A Spoonful of Sugar: Don't Beg for Love
Chapter 620

Nathaniel's words caused Rickard and Matthew to frown at the same time.

"Isn't 013 one of your underlings? So why would he take Hesper away?" Rickard did not leave immediately but questioned him instead. "You can't even manage your own men?"

Knowing that Rickard would not trust him so easily, Nathaniel pressed the tip of his tongue against his teeth. "You don't have to believe me, but Hesper doesn't have much time left... 013 is a personality that was born from a series of psychological suggestions, and you expect him to be loyal?"

"Let's go and save Hesper first."

Matthew grabbed Nathaniel from Rickard, and his expression became a little complicated, as this was his first time meeting him after knowing about Nathaniel's true identity.

In his impression, Nathaniel had always been like a younger brother who needed to be taken care of, an all-knowing and omnipotent friend, and a gentle and courteous man. Matthew had never suspected that such a person would lie in ambush by his side for so long, just to give him a fatal blow someday.

"There's no time for you to hesitate." A hint of urgency could be seen flashing across Nathaniel's eyes. "013 has missed his target many times, so he won't chit-chat with Hesper this time. There's a factory west of here. That's where he must've brought her."

Rickard nodded to Matthew then strode out of the hospital.

Before coming here, Rickard had already researched all the relatively remote buildings and facilities around the area. The chemical plant to the west was naturally within his scope of consideration, so he could accurately replace the location of the factory without anyone's guidance.

When he was on his way, Rickard's mind was almost blank. He only knew that he had to rush to the factory as soon as possible. Otherwise, Hesper would die.

'This is the closest Hesper ever has been to death, and this is also the closest I've ever been to saving her... So I mustn't miss her.'

At this moment, every scene of the past came back to him. Rickard thought about the first time he saw Hesper back then. She was carrying a huge school bag on her back, which looked a little worn out; it contained all her belongings. And she stood behind his grandpa quietly, staring at him with her innocent and clear eyes. That was the first time Rickard felt that he was being watched attentively. This girl did not know that he was the Duvals' future, nor did she know what kind of "genius" or "heir" he was.

Rickard had unconsciously stretched out his hand to her, promising that he would protect her in the future.

He was the one who laid out the terms first, but in the following years, he completely forgot about his oath and the decision that he had made back then. He also forgot that one glance he got from her when they first met.

As for her, she only watched him quietly from the side all this while, and this action of hers went on for ten years.

Rickard suddenly felt that his past guilt was nothing compared to this. He might never have realized that what he owed Hesper was not the love and special treatment that he did not show her throughout their marriage.

It was he who broke his promise to protect her at first. He actually witnessed from the side as Julie, Sophia, and even Juniper drove her into an abyss step by step.

Not only did he not stop them, but he turned into the last pair of hands that pushed her off the cliff.

...

When Hesper opened her eyes again, she keenly felt that she was not in a hospital.

'Did I just lose the gamble?'

She still felt very unwell, so she supported herself to sit up from the couch and found herself in a car. The person driving in front was none other than 013, who had been trying to put her to death. "How could it be you?"

Hesper was completely voiceless, while 013 glanced at her through the rearview mirror. He skipped all the nonsense and said, "Are you disappointed to see me? And don't keep your hopes high. Nathaniel has been dealt with; he's now badly injured. Rickard and Matthew haven't found you yet either. Come next year and this day will mark your death anniversary."