agree to my conditions, it’s meaningless for me to live anyway. I wonder if grandfather will ever forgive you and the others if I die.”
Rickard’s body shook.
It was not because she used grandfather’s name but because he saw the surging despair in her eyes. She was so desperate that she did not mind negotiating a deal with her death.
Is she really suffering that much living with the Duvals?
But she has already gotten everything that she wanted. She got the position of Mrs. Duval and she has already gotten a child as well. How is she not satisfied yet?
Rickard could not figure it out. Enshrouded in overbearingness, a few seconds later, he sniggered. “Sure, let’s do as you said. I hope you won’t continue to stay when the time comes and refuse to leave!”
“Don’t worry. I would rather die than stay.”
Rickard took a deep glance at her and turned around to leave without uttering a word.
Noticing that he was leaving, his assistant waiting for him outside immediately opened the door.
Rickard’s face was green with rage, and he said coldly after a long time, “Is it that difficult to get along with me, Benji?”
Benji had no idea why Rickard would suddenly ask such a question. He subconsciously answered, “You have to deal with a host of affairs every day, and you’re used to executing orders. However, you treat your subordinates well.”
“If that’s the case, why…would she rather die than be with me?”
“What?”
Benji did not hear Rickard clearly, but Rickard had already shut his eyes and stopped speaking.
In the hospital, Hesper looked out the window absentmindedly.
“I’m sorry for using you as my bargaining chip, grandfather… However, if I don’t, I won’t be able to continue on anymore.”
She teared up in agony, feeling sad and guilty.
Meanwhile, Julian came to visit her with a basket of fresh fruits.
“Hesper, why are you crying again?” Julian took two steps forward and wiped her tears with a tissue. “How many times have I told you not to cry when you’re sick? Otherwise, you’re going to have long-term effects in the future.”
“I’m fine.” Hesper forced a smile and thought about how Julian was the only person who still cared about details like this when it came to her.
Noticing that she was calming down, Julian told her about the purpose of visit. “I’ve already asked the lawyer regarding the matter you told me previously. If you can get the evidence of Rickard cheating on you, it’s highly possible that you will get custody of the child in view of your current situation. What do you think about that, Hesper?”
“I could get custody of the baby?”
Hesper had never raised her hope about getting custody. In fact, she was already mentally prepared to lose custody of the child, but Julian’s remark ignited her hope once again.
“Let me think about it…”
“Sure, take your time to think. I’ll help you regardless.”
“Thank you, Ian.”
The unexpected information disrupted Hesper’s plan. She was distracted through her hospital discharge and return to the Duvals’ residence.
Madam Duval and Sophia, who were eating imported fruits in the living room, frowned when Hesper walked into the house without greeting them.
“Hesper, are you blind or something? Can’t you see that we’re here?”
Hesper was jolted back to reality and she said in an extremely indifferent tone, “Oh, I can see that. So?”
“Yikes, watch your tone, woman. Are you looking to be taught a lesson?”
Sophia was about to stand up while she was speaking, but remembering how Hesper injured the woman in the hospital, Madam Duval was afraid that Sophia would be at a disadvantage. She hastily said, “You’re really disrespectful for not greeting us upon your return. Since you’re already discharged from the hospital, you’ll be cooking all the meals at home from today onward. I’m hungry now and would like to have a steak. Go and prepare it, quick!”
“Aren’t you capable of cooking yourself?”
Hesper did not attempt to appease Sophia but rolled her eyes at her.
Sophia was so furious that she struggled free from her mother’s restraint and made her way to Hesper quickly. “Are you feeling a sense of superiority over us after the fever? You used to cook all the meals at home in the past, so what are you putting on airs for now?”
“The past is the past. I did it willingly back then, but I don’t want to do it anymore now. Is there a problem with that?”
Sophia could not bear to watch Hesper’s unyielding mannerism. Her chest heaved constantly with her labored breathing. “Hesper! Are you done making a fuss? You’re going to have to cook the meal even if you don’t want to!”
She pulled Hesper toward the kitchen. At first, Hesper attempted to struggle, but then she refused to move. She stood sneering in the same spot.
“Sure, since you insist on me cooking, don’t blame me if you die from eating my cooking.”
“What do you mean?”
Sophia was still confused, but Madam Duval came to understand Hesper’s remark. Her expression changed drastically and she pulled Sophia to her side. “Have you lost your mind, Hesper? Do you even know what you’re talking about? Rickard will never forgive you if he finds out about how you treated his mother and sister!”
“Is that so?”
Hesper was completely unbothered. In the past, she did her best and sacrificed herself for the family out of respect for Rickard. She would cook all sorts of cuisines that they enjoyed to appease them.
However, not only did they not remember her deeds, but they even felt entitled to her cooking. If that was the case, why should she make an effort?
She turned her head to the side and cracked a sweet smile at Madam Duval and Sophia. “Since you’re so displeased, go and complain to Rickard. The more you can exaggerate the situation, the better.”
