A Spoonful of Sugar: Don't Beg for Love novel 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?”