Chapter 28


    Chapter 28


    At that thought, Juniper sought help from Madam Duval by saying, “Madam Duval, please think of a wa


    y.”


    Madam Duval was an old, cunning woman who was not so easily deceived like Sophia. She loathed He


    sper more than Juniper, who was more focused on herself. Hence, she could not be bothered


    to make a fuss of the situation and said with a sneer, “Why should we panic now? Didn’t Mr. Duval Sr.


    mention that


    he’ll be back in two weeks? Could it be that we still can’t handle Hesper in the next two weeks?”


    “Mother, are you


    Sophia was interrupted by Madam Duval as soon as she began her sentence. Madam Duval smiled


    at Juniper and said, “Your brother is feeling guilty for misunderstanding Juniper currently, so they’ve rec


    onciled their rtionship to a certain extent. If rumors about Hesper hurting the woman that he loved in


    the past


    from jealousy were to spread, do you think your brother would put up with it in view of his temperament


    ?”


    “That’s a no for sure!”


    Sophia’s eyes lit up, already beginning to look forward to the arrival of that day.


    Meanwhile, Rickard opened the door to Hesper’s room and found that it was only lit by a dim light at th


    e head of the bed.


    Sheid there without moving, her feather–like, longshes batting and the corners of her eyes moist


    with


    tears.


    “There’s no telling why you like crying so much.”


    He criticized her and made the decision to send someone to inquire about Hesper’s recovery the next d


    ay.


    If there really were long–


    term side effects, he would treat her in time so others would not criticize the influential Duvals for torturi


    ng her.


    As for the child…


    He figured that he should allow Hesper to spend more time with the child because Juniper could never


    measure up to her. After all, Hesper was still the child’s biological mother.


    On the same night, Madam Duval used the same old trick to get Rickard to send Juniper home.


    On the way home, Juniper asked in an exploratory manner, “In truth, I’ve been back for some time now


    and


    my family really wants me to settle down. What do you think about that, Rickard?”


    Rickard paused for a moment. “You really are at the age of settling down, so it’s time for you to look int


    o marriage.”


    He said it in such a nonchnt way, Juniper was utterly incapable of determining if he still had feelings


    for


    her.


    Even though Rickard treated her well recently whenever they spent together, he had yet to transgress t


    he bounds of friendship.


    Juniper had already lost confidence in…


    She bit her lower lip and seized the opportunity to ce her hand on his during a red light stop. “Rickar


    d,


    you know that my feelings for you haven’t changed. I’ve been waiting for you all these years.”


    She leaned closer and closer until half of her body was leaning against his shoulder. She said in an airy


    tone, “I know that you don’t really love Hesper and that your marriage to her was forced. I don’t want to


    see you live in pain for the rest of your life. If you want, I’ll stay by your side and keep youpany.


    Would that be alright?”


    Rickard’s entire body tensed.


    It would be impossible for him to be impervious to feelings when meeting the lover whom he loved pass


    ionately when he was young.


    It would be lying if he were to im that he had no feelings for her, but he was already married and with


    child


    “I’m sorry.”


    Under Juniper’s disappointed gaze, Rickard pulled his hand out.


    She bit her lower lip and her eyes reddened with tears. “Why? Don’t you love me anymore?”


    Rickard did not


    answer. After a brief silence, he said, “We’re not young anymore. We should be held responsible for the


    choices we make.”


    “So are


    you just going to give up on me? But you still love me!” Juniper could not make sense of the situation.


    Are we supposed to let go of our rtionship because of damned responsibility?


    What right does Hesper have to think that he should bear responsibility for it?


    Had Mr. Duval Sr. notpelled Rickard in the past, how could Rickard marry her?


    Fueled by her


    Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    agitated emotions, Juniper’s intention of making Hesper disappear grew stronger and stronger.


    Hesper is the source of everything bad!