A Spoonful of Sugar: Don't Beg for Love

"We're going to be married soon. At such a sensitive time, it's better not to go out and offend the Lanes," Carter said. "Matthew isn't someone that we should trifle with. If he finds out that you badmouthed his sister and looks into the both of us, that's it. We're doomed."

There was not even a slight hint of hilarity in Carter's voice, so Juniper restrained herself, then refuted angrily after a short while, "Why are you so fierce? Of course, I have a sense of proportion, so why are you so worried?"

"You aren't even afraid of Rickard, so why would you be afraid of Matthew Lane?"

Juniper turned her head around and realized that Carter's expression had not softened at all. Instead, he lowered his gaze, and there seemed to be a trace of threat in his tone. "Listen to me. Don't act rashly and do something out of our plan."

Juniper was speechless. She then withdrew her gaze and nodded obediently. "I know, don't worry."

Only then did Carter give a faint smile. He rubbed Juniper's head. "Good girl. I'll wait for you outside. Pick up your pace and pack quicker. We have to see guests later."

Watching Carter leave, Juniper's expression became slightly colder. She then looked at herself in the mirror and gnashed her teeth.

'He had such a deep affection for me before, I actually thought that he had changed for the better because of me. I didn't doubt him even once. Not until the moment I found out that he was actually having an affair with another woman.'

Juniper had never hated someone so much before.

'He gave me hope of being loved by someone and then smashed it into smithereens. He wants to marry me only because I'm a suitable candidate. If it had been another woman who was sent to his room that day and she suited his taste, he would've accepted her too.'

After being exposed by Juniper, Carter actually took it even further by bringing other women directly back into his house. He even caused Ariana to fall ill because of anger. And that was when Juniper regretted her decision and asked Carter what it would take for him to let her and the Wights go.

In the end, Carter's request was for her to marry him. Juniper agreed.

After going through so much, Juniper understood that only the money that she possessed was real. All the pledges of love were only little tricks used by men to deceive women.

'Getting married to Carter will give me everything I want except love.'

Someone abruptly knocked on the door. Juniper lowered her fatigued gaze. "Mom?"

Ariana walked in, looked at Juniper's appearance, and said in distress, "If you don't want to marry Carter, I'll find a way for you to escape this marriage. You're my precious daughter; there's really no way that you've degenerated to this level."

"What are you talking about, Mom?" Juniper smiled, and the ambition in her eyes lit up in flames. "I refuse to believe that I can't achieve what Hesper has accomplished. Do you really think that Carter will be able to go back and forth with me?"

"Juni..." Ariana had watched as Juniper jumped into one fire pit after another, but she failed to stop her each time along the way.

Thinking of the previous agreement that she had with Hesper, Ariana walked out of the room and looked down at her cell phone anxiously.

She had been sending some news to a number that was saved on her phone as Hesper-Fredonia all this time, but Hesper had not replied to any of them. She had also heard about the changes that took place in the Lanes, but she continued to hold onto hope.

'Hesper, if that day ever comes, I hope you can let Juniper go.'

...

Hesper's legs had returned to their previous appearance. As for the fever that she got from exposing herself to rain, it was nothing to her.

After packing up her things, Hesper would be discharged from the hospital.

"Thank you so much for your care during this time. I'll surely make some food for you in the future. Hope you'll like it." Hesper looked at Mrs. Potter who was helping her pack up and thought of Wendy. Although Mrs. Potter and Wendy were very far apart in age, they were both very competent when it came to taking care of people.