“…”
A thought occurred to Madam Duval and Sophia as they looked at Hesper’s graceful, departing silhouette.
“Has Hesper lost her mind?”
In Duval Group’s CEO’s office, Rickard placed down his phone, his deep eyes filled with ineffable emotions.
The woman is getting more and more unfathomable to actually speak to my mother in that manner.
She used to be so obedient and sensible in the past, but everything about her has changed.
He loosened his tie in agitation and looked into the distance absentmindedly.
Meanwhile, Hesper was in a great mood after her public retaliation toward Madam Duval and her daughter. She refused to go downstairs no matter how much they clamored and instead took her liberty to get some sun on the balcony with her precious son.
All of a sudden, she saw a familiar figure quickly walking by in her peripheral vision.
Hesper paused for a moment and called out, “Wanda?”
Wanda’s entire body shook once when she heard Hesper’s calling, but she did not have the courage to turn to look at Hesper.
Hesper remembered clearly that Wanda gave her a bowl of hot soup when she was starving to death, and Wanda was also the first to find her when she was ill with fever.
Had Wanda not helped her, perhaps she would have been tossed out of the house by Madam Duval and her daughter like a piece of trash.
“Wanda, I’ve been meaning to express my gratitude to you since the incident… What happened to your face?”
Halfway through her speech, Hesper noticed a few red marks on Wanda’s face, which was an apparent sign of being slapped.
Hesper flew into a great rage. “Who did this? Was it Madam Duval and her daughter?”
“Don’t question, Mrs. Duval. I’m fine.”
Wanda covered her face so Hesper could not see. However, Hesper could see the red marks with bruises on Wanda’s face; she could tell that the person who did it was merciless.
Hesper felt a knot in the pit of her stomach. “Is it because you saved me? Is that why they hit you?”
A Spoonful of Sugar: Don’t Beg for Love Chapter 14
“Don’t question anymore, Mrs. Duval. I just happened to fall.”
How hard must one fall in order to be injured to this extent?
She should have expected this to happen. Madam Duval and Sophia loathed her, so it was only natural that they would discriminate against Wanda for saving her.
Perhaps Wanda was tormented so frequently by these people in the past two years when she was hospitalized that Wanda did not have the courage to talk about them.
Hesper was furious. “You’re in your current state because of me, so I’m going to uphold justice for you.”
“Don’t, Mrs. Duval!” Wanda pulled at Hesper strenuously with tears streaming down her face. “Madam Duval and Ms. Duval have always been domineering. If you uphold justice for me, it will only give them a reason to punish you even more. The baby is still young; think about him, and take care of yourself.”
Hesper, however, could not make peace with the fact that she involved the aging Wanda in her matter after she had endured so many hardships. There was a determined expression on Hesper’s face.
“You should leave this matter be. It’s my idea. Keep a distance from me so they won’t have a reason to seek revenge on you from now on.”
As she was speaking, she took the liberty to walk to Sophia’s room.
In the pink room, Sophia was humming to herself as she put on makeup. She was going to dress herself up for a date that night with a good-looking man at the bar.
Without any hesitation, Hesper gave her a slap.
A clap was heard, loud and clear.
Sophia was dumbfounded by the slap. She only came to realize the situation after a few seconds. She covered her face and shrieked loudly, “Are you sick in the head or something? How dare you hit me!”
Hesper did not waste time making small talk either. Sophia had never seen Hesper’s expression look so cold.
“Was it you who caused the injury on Wanda’s face?”
How would the ever-obstinate Sophia put up with Hesper standing up for a lowly servant?
“So what if I hit her? You actually slapped me for a lowly servant. Trust me when I say I’ll kill you!”
Her expression distorted from anger, and she tried to beat up Hesper.
Hesper stood further away and grabbed Sophia with her arms so that Sophia could not budge anymore. Hesper said with a cold expression, “You set my mind at ease for admitting it.”
Upon saying that, she delivered two more slaps.
She struck Sophia so hard that it felt as if she was venting all her past resentment on Sohphia. Sophia’s face immediately swelled up, and she squalled in anger.
“I’m going to kill you, Hesper. I’m going to make my brother kill you!”
“Oh, is that so?”
Hesper chuckled in a mocking tone. “Wanda saved my life, yet you punished her. Was that not because you bear grudges against her? Or was it because I was supposed to die after giving birth to your family’s eldest grandchild?”
As she spoke, she clutched Sophia’s lower jaw gently and said in ridiculement, “Aren’t you going to tell Rickard about this? Go ahead, quickly. I would like to know if he is willing to let the child’s biological mother die and if your family can withstand the bad reputation that results from this!”
“Mad, you’re mad.”
Sophia was furious and her expression continued to distort from anger. After Hesper left, she immediately called up Juniper and spoke in a crying, nasal voice.
“Juni, come quickly. I can’t stand it for a minute longer…”
Hesper was aware of Juniper’s visit to the Duvals’ residence. She was carrying her child when she saw Juniper’s car through the window.
It was a red limited edition Porsche, a car worthy of her heiress status.
