Thinking of this, Hesper could not help but want to laugh, but as soon as the situation that Rickard was currently in came to her mind, she could not laugh anymore."I’m going to a very dangerous place now. You don’t have to come with me." Hesper was able to sit up from the bed at this moment as the pill had taken effect, and her body had returned to its usual state.Zaylour was a little surprised, but it was not difficult for him to guess that it was related to Rickard and that it was going to be life-threatening.It was probably because of this that Rickard knocked Hesper out—to prevent her from getting into danger with him."I don’t have anything or anyone to worry about anymore. Yves is a traitor, and he was the person I was closest to in this world..." Zaylour paused for a bit and continued softly, "You seem to be the person closest to me now, Hesper."Zaylour’s words stopped Hesper’s heart for a split second, but she had no other choice but to take this risk for Rickard at t
The receptionists in the lobby did not seem to notice this steep escalation at all. Hesper knew that today’s trap must have been meticulously laid out by the other party, so she did not even bother to hide her intention.There was only one string that was holding her together right now, and all she wanted at this moment was to bring Rickard home in one piece.At this time, she was not thinking about anything at all, neither the hallucinogenic drug nor someone else’s life. For the first time, she realized that she was such a cold-blooded and selfish person. She only wanted her lover to be safe and that was all.The muzzle of the gun was already poking against his chest, so the manager could no longer keep the smile on his face. A hint of panic could be seen gleaming from the depths of his eyes. After all, he did not expect Hesper to act so presumptuously by pointing a gun directly at his chest in front of so many people. He then comforted her politely, "Ms. Rivera, making my life dif
Hesper froze. It was true that she had suffered from numerous life-threatening illnesses, but she would recover after she had recuperated for some time. They were not exceptionally painful, but her recovering speed was undoubtedly slower. "It's because your pain sensitivity is lower than others', but your immune system is not as strong as theirs. That's the power of hallucinogenic drugs. Even though it was your mother who was once exposed to such a drug, you're affected as well," said Victor."I've observed many kids like you, and most of them are born with genetic diseases. Your condition is the mildest, but it doesn't mean you're the healthiest," Victor pressed on, "However, your son is different. He's completely healthy."Hesper felt absurd after listening to Victor. "You created this lethal drug just to find someone who won't be killed by it? You're insane." Victor chuckled at Hesper's honest remark. After a short while, he nodded and said, "That's right, Ms. Rivera. I'm insa
His eyes were filled with affection and radiated with a genuine joy that Hesper had never witnessed in anyone else's gaze. When Renfrew's face surfaced in her mind, her eyes became wet with tears. Though she had brought Renfrew into this world, she had no right to decide his fate. Renfrew was an individual in his own right, and his role as her son came second. Even if it was for Rickard, she could not do it. After she had made up her mind, she closed her eyes.Victor had granted Hesper only ten minutes. When he returned to the room, he found her sitting with her eyes closed, and a bad feeling washed over him.It was supposed to be a guaranteed deal, so why did he still feel angry about what Hesper was about to say?"You're clever, Ms. Rivera. I'm sure you've already decided and are prepared to take Mr. Duval back home, right?" Vincent said, approaching Hesper. In the next moment, Hesper opened her eyes."I've made my decision, but I'm afraid you'll be disappointed," Hesper sp
"Secondly, take me to your flower garden," Hesper declared.Both Zaylour and Victor were surprised at Hesper's second demand. Zaylour quickly objected, "No, you can't go there, Hesper. You'd die!""Sure, I can bring you to my garden," Victor replied readily. He took pleasure in the idea that Hesper might not find Rickard alive and would meet her own end in the garden.Victor had anticipated that Hesper would make challenging demands, but all she asked for was the release of an insignificant person before walking towards her own death. It was such a small price to pay for her to meet her fate, and Victor could not help but feel a sense of gratification at the turn of events.Zaylour wanted to stop them, but Victor would only listen to Hesper since she was the one holding the gun now.As they took him away, Zaylour cast a last look at Hesper. Her eyes reflected unwavering determination, free from any fear. Strangely, tears welled up in his eyes.Zaylour hadn't shed a tear since he
It had been twenty minutes since Hesper confronted Victor. She was anxious right now. All she wanted was to see Rickard again.When Hesper saw that the garden resembled a maze rather than a garden, she realized why the others were hesitant to follow her inside. The intricate pathways made her feel slightly disoriented, and the effect of inhaling the Iron Blossom gas added to her unease. However, she did not have time to dwell on it.Hesper and Rickard had once run together under the night sky during their youth, feeling like they owned the whole world. Even though they faced multiple misunderstandings and obstacles in their life, they eventually found their way back to each other.Finally, after running for what felt like an eternity, Hesper decided to stop. Looking up at the moon in the night sky, she sighed deeply, her breath heavy with exhaustion. "Rickard… I think… I'm gonna lose you this time…"Suddenly, the sound of gunshots from outside pierced the silent night. Hesper did
