He appeared composed."I never expected you to arrive before me," Charles remarked, and Hesper suddenly felt like prey targeted by an eagle.However, she swiftly regained her composure, demonstrating her strength. "Really? Just like how I never anticipated you lying to me about a month ago." Hesper's honesty shone through; she hadn't imagined Charles would be one of the people to betray her.Charles had been unusually kind to her, but then he had abruptly betrayed her. He was the person Hesper found most enigmatic, yet she had to confront the situation. Understanding what was going on in Charles's mind became imperative.It didn't seem to be for power and money; he wasn't involved in the hallucinogen cases. He didn't appear interested in them now, either. However, if it wasn't for these reasons, what else could it be? His lover had passed away years ago.Hesper couldn't figure it out, but after some contemplation, she realized she had to deal with it head-on. She couldn't say much
Charles didn't want to betray her, but something else held a more significant place in his heart. Without hesitation, he would choose anything of greater importance than her. But where did she stand in the hierarchy of importance?Hesper believed she was closest to being a replacement for the late Mrs. Deschamps, which troubled her even more. Someone who had passed away was irreplaceable, so she occupied a rank just one step below the utmost importance. Although it seemed pompous, judging by Charles's reactions, it held true. So, what could be more important than her?Could Charles be foolish enough to hope that the hallucinogen could revive his wife? He had a moment of clarity before this, and Hesper didn't think he was the type to repeat his mistakes. However, based on what he had said today, it sounded like she might be wrong. Before obtaining the hallucinogen, Charles might have deemed it useful, but once he had it, he realized it was all a sham. That's why he claimed it was no l
Hesper acknowledged the truth in Camille's words, causing her breath to quicken. She then turned to Rickard and stated firmly, "I'll accompany Camille inside. Remain outside and ensure our safety."It was better for Rickard to stand guard outside since anyone approaching wouldn't easily be able to turn back. If they were caught, Charles wouldn't harm Hesper, but Rickard's capture would be a different story.Hesper took a deep breath, conveying her concern for Rickard's safety. He understood her unspoken worries but wasn't entirely comfortable with her entering alone. He frowned momentarily but ultimately nodded, saying, "Alright, go in."Rickard's primary concern was Hesper's well-being, and he felt helpless about not being able to protect her personally. Nevertheless, he accepted the role of ensuring her safety from outside.Hesper wasted no time, and even though they wouldn't be entirely safe even without entering, as Charles would likely have increased defenses around the place
Charles knew Hesper and Rickard would arrive at any moment, so he had likely set up some defenses. Hesper was sure of that.Camille's discovery of the location marked a significant turning point for them. Without this lead, they would still be wandering aimlessly."Let's proceed inside."Despite the presence of many guards, the two women were clever, making it relatively easy for them to gain entry. The target location wasn't expansive, so with caution, navigating it would be straightforward. However, they expected tight surveillance within.Their primary goal was to ensure Charles's security team didn't reach the location before they found the key person or item. In other words, they had to locate it before Charles did. Time was limited, and this was their final opportunity.They eluded the guards outside and infiltrated the villa. As anticipated, a piercing alarm sounded. The two women exchanged glances, and Camille said, "Let's split up. It doesn't matter who finds it. We came
No item required such meticulous care.Hesper took a deep breath and realized no one was pursuing her. Nevertheless, she remained cautious as she systematically entered every room.The villa had a limited number of rooms, making the search relatively straightforward. Hesper opened a few doors to find empty rooms, but when she opened another one, she came to a halt.Before her was a baby's room, impeccably arranged and filled with brand-new belongings. Dolls adorned the room, and neatly stacked baby clothes filled the wardrobe. Hesper's heart warmed at the sight, but it left her wondering for whom these items were intended.Charles didn't have children, and his lover had passed away years ago. It seemed improbable that these items were merely coincidental. Did Charles have a child? And if so, who was caring for the child?The house seemed to be increasingly suggestive of harboring a secret lover, a fact that nobody would have dared to voice due to Charles's wife having no known rel
Camille continued to search for a trapdoor, and while she didn't understand why Hesper asked, she nodded in agreement. "I think so. It doesn't look like it was prepared for a baby boy."Hesper glanced around and remarked, "The swaddles, larger clothes, toys, and everything else seem to have been acquired after the gender was confirmed.""Even if Charles had his men frantically purchase all these items, there are so many. I doubt they could have done it in such a short time. The last time we saw him wasn't too long ago. I'm quite certain he didn't have a child back then."The time difference seemed to raise questions.While they both pondered in silence, a tapping noise emanated from the room. A shiver ran down Camille's spine, and she grabbed Hesper's sleeve. "Could this place be haunted? I'm getting scared."Connecting all the pieces was eerie, but now there was an inexplicable noise?Hesper frowned but remained unafraid. She tilted her ear to listen carefully and then remarked,
This was the reason why all the furniture corners had been rounded. Hesper realized it wasn't to prevent this woman from taking her own life but rather to protect the baby."What do you mean he chose you to be the bearer of his child?"The woman was clearly anxious but managed to articulate her thoughts. Hesper empathized with the feeling of being locked up and acknowledged that the woman was holding up remarkably well under these circumstances.That's why Hesper gave her the time she needed, even though the woman was clearly frightened."There's nothing exceptional about me. I'm just a math teacher. I had no connection to Charl— it's Charles, right? But I have panda blood."Panda blood?Hesper was familiar with the term. It referred to the rare Rh-negative blood type, which was no different from regular blood unless an injury occurred."I've led a cautious life. To safeguard myself in case of any emergencies, I used to donate blood regularly, but nothing unusual happened for ov
She knew because she had used one before.Yes, it was a tracker that was extremely difficult to detect when implanted in a person. Hesper had experimented with it once out of concern for possible risks, which is why she had it on hand.It turned out to be the perfect item to entrust to the woman.Charles would undoubtedly try to relocate the woman, making her even harder to find. However, the presence of the tracker would change the dynamics of the situation."Don't worry; we'll come back for you." Hesper reassuringly patted the woman's shoulder. She then signaled to Camille, and they quickly restored the latch to its original position in the baby room before making their escape through the window.Camille's heart raced as she watched Hesper effortlessly jump out. "You're pregnant. Please be careful."Hesper acknowledged the concern, though she believed she hadn't yet reached her physical limits. A small platform awaited her below for a safe landing. Still, Camille's reminder res
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