When she was walking to the door, their eyes met across the air momentarily.
Hesper quickly looked away, her lips seeming to curl into a smirk.
Juniper furrowed her eyebrows and felt an ineffable feeling. However, she did not put much thought into it and met Sophia soon. She asked, “What’s going on, Soph? What happened to you?”
“It’s all that b*tch Hesper’s fault!” Madam Duval said.
She found out about the sequence of events that took place after Sophia lost her temper in the house. They wanted to punish Hesper, but they were afraid that Hesper would risk her life and fight with them.
They called up Rickard but all he replied was ‘noted’ so they could only wait for Juniper’s arrival with their pent up anger.
Sophia acted as if she found her mainstay when Juniper showed up. She cried and said, “Juni, you’re my brother’s childhood best friend, so you know him best. What do you think is on his mind? He loathes the b*tch so much, yet he chooses to put up with her over and over again. Is he going to let Hesper lord over us and abuse her power?”
“No, of course not.” Juniper would never allow something like that to happen. An idea came to her. “I believe that Rickard is being more lenient with Hesper since she’s just given birth to the family’s eldest grandchild. After all, Hesper risked her life during the delivery process. If the family members were to make things difficult for her right after her delivery and rumor of this incident were to spread, outsiders would think that the Duvals are mean.”
“B*llsh*t!” Madam Duval was the first to reject the remark. “There are plenty of women willing to bear children for the Duvals. It’s so misfortunate that she had to be the one who did it! Does she think that she’s some hot sh*t because of her child?”
Sophia sobbed to the side. “Juni, please reconcile your relationship with my brother soon. Get rid of this b*tch as soon as possible. You’re the only sister-in-law I recognize!”
Juniper was delighted but pretended to be troubled. “I would like that too. However, Hesper is a benefactor of your family now, as I’ve mentioned earlier. Rickard will always give her special treatment as long as the child is here…”
“It’s always the child! I’d like to see if she can still be so rampant without her child!”
Sophia’s eyes glistened with a sinister glow as a plan quickly took form in her head.
Hesper was still unaware of the impending crisis. She stayed by her son’s side all day long, touching his soft little hands and playing with him occasionally. The mother and son spent a peaceful, loving night together.
However, news of the baby becoming sick traveled from the nursery the next morning.
“How could this happen? He was completely fine yesterday!”
Hesper ran to the room in such a rush without even putting on her shoes, but she was stopped from entering the nursery when Madam Duval arrived.
“What are you doing here? Your child is sick today because you stayed with him all day yesterday. Hesper, you’re a jinx!”
“Let me in, I want to see my baby!”
Hesper tried to squeeze her way into the room with all her might but was pushed out of the room again and again.
Rickard had watched on coldly the whole time, but he could no longer bear it. He said in a cold voice, “I agreed to your requests, Hesper, but you don’t seem to know how to be a good mother. It’ll be fine if the baby is okay, but if anything bad happens to him, you’ll have to bear the consequences yourself.”
“But I didn’t do anything wrong. He was fine when we were together yesterday. Let me in, Rickard!”
Next to her, Sophia heard the conversation and said in a sarcastic tone, “What do you mean, Hesper? Could it be that you think we caused the child’s illness? You held the child all day long yesterday. All the servants in the family could attest to that. What reason could it be other than you being a jinx?”
“That’s not what I’m implying.” Hesper’s gaze turned cold. She refused to believe in the superstitious belief of jinx, but she had no evidence to refute. She just wanted to see her baby quickly.
A Spoonful of Sugar: Don’t Beg for Love Chapter 15
Madam Duval and Sophie refused to drop the matter.
“So now you know how to behave yourself? Weren’t you so formidable yesterday that you beat up someone? Maybe karma struck and the baby is sick because of his trouble-making mother!”
“Criticize me all you want but not my baby.”
Hesper bit her lower lip tightly, anxious and panic-stricken from thinking about her child’s condition.
Madam Duval squalled from the side. “Yikes, yikes, yikes. Look at you scowling at me after being criticized. Yesterday, you hit Sophia. Are you going to hit me today?”
Hesper knew that now was not the time for quarreling. She clenched her fists tightly and told herself to put up with it. Then she turned around to say to Rickard, “I’m the child’s mother, so no matter what, I have the right to check on him.”
“No. What if the baby’s illness deteriorates further when she enters the room?”
Sophia’s remark reminded Rickard. Even though he did not buy into superstition, it was better to be safe than sorry since the baby could easily get an infection due to his low immunity while he was sick.
“The baby is receiving treatment from a doctor right now. I’ll send someone to update you if there’s any information.”
Hesper’s gaze turned dim bit by bit. She took a glance at the faces of the Duvals in silence.
She saw Madam Duval and Sophia’s provocative expressions and Rickard’s ignorance.
How could they do this? Is this family really able to take care of my child…
She waited until noon and seized the opportunity when Rickard was out to handle some affairs to come to the nursery once again.