Nodding, Charles said, "Leave Nathaniel and Julian to me for the time being. When Hesper wakes up, she can decide what she wants to do with them. You can go now. Don't forget to inform me of her test result."Without waiting for a response, Charles turned and left with his men. Although Rickard was unsure of his intentions, he had indeed helped him and rescued Hesper. If not for Charles's unexpected attack, things would not have gone so smoothly.At this moment, Sherese felt like she was dreaming as she covered her face with her hands. 'Is everything really over?' she thought to herself. All those involved in the hallucinogenic drugs had been apprehended, and they would face judgment at daybreak. Sherese felt a sense of relief that everything had come to an end. However, things were not that bright for Hesper and Rickard. Hesper had not regained consciousness yet, and the wait seemed endless for Rickard.*The first thing Zoya did after she arrived at Leafdelle Island was to co
Despite losing her memories of Rickard, Hesper was able to take care of herself and even showed concern about the aftermath of the hallucinogenic drugs. With various parties' attention and support, Nathaniel and Julian were apprehended. Even Raheem and Victor were brought to justice as well. Hesper did not expect everything to end so quickly and nodded understandingly. She sat by the window and listened to hushed whispers between Zoya and Zaylour. When she glanced down, she noticed Rickard's car and her face sank. She then left the window and lay back on the bed.After a while, Rickard appeared in front of the ward, but he did not come in. "How is Hesper today?" Zoya was displeased with Rickard, but she still answered his question. "You're the one who get the doctor for her, so shouldn't you know her condition the best? Despite not regaining her memories, she seems to have recovered in other aspects."Rickard nodded and said, "Alright. Thank you."After that, he turned aro
He had never anticipated that he would end up loving her so deeply.It could be said that amidst all the misunderstandings and complexities, their journey together had taken many winding paths."I wouldn't risk getting into trouble just to set off fireworks for someone I didn't even like," Rickard said, his voice gentle. "You dummy."His words were soft, but as Hesper listened to his explanation, she cleared her throat, and her eyes turned bloodshot. She had never imagined that the person she had loved so intensely in her youth had, at some point in their lives, secretly admired her.Hesper attempted to smile but ended up with teary eyes. Seeing this, Rickard reached out and affectionately ruffled her hair. "If it's going to make you cry, I won't say anything more."Hesper pursed her lips. "If you don't want to talk about it, then don't."Rickard, despite understanding her reluctance, couldn't help but reflect on the past and openly admitted to the emotions he had felt in his you
They were flooded with memories, and Hesper couldn't help but admit that she had been through so much with Rickard. Her eyes welled up with emotion.The livestream ended, as they couldn't maintain constant surveillance of their lives. Even though they hadn't gone home yet, the crew had left.In the past two days, people had gotten to know them quite well, so the crew decided to give them some alone time.Hesper sat in the passenger seat and stole a glance at Rickard. She couldn't help but say, "I never expected that the only time you were seen as making a mistake in Grandpa's eyes was because of me.""There are many things you don't know," he replied. Hesper raised an eyebrow and asked, "Like what? Tell me."Suddenly, Hesper recalled the countless times Rickard had looked at her. Yet, during those moments, Rickard had always had feelings for Juniper. She knew that was the reality, so she never expected that Rickard might have had the same strong feelings for her as she had for h
Hesper glanced at Rickard, who remained emotionless, but she still reached out to hold his hand.[This is tough to see. Both of Rickard's parents are no longer here… Sigh.][Hesper immediately checked on Rickard. If I were Rickard, I'd love her so much.]Ernest shook his head and remained silent as he flipped to the next page. Most of the pictures were of Hesper after that. She hadn't realized she had so many childhood photos. Julian appeared in some of them, too.Before everything went sour.Rickard didn't have many pictures. As he grew older, he became quieter.Most of them showed Hesper standing next to Julian, but there was something off about them.[Did you notice... In many of those pictures, Hesper was looking at Rickard, and in others, Rickard was looking at her.][Oh my god, is this puppy love? I had no idea!][I remember Rickard had another lover.]Hesper had noticed, too, but there was no need to remind people that Rickard used to hate her, so she dismissed it as a
