Chapter 6

However, Rickard did not understand why he felt that way. He shifted his gaze and said nonchalantly, “Since you’ve agreed, do what you’re supposed to do and don’t be an eyesore here.”

Hesper glanced at the child, reluctant to part with him. She wanted to stay there for a while more, but the child was tired. His soft face was swaying from left and right drowsily.

Hesper could not bear to disturb the baby’s sleep, so she returned to her room indifferently.

She did not manage to rest well during the first month post delivery and she was tormented by Madam Duval over and over again. Apart from the mental and emotional trauma, she was experiencing malnutrition as well.

She managed to wait until it was dinner time yet Madam Duval sent someone to tell her, “Madam said that you need more rest due to your recent delivery, so you don’t need to join dinner downstairs!”

Hesper did not speak and instead covered her empty belly with a blanket in silence.

She hardly had a normal meal since the delivery, so she starved so much that she looked emaciated.

However, she would be looking for trouble if she were to head to dinner when Madam Duval wanted to stir up trouble on purpose.

In the dining room, Rickard looked at the empty spot at the table and furrowed his eyebrows. “Where’s Hesper? Why isn’t she coming to dinner?”

The servant avoided his gaze while Madam Duval said unconcernedly next to him, “If she doesn’t want to come, that's fine too. She’s a grown woman. Could it be that she would rather starve herself?”

As she spoke, she passed him the ribs and said, “Set your mind and eat. You’ve been traveling everywhere during this period of time, so you’ve lost weight.”

As Rickard looked at the ribs before him, the image of Hesper’s emaciated figure came into his mind.

She was so weak and skinny that one squeeze could shatter her.

He pursed his lips and said in an indifferent tone, “She has just given birth, so she needs to replenish her nutrition. Otherwise, outsiders are going to claim that the Duvals are torturing their daughter-in-law.”

“She isn't considered the Duvals’ daughter-in-law.” Noticing that Rickard was looking at her, she corrected herself unwillingly by saying, “I know, I know. I’ll order someone to prepare some food for her. The food served on this table is all heavily-processed, high in oil and flavor, so it’s not so suitable for her in her current condition, right?”

Rickard did not know about that, but he knew that he would not allow Hesper to starve to death.

He still had some matters to attend to, so he left the Duvals’ residence after dinner.

Madam Duval threw her cutlery soon afterward and pulled a long face. “She’s a pain in the *ss. Why do we have to worry about her meal? Doesn’t she know how to deal with it herself when she’s able-bodied?”

“Precisely.” Sophia did not have the courage to speak out of turn when Rickard was around, but she was furious. Now that Rickard was gone, she immediately revealed her sarcastic expression fearlessly.

“She wasn’t that spoiled in the past, and it was very normal for her not to eat for days. Why can’t she do it now? Does she really think that she's superior and can abuse her power just because she gave birth to the eldest grandchild of the Duvals?”

“Dream on, I won’t give her the chance to do so.”

Madam Duval let out a grunt and glanced at the leftover food on the table that was so messy that not even a dog would eat it.

“Come, put all the leftovers in a bowl and serve it to Hesper’s room so she can enjoy the feast!”

Meanwhile, Hesper was already exhausted from starvation. She looked at the leftover stew in the bowl served before her in silence. If one were to describe it bluntly, even the Duvals’ dog ate better than her.

Noticing Hesper’s lack of action, Sophia swung a kick at the bed rampantly. “Eat it, quick! Aren’t you starving? We made this especially for you.”

She placed her hands on her waist, and her expression filled with pride and contempt. “Hesper, this is the only meal that's served to you. Are you sure that you don’t want to eat? If you don’t, you’re going to be malnourished. How are you going to feed your precious son then?”

Hesper shifted her gaze.

She could bear the hunger but how could she do this to her son.

The child came from her, so she would protect him with her life.

“I’ll eat!”

She picked up a fork, but as soon as she got close, she furrowed her brows because she was choked by the pungent smell produced from the mixed food.

The sight of the food, with a thick layer of oil from the spices covering it, was nauseating.

Hesper tried her best to choose the less oily food, but she gagged as soon as she took a bite.

Sophia scolded in a stern voice, “Shut your mouth. Just try to throw up if you dare! You won’t have anything else to eat if you throw up!”

Hesper raised her head and glanced at her in rage. She knew that Sophia was right.

She didn't understand why they would treat her like this. She had not committed any serious crime apart from marrying Rickard. Why would they hurt her and humiliate her?

Just bear with it and you can extricate yourself when grandfather is cured.

Hesper told herself in her heart and swallowed the food with tears streaming down her face.

“Tsk tsk. You’re really eating, huh.” Sophia began to ridicule her again.

“You don’t even care about your most basic self-respect and integrity anymore just so you can continue to stay in the Duvals’ residence? I’ve never encountered someone as shameless as you.”

Hesper said coldly, “It’s your brother who wouldn’t agree on getting a divorce.”

“Bah!”

Sophia refused to believe Hesper’s remark. She was infuriated by the sight of Hesper’s calmness.

“My brother wouldn’t agree on getting a divorce? Don’t forget that his lover is back. Frankly, my brother headed out in a rush after dinner for an appointment. Who do you think he is meeting?”

Hesper felt her heart wrench in pain. She told herself that she would not mind, yet she could not refrain herself from feeling envy upon hearing Sophia’s remark.

Sophia could see the agony in Hesper’s eyes. She said with a sneer, “How dare you claim that my brother wouldn’t agree on getting a divorce in your current state?”

She took two steps forward and clutched Hesper’s fair, clean lower jaw with her hand, her eyes bursting with malicious hatred.

“But don’t worry. I’m here, and I will make sure to facilitate their relationship so you can be demoted from your position of Mrs. Duval!”

Upon saying that, she swung her hand with great force, which pushed Hesper to the side, before she left, feeling pleased with herself.

Hesper maintained her body position for a long time without moving. She looked at the ceiling absentmindedly and thought about the past.

She thought about how deeply in love Rickard and Juniper were in the past.

She remembered how Rickard was constantly distracted and his temperament changed after Juniper left the country.

She felt as if she could see Juniper smiling bleakly with her hands outstretched.

“Did you really go and see her, Rickard?”

Rickard and Juniper sat across from each other in a luxury condo located in Leneriv.

After a long time, he said, “You called me here in a rush. What happened?”

Tears welled up in Juniper’s eyes when she heard the estrangement in his voice. “Rickard, are you still angry at me? I knew that you resent me when I met you in the company the other day. However, I have my difficulties too!”

“It's passed, and I’m not angry at you.”

“I don’t believe that!” Juniper bit her lower lip tightly. She was so beautiful, the sight of her crying made one feel pity for her.

“If you’re not angry at me, why won’t you come and see me when you know that I’m back? Don’t you know that I’ve been waiting for you all this time?”