However, just as she was about to open the door, a mocking voice was heard coming from her side. “Trying to get inside? Beg me then. Beg me until I’m satisfied, and I’ll let you in to check if your son is still alive.”
She turned around to find Sophia and Juniper.
Both of them had their chins lifted arrogantly as if they were trying to get even after yesterday’s incident.
However, did Hesper have any other choice?
Her precious child was sick in the nursery, separated from her by a door. As the child’s mother, how could she set her mind at ease?
“Take it as me begging you. Just let me take one look at him, just a look will do.”
Hesper suppressed the feeling of humiliation in her heart and behaved submissively.
Sophia and Juniper immediately burst out laughing in a reckless manner. As they were laughing, Sophia suddenly slapped Hesper. “Is this how you beg someone?”
Hesper stood there without budging. She knew that if she were to move, it was highly possible that she would not get to see her baby.
“If the act of hitting me will allow me to see the child, you can hit me.”
“Bah, knock it off. I’m hitting you because you deserve it for being disrespectful yesterday.” Sophia fiddled with her freshly-manicured nails leisurely and smiled maliciously. “As for your child, you can bow down and beg me. Maybe then I’ll think about letting you see your child.”
Hesper could not stand it anymore. “You’ve gone too far!”
“I’ve gone too far?” Sophia acted as if she just heard the funniest joke and pretended as if she was walking away with Juniper. “Since you think I’ve gone too far, forget about it then. The child is not mine anyhow. Who knows if the doctor is putting in any effort to treat the child? If the child is almost dead, someone’s going to have to bury him soon.”
The remark hit Hesper’s soft spot. This was precisely what she was worried about, which was why she insisted on checking on the baby herself.
Just as Sophia was about to leave, Hesper bit her lower lip tightly and bowed down. “Can I enter the nursery now?”
“Look at you bowing down as you’re told. What an obedient dog you are. Look, Juni. How is a person like her worthy of being Mrs. Duval? I’m going to celebrate to my heart’s content on the day of your wedding to my brother.”
Hesper tried to turn a deaf ear to the remark, but her hands tightly clenched by her sides.
Sophia and Juniper exchanged a glance before they behaved as if they were showing mercy to Hesper. “Go in then. Are you waiting for me to go back on my own word?”
Hesper immediately ran to the cot and found the little baby furrowing his eyebrows tightly as if he was enduring great pain. His fair complexion was flushed from the fever, and he cried in a loud, heartbreaking manner.
After taking one look, Hesper felt as if her heart was torn up. Tears blurred her vision, and she said shakily, “Baby, baby. Open your eyes, and look at mommy. I’m here to see you.”
She stretched out her arms in an attempt to hold him, but she was afraid that she would hurt him. She was so anxious that tears streamed down her face profusely, and she turned her head to query the people behind her.
“I thought you said that there’s a doctor attending to him specifically! Where is the doctor? Why is the baby still feeling so unwell?”
“How would I know?”
Sophia glanced unconcernedly while the servant next to her said, “Ms. Duval, the doctor already left earlier. However, he gave instructions to bring down the baby’s fever with medicine if his fever persists.”
“Where is the medicine? Bring it quickly!”
The servant had never seen Hesper speaking so hysterically, so she was so startled that she was rendered speechless.
“Why are you roaring like that?” Sophia said. “The medicine available at home is for adults, so it’s unsuitable for children. You have to get it at the drugstore, of course!”
Hesper, whose mind was already clouded by worries, did not notice that something was off at all. She wiped her tears and got up with great effort before walking outside. “Fever medicine, I’ll get it. I’ll get it immediately. Call up the doctor to come quickly!”
She was certain that her baby was very uncomfortable. It was a pity that a child that young would need to endure the torment of illness.
Hesper wished that she could suffer in her baby’s place.
She ran outside like a madwoman, forgetting that she lived in a luxury residential area, so she had to run across three streets before she was finally able to buy fever medicine.
Her baby would be saved!
When she returned home, she heard Sophia and Juniper’s voice coming from upstairs. “Hesper, come to the top floor if you want to save your son.”
She raised her head and took a glance to find Juniper cradling a bundle of a sky blue blanket in her arms.
It was the baby’s blanket!
She ran upstairs right away, gasping for air in a disheveled state. “I got the medicine. Hand the child to me quickly.”
“Heh… It’s a waste that you don’t need the medicine anymore.”
Juniper suddenly chuckled in a ghastly manner and stuck the tiny blanket bundle out of the balcony before Hesper’s eyes.
At the same time, she could hear the baby’s sad cry.
Hesper’s eyes widened in anger. “What are you doing, Juniper? Don’t touch my son!”
However, it was already too late. Juniper loosened her grip finger by finger before she tossed the blanket with the baby in it into the air.
“Don’t blame me, Hesper, but yourself for not knowing your limitations when you give birth to Rickard’s son!”
“No!”
Hesper let out a bitter, agonizing scream and leapt over the ledge in an attempt to grab the child without any concern for her own safety.