Hesper and Rickard entered the room and awkwardly informed Ernest that everything had been live-streamed just now. Ernest was shocked, but upon hearing that it was something people do, he nodded."It's fine. There's nothing that others can't hear."Hesper pursed her lips and glanced at Rickard before saying, "We didn't expect the Summers to come and see you. You should move in with us so these people will leave you alone."If Ernest lived with them, no one would dare intrude because they represented power and influence.Who would dare challenge them?"I don't want to get involved in your life. Renfew and Renarie would keep you occupied enough."Hesper understood that he had already made up his mind not to live with them, so she didn't press the matter further.She could understand his concerns, as many things might become inconvenient. Besides, Ernest didn't want to disrupt their lives either."We'll be heading to Fredonia soon, so even though we have filming to do, we wanted t
So what if the cameras were still recording?"Was my son's life not as valuable as your son's?"If he had grasped this earlier, recent events might not have unfolded. Jade had a point.The live chat fell silent. Though they lacked the full backstory, they could deduce what had transpired in the past.[I heard Rickard lost his parents when he was a child. I feel sorry for him.][His parents died because of that incident. It's no surprise if he harbors resentment.][Truthfully, this old man has no shame. If my child were responsible for another child's death, I'd beg for forgiveness.]Everything unfolding before their eyes was purely coincidental, and no one had control over the situation. They could only watch and terminate the livestream immediately if anything escalated.Fortunately, Jade received a stern talking-to and refrained from discussing the matter further, but Mrs. Summers did not fare as well. Hesper and the others bore witness to her irrational behavior.[This is e
"We've known each other for years, Ernest. I saved your life once, and now your descendants want to take my son's life!"As they approached, Jade Summers was angrily berating Ernest before him. Hesper's countenance immediately turned frosty as she walked over to Ernest."You should conduct yourself more appropriately, Mr. Summers Sr."Jade was taken aback to see Hesper, but he composed himself, took a deep breath, and fixed her with a hatred-filled gaze."If it weren't for you, none of this would have happened. You're just a woman. Since when do you get a say in the Duval family matters?"In the 21st century, people were all for equality. Besides, Hesper was no ordinary or unintelligent woman. Naturally, she had a voice in these matters.The viewers were inundated with comments when they heard Jade's words, and the live chat exploded.[Who is this guy? He looks old but lacks respect.][What's the argument about?][I sense some drama.]Rickard walked over. Jade had thought he
[Didn't Hesper mention that Mr. Duval Sr. took care of her? Maybe she did grow up well.][I'm certain she did. Hesper doesn't strike me as someone who would tolerate mistreatment.]Hesper and Rickard were under constant surveillance throughout the journey, and they hadn't allowed Benji to accompany them. Rickard was behind the wheel, with Hesper in the passenger seat.During the drive, they remained silent, but to observers, it appeared as though they were in harmony.Upon arriving at the ancestral mansion, Hesper noticed other cars parked around and cast a curious glance at Rickard. Visitors to Ernest's home were a rarity."Sir, Ma'am, you're back," a young housekeeper greeted them. It was the same person who had assisted Wendy earlier, but they couldn't recall her name. Nevertheless, Hesper had faith in her.Noticing the housekeeper's troubled demeanor, Hesper deduced that the guest inside was likely unwelcome. However, she couldn't fathom who would disrupt Ernest's life. Given
Rickard noticed something in Hesper's expression, prompting him to ask, "Is there something else you haven't told me?"Being intimately familiar with each other wasn't always without its challenges. Hesper could never conceal anything from him.She sighed and replied, "It's nothing. Just that Pennleigh will also be on the list."Rickard fell silent.Hesper was aware that sometimes Rickard might not appear bothered, but Pennleigh's presence did bother him.Observing Hesper's awkward expression, Rickard lowered his gaze and suddenly took on a pitiful appearance, like a big dog caught in the rain.Yet, she knew he was merely putting on an act. Still, every time she saw him like that, she couldn't help but miss the Rickard who didn't engage in such playful antics. His character had undergone a change.Hesper found it amusing but didn't quite know how to express it. She sighed and added, "It's a fantastic opportunity. I know you'll let me go, right?"Rickard had no intention of inte
"Sullivan lied to her. He had her parents quietly killed. She found out after she turned her back on you."Benji lowered his gaze. "She was already dead when you came back. It was suicide."The conclusion lacked the weight necessary for such a betrayal. Hesper shut her eyes. The person she had trusted most was Renee. They had shared countless years together.Hesper acknowledged that their bond might not have been a genuine friendship. Renee had abandoned her when given the choice.However, Hesper had faced such situations before.Thankfully, there had been someone who had placed her first in their heart, reassuring her that she wasn't always relegated to being an option. Hesper stood in silence for a while before simply nodding.There was nothing she could do to aid Renee now. Renee had entered and departed alone, leaving no trace behind with Hesper.When the topic was broached, it weighed heavily on her heart. Hesper understood the situation but found herself at a loss for word