Hesper took the mask, which was as she imagined. It suited her and was beautiful, so she happily asked Kenji to pay and put it on. The workmanship was exquisite, so it wasn't cheap. Seeing how Kenji paid without saying a thing, Dean and Briar froze, then remembered Hesper had seen a lot of good quality items before. Mr. Chronos's sister wouldn't be too emotional about receiving flowers and breakfast. They were too naive to believe so. Knowing what was going on in the minds of the two men behind her, Hesper felt better about the ball. She really loved the mask too. Although the ball wasn't starting any time soon, a lot of people showed up early, and the hall became crowded. Briar and Dean probably had other intentions for attending the ball, so they didn't just keep their attention on Hesper. When people started pouring in, Hesper regained her freedom. No one would be able to recognize her with her mask on. Christopher had put on a mask too. Hesper turned around and saw that
Many people focused on Rickard and Hesper, not only because they danced well and were nicely coordinated but also because they knew who Rickard was. He didn't wear his mask only during the ball. This mask was now part of his identity, so he would naturally attract attention.Although Dean and Briar couldn't see Hesper's face behind the mask, they recognized her dress. They were shocked too. The two people dancing looked like a match made in heaven, but they were… siblings. Why did they look like a loving couple? It must be an illusion. No man would introduce the love of his life as his sister. Furthermore, these people had ulterior motives. The Andersons looked into it before, and Mr. Chronos did have a sister, and people used to call her Ms. Chronos. There would be no mistake that Hestia was the same woman. After the song ended, Hesper let go of Rickard's hand. Their actions before the crowd were too audacious. People would try to find out who she was. However, Hesper did
Briar and Dean walked to the pair. Hesper was wearing an off-white dress, while Rickard wore a black suit. They didn't intend to match, but when they stood together, it happened anyway.Dean shook his head and said, "I'm surprised you're here, sir. When I invited Ms. Deschamps, she was worried you would be angry about it."Hesper nodded and let Rickard handle it. He was put on the spot but immediately understood why. Hesper didn't want to come with them but couldn't find a good excuse. Thus, she threw him under the bus. This wasn't the first time he witnessed Hesper getting away simply by making things up, so he accepted it. Dean couldn't see the changes in his expression behind the mask, so he thought Rickard agreed with Hesper and guessed they managed to communicate. However, they didn't need to communicate. All they had to do was wink at each other, and the other person would know what was on their mind. Their chemistry was impeccable. "When the crowd started growing, I
Dean seemed to be putting on an act but also seemed sincere. Hesper was silent. She was no longer naive, so she could tell what that look meant. He seemed to be falling for her. But… But they had only spent a few days together. Hesper only felt curious and nothing more. She knew the momentary crush didn't mean anything. Dean wouldn't give up his ambition for her. It was just a crush that wouldn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things. If she weren't 'Hestia Deschamps' or 'Mr. Chronos's sister', Dean wouldn't have approached her. People like him didn't deserve love, whether it was an act or the truth. Hesper wasn't going to give him pity or sincerity. On the other hand, Rickard was a little annoyed because he felt he was sending Hesper to the wolves. Hesper quickly noticed it and turned around, then with a raised brow, said, "Are you jealous?"Yes, a little. It was okay if they were just using each other, but now Dean blended some feelings into the mixture, and things
Rickard's scent was still around, and that calmed her. Even if they were in the dark, she wasn't afraid. After the momentary darkness, a dim light lit up, and the music was slow. Hesper looked up to see Rickard standing beside her and holding her hand. "This is the second part?"Rickard nodded in reply. "It's a little dark. I wanted to tell you, but I was too late." His sincerity was adorable. Hesper smiled. "You're here anyway, so I won't be afraid. You don't need to worry."Hesper rarely attended balls in the past. Although she learned to dance while working hard to integrate into an affluent family, she still didn't like entertainment that was so intimate. She couldn't accept any other male dance partners either until that moment when their chemistry was felt. She didn't hate dancing; she just didn't like the people she was dancing with. The slow music made the space feel more intimate. Everyone swayed under the dim light, lovers hugging. It felt as if time moved on foreve
She knew Pierette would be the way to get to them. The conversation between the two conspirators confirmed much of their speculation and let them know Chelsea no longer had medication on hand. That was a small win. Hesper and Rickard soon left to avoid catching their attention. When she turned around, she noticed someone walking past her and felt a sense of familiarity. She then felt the dizziness that had left her return, making her head spin.Rickard quickly noticed something was wrong and caught her, but that didn't stop her eyes from going blank. "Hesper?" She heard Rickard's voice while she was in his arms. When she came to, her face was pale as a sheet. Although she managed to stand up, Rickard still brought medication along with him as a contingency.After she took it, she looked better, her skin no longer ashy white like a corpse. "I'm fine… I feel better now." The medication worked quickly. Rickard frowned. "What happened? Why did you suddenly blackout?""I don't.
"Let's go back first." Rickard's tone brooked no argument.However, Hesper quickly grabbed his arm and shook his head. "I can't let everyone see how vulnerable I am. Leaving early won't be a good sign. Trust me, we don't need to go back now.""Hesper Rivera." Rickard's tone sounded a little harsher, but Hesper would always accomplish whatever she wanted to do, no matter what. Even if it was Rickard who was stopping her, and even if his tone was colder, Hesper would never agree to give up at this moment.It was a battle of wills between the two, seeing who would back down first.Taking a deep breath, Hesper's eyes were filled with hints of stubbornness. Coupled with her pale face, she appeared even more resolute yet pitiful, just like a perfectly beautiful contradiction.In the end, Rickard was the one to give in and sigh. "You..."Upon hearing Rickard's response, Hesper knew that he must have agreed to let her have it her way, and a victorious smile appeared on her face. "Let's g
Liam knew Christopher better than the couple, so he naturally spotted him at first glance. Christopher was equally astonished to lock eyes with Liam and hesitated before approaching him."...Liam."Meeting his brother there was clearly beyond Christopher's expectations, but since they had already made eye contact, it was impossible to avoid him now. Therefore, he could only walk over and face Liam."You still remember that I'm your brother?" Liam's expression carried a faint hint of displeasure. "Why did you secretly come to the black market? And how many things are you hiding from me, Christopher Turner? Do you still consider me your brother?"Hesper and Rickard exchanged gazes and remained silent on the sideline, quietly observing the situation unfolding.Christopher's eyes were fixed on Liam, stunned about the encounter. Thus, after pondering for a while, Christopher only dared to step forward and address him.Liam had always had a soft and indulgent personality, especially re
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