The blanket bundle dropped at such a high speed that Hesper did not manage to catch it no matter how hard she tried.
Rickard heard a loud bang as soon as he got home…
Hesper fell from above and crashed onto the ground next to him before his very eyes.
Fresh blood pooled under her body and stained his vision red. At that very moment, it felt as if the world was drowned in blood.
A Spoonful of Sugar: Don’t Beg for Love Chapter 16
“Hesper!”
Rickard’s eyes widened in shock at that very moment.
He shakily stretched out his hand, but Hesper’s gaze remained locked on the bundle before her. She spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and said, “My baby…
She wanted to check on the baby, but no matter how hard she tried, she could not reach the edge of the bundle with her fingertips.
It was only a few millimeters away, but the distance separated life and death.
The vision before Hesper’s eyes went black, and she shut her eyes completely.
“Hesper!” The usually calm man was already thrown into a panic by now. He roared frantically, “Call the ambulance! Call the ambulance, quick!”
The bodyguard standing behind him immediately took action while Benji picked up the bundle cautiously. His expression changed drastically after taking one glance.
“Sir…”
Rickard looked over shakily, as he recognized the bundle as the baby’s blanket. Hesper jumped off the tall building because of the baby.
However, when he opened up the blanket bundle, he found that it did not contain their child but a human- shaped doll!
All the agony he felt halted to a stop at that very moment, and his eyes widened in surprise.
Anger and doubt filled his chest before, at last, turning into cruelness. Rickard spoke through tightly- clenched teeth, “Look into this! What the heck happened here?”
“Yes, sir!”
Benji did not have the courage to digress but immediately led some staff members to interrogate. everyone in the Duvals’ residence after such a serious incident took place.
Rickard stayed with Hesper. He lowered all his pride for the first time in his life and said in a pleading tone, “Just hang on for a while. The doctor is coming. Don’t die. Didn’t you ask for a divorce? If you die. you’ll only end up becoming a ghost haunting the Duvals’ residence.”
“Mr. Duval, the ambulance is here.”
Rickard immediately made way for the paramedics to lift Hesper onto a stretcher.
He wanted to follow them, but he was shoved away by the doctor. “Sir, Mrs. Duval’s condition is very serious and we’ll need to carry out emergency treatment, so please make way for us.”
Rickard immediately ordered a staff member to drive behind the ambulance, and the car sped up to 180 miles per hour along the way.
Everyone who witnessed the scene was dumbfounded. How can anyone drive so fast? Is that person trying to get himself killed?
Hesper’s breathing was weakening bit by bit. She felt as if she was floating in midair but there was a thousand tonnes weighing down on her until she could not breath. Intense pain was radiating from every part of her body, but it felt as if she was already numbed from the pain.
In fact, she did not even know when she was sent to emergency surgery because her memory was stuck on the scene of the baby falling off the building.
The baby, my little baby…is dead.
He was so young, so the probability of him surviving a fall from such a great height is zero.
What would be the point in her living if her baby was dead?
This is it then. This is how I free myself. Everything shall come to and end. It’s my fault for not protecting my child. I’ll sacrifice myself to keep him company and hope he won’t be lonely or scared anymore.
Two streaks of tears streamed down Hesper’s face. Severely injured, life was draining from her bit by bit.
“This is bad. The patient’s willpower to survive is weakening, so we must figure out a way to save her quickly.”
The door of the operation theater opened up. A nurse walked outside and told the information to Rickard, who was waiting outside.
His cold face was already filled with concern, and upon hearing that, he immediately rushed to Hesper’s side. His eyes were bloodshot when he said threateningly, “Hesper, listen to me. The child is fine. If you dare die, I’ll immediately get him a stepmother who will scold him and torment him every day!”
Hesper, who was already on the brink of death, heard the remark indistinctly She wanted to open her eyes with great effort but could not. The staff members in the operation theater were relieved in unison when her vital signs gradually returned to her.
The nurse politely urged him to leave. “Mr. Duval, you haven’t changed into sterile scrubs, so you’re going to increase the patient’s probability of getting an infection if you stay here. Please go outside and we’ll do our best to treat Mrs. Duval.”
“All right.”
Rickard took a deep glance in the direction of the operating table and saw the large amount of blood, displaced joints, and bones. They all indicated her tragic state after she leapt out of the balcony.
In fact, the doctor had even mentioned that it would be utterly unnecessary to save her if she were to come later.
The door of the operation theater opened and Rickard walked out, battered out of his senses.
Benji felt very uneasy seeing Rickard like this, but he had to report the important matter at hand to Rickard anyhow. “Mr. Duval, I’ve already interrogated all the staff members in the Duvals’ residence. Some witnessed Mrs. Duval, Ms. Duval and Ms. Wight engaged in a quarrel in front of the nursery where Mrs. Duval was forced to bow down. Afterward, Mrs. Duval ran out in an agitated state, and it did not take long before… the fall accident happened.”
“Where are they now?”
“Outside. Would you like me to call them?”
