Chapter 5

It was found out through the doctor’s examination that Hesper’s fragile uterus was indeed injured during the process. She would need to rest and recuperate, or it would possibly result in infertility in the future.

She did not feel anything when she heard that. She waited until she could walk before she went looking for Rickard with the divorce papers.

Rickard was sitting in the study room with a nonchalant expression as if he was expecting her.

“Rickard.” Hesper made his way to the man slowly and placed the divorce papers in her hand gently. She said calmly, “These are the divorce papers. I don’t want anything from it. If you have no objection, please sign these.”

Rickard looked down to Hesper’s fine penmanship and strangely found her handwriting to be an eyesore. “Who says that I have no objection?”

Hesper pursed her lips. “You may voice your request.”

Rickard did not even rifle through the divorce papers before he said in a cold, merciless tone, “Hesper, not only will you leave everything from the marriage, you won’t be allowed to see the child again from now on. You don’t deserve to.”

Hesper’s expression changed and she said recalcitrantly, “Why? I’m the mother of the child.”

Rickard’s tone was filled with mockery. “You abandoned the child as soon as he was born. You don’t deserve to be his mother.”

Hesper’s body swayed unsteadily. She reached out to hold the table instinctively as if she was hit by a crushing blow.

She really wasn’t a good mother.

But she had no other choice.

If she could, she would take the child with her and travel far away, never to return.

However, an influential family like the Duvals would never allow their lineage to lead a wandering life in poverty. Moreover, the child would live a good life with the Duvals instead of a hard life of drifting from place to place. He would receive better education and be loved by Mr. Duval Sr.

She was just an orphan who had nothing. The child would suffer and endure hardships if she were to take him with her.

She lost count of time before she made a decision that hurt her more than ever. “I agree.”

Rickard’s pupils constricted abruptly.

The woman would actually give up on her child just to get a divorce!

He had no idea that Hesper didn’t have any other choice. Rather than waiting until she was kicked out by the Duvals, she was taking it upon herself to leave and make way for Rickard’s lover.

At the very least, she could still leave in an honorable manner.

Rickard could not suppress his anger anymore. He smacked the table. “Very well, Hesper!”

Hesper had no idea why he was so infuriated with her; there was a tinge of confusion in her eyes. Just as she was preparing to speak, the sound of her phone ringing interrupted their slightly tense ambience.

She glanced at her phone. “It’s grandfather.”

Rickard calmed down slightly. “Take it.”

Hesper tapped the accept button and said in a caring tone. “This is Hesper, grandfather. How are you feeling?”

Mr. Duval Sr.’s kind voice was heard saying, “I’m feeling much better. I was just missing you and my chubby great-grandchild. I wish that I could fly back now to see all of you.”

Hesper comforted him by saying, “Don’t worry, grandfather. Just continue your treatment and you’ll see the child when you’re back.”

Mr. Duval Sr. asked concerningly, “Is Dick treating you well? If not, you must tell me and I’ll punish him for you!”

“He…treats me well.” Hesper was going against her conscience when she said that. She remembered the man’s ice cold remark of ‘save the baby’ outside the delivery room the other day.

Rickard did treat her well, so well that he would send her to heaven.

However, she could not bring herself to speak the truth to Mr. Duval Sr. because his body would not be able to take it. Mr. Duval Sr. was the only Duval who cared about her, so she could not hurt him.

Mr. Duval Sr. refused to believe her and requested her to switch to video call so he could check on her and her child.

Hesper looked at Rickard subconsciously and asked for his consent with her gaze.

Rickard heard Mr. Duval Sr.’s conversation, so he furrowed his eyebrows and nodded to express his approval.

Both of them temporarily stopped the conversation about divorce and went to the nursery together in order to please Mr. Duval Sr.

Hesper turned on the camera and aimed it at the sound asleep baby in the cot so Mr. Duval Sr. could take a good look at him through the video call.

“He looks exactly like Dick when he was a baby!” Mr. Duval Sr. was delighted and chatted incessantly. He wished that he could travel through the screen to hold the little chubster.

Hesper felt slightly gratified in her heart to see how Mr. Duval Sr. doted on the child. The child would be loved by someone when she was not around.

After he was done looking at the baby, Mr. Duval Sr. requested again, “I can hear that Dick is with you. Let me see both of you.”

“Sure.” Hesper would never decline Mr. Duval Sr.’s request. She switched to the front camera and felt a hold on her waist.

Rickard had actually stretched out his arm to wrap around her waist. Moreover, he whispered a warning in her ear. “It would be best for you to work with me so as to not affect grandfather’s condition.”

Mr. Duval Sr.’s body could not take it if his mood was affected.

Hesper understood that she could only maintain the intimate posture with Rickard. Her body felt slightly rigid, but her expression was still quite natural.

It was fortunate that Mr. Duval Sr. did not notice that anything was off during the call. He said happily, “It seems that both of you have grown closer since the child was born. I can set my mind at peace seeing both of you act so loving.”

Hesper felt extremely uneasy.

It was very rare for her to share such an intimate moment with Rickard. He had always loathed her, held her in contempt and avoided her like the plague, as if she was some disgusting piece of trash.

It must be tough for him to put on an act and pretend to be close with her now.

“Hesper.” Rickard suddenly addressed in an unprecedented gentle tone. Hesper raised her head in a daze and watched as the man’s extremely handsome face enlarged before her eyes.

Then, he planted a gentle, feather-like kiss on her fair-complexioned forehead.

Hesper was completely dumbfounded. She did not expect Rickard to actually go to this extent.

Mr. Duval Sr. was delighted. He looked at both of them with an affectionate gaze and said ‘very well’ a few times.

Hesper had yet to recover from her surprise for a long time after the video call ended until she heard Rickard’s cold voice in her ears. “Are you all right?”

Hesper looked at Rickard and opened her mouth.

Rickard took it upon himself to speak first as if he could tell what was coming from her, “I won’t agree on getting a divorce until grandfather is cured. Before then, you’ll remain in the Duvals’ residence.”

He continued to speak sternly as if he had found a reasonable excuse. “If grandfather’s condition deteriorates because his body couldn’t take it after finding out about our divorce, you’ll be the offender.”

Hesper felt suffocated by the guilt and burden put on her.

The more delighted Mr. Duval Sr. was now, the sadder and more disappointed he would be when he found out the truth. His drastic emotional changes would most certainly be detrimental to his health.

She owed a great debt of gratitude to Mr. Duval Sr., who was the person she did not want to see hurt the most in this world.

She could only relent. “I agree.”

The moment her voice faded, Rickard’s tensed heart relaxed without his notice.