“It’s fine.” Rickard stood upright, his gaze icy cold and sharp. “I’ll ask them in person.”
In the hospital’s lawn, Sophia and Juniper were talking softly as they sat on the bench.
“Why is it taking so long? Could it be that she’s still able to be saved?”
“It shouldn’t be possible. She fell from such a great height. Any ordinary person would die from a fall of that height.”
“It would be best for her to die, so I don’t need to look at her again!” Sophia rolled her eyes and
complained. She secretly beckoned Juniper to behave when she noticed Rickard approaching them from her peripheral vision.
“My brother is here, Juni.”
Juni cracked a friendly smile and asked with feigned concern, “How is Hesper, Rickard? Is she in a stable condition?”
Rickard did not speak but looked at them with his cruel gaze that felt as if it could burn through their skin. “How did Hesper fall off the building? Is it related to the both of you? Also, what’s with the bundle?”
A Spoonful of Sugar: Don’t Beg for Love Chapter 17
Sophia and Juniper were so terrified of his icy cold tone that their bodies shivered. However, they had always been skilled at putting on an act. Hence, Sophie pouted her lips in grief right away.
“Why are you being so fierce to us? I feel very bad that she fell off the building too. I’m your sister and the baby’s aunt. Do you think I would put the mother and baby in harm’s way?”
“Yet, someone witnessed both of you making things difficult for her! Do you dare say you didn’t do it?”
Rickard flew into a great rage. If the accident was really caused by them, he could finally understand why Hesper would risk her life just to leave the Duvals.
If he was in her place, he would not be able to stay with a family as vile, cruel, and malicious as that!
Sophia continued to cry and complained, “Dick, will you please stop believing in a one-sided story I did have a brief dispute with her, but that was because she disregarded your order and insisted on leaving with the baby, and I stopped her
“But who would have predicted that Hesper would behave like a madwoman and snatch the baby’s blanket before crying and running away. Juni and I tried to stop her after noticing the situation, but by the time we arrived in a rush, she had already jumped off the building
“Are you telling the truth?”
Rickard could not believe Sophia’s statement, so he turned his head to look at Juniper He spoke in an unprecedentedly stern tone, “Juniper, you’ve never lied to me. Come and tell me if both of you were involved in this matter!”
Feeling recalcitrant and unjustly treated, she immediately assumed an expression that looked as if she was about to cry at any moment. She said in an extremely sad tone. “Are you suspicious of me, Rickard? Could it be that you still don’t know what sort of person I am? Or is it that, to you, I’ve already turned into someone so terrifying?”
At the end of her speech, crystal clear teardrops rolled out of her eyes, and she covered her face, sobbing soundlessly from being aggrieved.
Rickard was puzzled all at once. Could it be that it was his fault for overthinking?
“Don’t cry. I didn’t accuse you of anything. I was only asking.”
“If you believed me, you wouldn’t even ask!” Juniper said sadly, “I was under the assumption that we have. a friendship that lasts so many years, and my departure back then was to help you achieve your aim. But I didn’t expect that you would actually doubt me! You’re making me look like a joke!”
She cried louder and louder with her shoulders bouncing.
Rickard pursed his lips, but in the end, he could not bear to do it anymore. “Alright, I won’t ask again from now on. Don’t cry. You’ve always had sensitive eyes that hurt when you cry.”
Meanwhile, Benji came to update in a rush, “Mr. Duval, the surgery has ended. Mrs. Duval is yet to be in a stable condition.”
“I’ll check on her.”
Rickard left swiftly.
Juniper and Sophia exchanged one glance and followed him in unison.
Hesper was still in a coma in the intensive care unit. No one was allowed to visit her in person, so they
could only look at her through the window.
“How long before she wakes up?”
The doctor monitoring her from the side said, “Mrs. Duval suffers from multiple fractures over her body after falling from a great height. Her most serious injuries are on her legs and spine. She’ll awaken by tomorrow if her condition improves, but I’m afraid that even if she does wake up, she’ll experience long- term side effects. There’s a high probability of her experiencing mobility issues in the future.”
Rickard clenched his fists tightly. He had never felt like he had disappointed her before this incident. Finding out from the doctor that she would be experiencing long-term side effects, he suddenly felt like he owed her something.
“Hesper, you must wake up.”
When Juniper and Sophia arrived a little later, they were secretly relieved by the sight of the comatosed Hesper.
It would be fine if Hesper remained alive as long as she did not wake up and expose their lie.
As long as she was still comatosed, they could figure out countless ways to deal with her.
“Dick, Juni’s eyes are hurting. I’ll take her to get some eye drops.”
Sophia made up an excuse to leave and made it out of Rickard’s visual field before she immediately said with a solemn expression, “She’s really lucky to be alive after that ordeal.”
Juniper was deeply worried. “Sophia, what will we do if Hesper wakes up and tells the truth?”
Sophia made up her mind and said, “We’ll just go all out to ensure that she doesn’t wake up for eternity!”
A Spoonful of Sugar: Don’t Beg for Love Chapter 18
However, they did not expect Rickard to actually assign a bodyguard to watch her on a 24-hour basis. Let alone a man, not even a fly could fly near her.
Sophia and Juniper did not manage to figure out a way through the entire night. Just as they were at a loss of what to do, news came from the hospital that Hesper was already awake.
“What should we do, what should we do? Rickard will hate us if she tells him everything”
Juniper assumed a panic-stricken expression at last. Had she known that Hesper would be so foolish, shel would not have done that to Hesper.
But she did do it, and not only did she not finish off Hesper, it was possible that she could be exposed at any moment.
Juniper considered herself lucky that she and Sophia were on the same boat while it was very apparent that Sophia would not make peace with the current situation willingly.
“Mom, can’t you just bring a few women and barge into the room when Dick is not around? We’ll just say that her body was too weak to live, so it’s not our fault!”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Madam Duval glared at her in disappointment. “What have I taught you on usual days? Why haven’t you learned anything at all? Your brother has been looking into the cause of Hesper’s fall from the start, so if she were to die a bizarre death now, he’d blame it on all of your regardless of whether you did it!”
“What should we do then? We’re still doomed if Hesper tells him the truth!”
“That’s not for certain…” Madam Duval smirked coldly and gave an order, “Get me the phone number of Hesper’s attending doctor.”
Meanwhile, Rickard arrived at the hospital in a rush.
“My child, where’s my child?”
Hesper wanted to get out of bed hastily as soon as she saw Rickard, but she fell on her knees due to her severe injuries that impeded her ability to walk. The wounds on her legs were strained and Hesper inhaled sharply from the pain.
Rickard ordered someone to help her up and said in a comforting tone, “The baby is fine. He’s doing well. Stay calm.”
Hesper refused to believe it.
How can the baby be fine?
She witnessed the baby falling from such a great height, so how could he possibly be fine?
“Are you lying to me? The baby is still so young. He couldn’t have survived the fall. Let me see him, I want to see him!”
Tears blurred her vision, and she was in agony.
The man looked like he could not bear to see her in that state. “He really is fine, and I’m not lying to you. What you saw wasn’t the baby. The baby is sleeping at home. If you don’t believe me, I’ll call them to show you.”
“Sure, make the call, make the call quickly.”
Hesper had no idea what she was talking about, but she wanted to see the child as soon as possible, so
she yielded herself to Rickard.
Soon, the video call was picked up.
The servant in-charge immediately carried the baby and showed him to the camera.
“Don’t worry, Mrs. Duval. The baby is really fine.”
Hesper’s tears streamed down her face profusely. Sad and joyous, she widened her mouth in excitement, but she lost the ability to express herself because she was too emotional. Her ghastly pale face was already drenched in tears as she sobbed on the bed.
When she calmed down slightly, Rickard asked, “Now tell me what happened on the day you fell from the balcony. Why did you jump off the top floor?”
“That day…” Hesper recalled, and all the memories of the day surged into her mind clearly. The expression on her face turned furious. “It was Sophia and Juniper. They tricked me into going to the top floor, making me think that the baby was in the blanket bundle. They threw it over the ledge in front of me, and I jumped after it!”
Rickard’s eyes dimmed. “Are you sure?”
“Yes, of course!”
Had she not seen them do that, why would she jump off a building so foolishly?
But after seeing how unbothered he was, Hesper suddenly came to realize something and felt her heart turn cold. She asked shakily, “You don’t believe me?”
A Spoonful of Sugar: Don’t Beg for Love Chapter 19
Rickard did not answer the question.
Sophia and Juniper accused him of not believing them, but everyone told a different version of the story.
Who should he believe then?
“Rickard! It was you who asked me, but you now won’t believe me?”
Hesper bit her lower lip tightly. She realized that since the baby was not wrapped in the bundle, Sophia and Hesper’s goal was for her to die!
She was injured so severely that she was on the brink of death, yet her husband was still hesitant about who he should believe…
She was extremely disappointed and utterly furious. Had it not been for Rickard, would she need to go through this?
Rickard furrowed his eyebrows when he noticed her stare. “Why are you looking at me like that? I didn’t say that I don’t believe you.”
“If that’s the case, you should hold them responsible for this matter! Why aren’t you doing that yet?”
“Each of you sticks to your own side of the story. How am I supposed to hold anyone responsible before the matter has been investigated thoroughly?”
“Rickard…” Hesper shook her head in disappointment. She felt grief washing over her and uttered every word as if she was hurt. “I’m the one injured and I was the one plotted against! What else do you want to investigate? Do you think that my life is worthless, that my role here is to be trampled upon and humiliated by all of you?”
“You make it sound so unpleasant.”
Rickard furrowed his eyebrows tightly. He came rushing over at once precisely because he knew that she was injured. Otherwise, why would he show up?
But not only was she unappreciative, she was looking at him like he was the enemy. It made him furious.
“I told you that I will uphold justice for you when the matter has been investigated thoroughly!”
“Forget it.”
Hesper removed the blanket nonchalantly and disregarded her multiple body part casts. She said with a determined gaze. “I’ll do it if you won’t. They want me dead, so I’ll take their lives as well. I’m just going to fight it out with them at most!”
She limped her way out and her wounds began to bleed again, but she did not appear to be affected by the pain. She decided that she would uphold justice even if she had to crawl her way to Sophia and Juniper.
“You must have lost your mind!”
Rickard’s pupils constricted in shock. He threw her back to the bed without any concern for her
resistance.
“Do you know how severely injured you are? Do you think you’re capable of getting out of here?”
“What do you want me to do then?” Hesper could not hold back her tears anymore as she was flooded with grief. Tears streamed down her face and she said. “They put me in harm’s way until I almost died! Died! I can’t allow myself not to be affected, and I won’t wait for you to investigate slowly. I’m going to
take back everything they owe me!”
She roared in rage. She did not have much strength in her, but she was emboldened by the rage she felt. and would not complain about her pain.
Rickard watched her in silence. He had never seen Hesper acting so desperate and angered from sorrow.
Could it be that what she said was true?
Rickard inhaled a deep breath and said, “If what you said is true, what evidence do you have to prove it? If you can verify that what you said is true, I promise that I won’t be impartial.”
Hesper’s head worked quickly. Evidence? How would I have any evidence?
All of a sudden, she remembered the sound of the baby’s cry that she heard on the top floor. It was precisely due to that sound that she was convinced that the baby was in the blanket.
“There’s a voice clip! They recorded the baby’s cry to trick me. I’m sure you’ll find it if you look in their phones!”
A Spoonful of Sugar: Don’t Beg for Love Chapter 20
Rickard took a deep glance at her and casted a look at Benji so he would handle it.
However, it was at this exact moment that a mocking, female voice was heard. “There’s no need to trouble yourself.”
Sophia and Juniper entered the room.
Hesper appeared to be agitated once again as soon as she saw them, her eyes filled with deep hatred How dare you come here, you murderers!”
“You must be sick in the head, Hesper. Why would we have the courage to come here?”
Sophia mocked in a cold voice, “Weren’t you asking my brother to check our phones? I’ll fulfill your wish. However, I’m just going to put this out bluntly. If you can’t find anything, I won’t pretend that nothing happened after you defamed me and Juni like this!”
She handed two phones to Benji. Rickard nodded and Benji immediately left the room to deal with the phones.
Sophia seized the opportunity to seek pity. “Dick, no one feels good after an incident like this happened. It’s fine that you’re suspicious of me, but aren’t you afraid of disappointing Juni when she’s nothing but sincere to you?”
Rickard’s entire body shook. Juniper took a glance at him, her eyes reddened with tears. She behaved as if she was very aggrieved but forced herself not to show it.
His hands that were by his sides clenched tightly. He knew Juniper’s character more than anyone else. She had always been extremely loving to small animals, so how could she possibly do something like
this?
However, he had no choice but to look into this matter because Hesper made her narration sound so real
Soon, Benji came back with the two phones.
“How is it? Did you find anything?”
Benji shook his head. “Nothing… I didn’t find the voice clip mentioned by Mrs. Duval from either of Ms. Duval and Ms. Wight’s phones.”
Rickard felt as if the blood in his entire body had frozen. He should not have doubted his closest family members just because of Hesper’s frantic remarks!
Hesper refused to believe it. “That is impossible. The voice clip exists. Either Benji couldn’t find it, or they deleted it in advance!”
“Hesper, are you done? You’re the one who acted crazy, but you’re also implicating so many people.”
Sophia rolled her eyes impatiently and behaved as if she was too lazy to pay attention to Hesper.
Hesper knew that they were all pretending so Rickard would not suspect them.
“Rickard, trust me that I’m not lying. There is a voice clip! Look into this properly, and you’ll find it for sure!”
She grabbed the man’s shoulder recalcitrantly, only to be shoved away mercilessly.
“That’s enough!”
Rickard’s expression was cold, and his eyes looked like they were frosted over.
“You wanted to check the phones and we did. The result is already before you. How long are you going to keep this up?”
Hesper was about to speak when Mdm. Duval came rushing to the room with the doctor. She let out a grunt and said, “I heard someone speaking nonsensical remarks upon regaining consciousness. Make way, Rickard. Let the doctor examine her properly to see if she might have hurt her head and lost her sanity!”
Her remark was all mockery; Hesper could hear that. She declined loudly, “I’m not insane. I’m very clear- headed, and I hold myself responsible for every word I say.”
As the doctor and nurses approached her, she backed away with all her might. She even grabbed a pillow to throw at the staff members.
Rickard was still hesitant initially, but he found her behavior drastic now. He gave the order with a cold expression, “Go and examine her properly.”
Hesper was pinned down against the bed by the nurses as the doctor pulled out a syringe of tranquilizer. Before she was injected, she shouted at Rickard, “Believe me, what I said is true! I’m not lying and I’m not insane either!”