A Spoonful of Sugar: Don't Beg for Love

Seeing the reluctance on Pennleigh's face, Hesper understood everything deep down, but she still nodded lightly. "It isn't forever. I'm just going back to Halwanest to get some things sorted... I'll be back in a month at most. I know I still have orders to complete in Eustoma; I won't be that irresponsible."

Pennleigh was visibly relieved when he heard her response, but Hesper hesitated for a moment before she continued to say, "I don't plan to fall in love now or any time soon. There are more things going on in my life now than you can ever imagine."

Looking into Hesper's eyes, Pennleigh gave a wry smile. "You really aren't leaving me with a chance or space to work with, are you?"

Hesper had always regarded Pennleigh as a younger brother, and she had not found out about his feelings for her until very recently. She felt a little guilty deep down, but for this reason, she couldn't give Pennleigh any hope.

'Cutting him off now would be better than dragging things out. There are many women out there who are worthy of his love, so he shouldn't waste more time on me.'

"Starting tomorrow, I won't be coming in anymore. And if Aunt Isobella asks to meet your girlfriend again in the future, I'm sorry, but I can't help you with that." Hesper packed her belongings and turned her head around. Her gaze burned with a trace of solemnity. "Seriously, Penn, just find yourself a real girlfriend this time."

After arranging her accommodation in Fredonia and bidding Roberto goodbye, Hesper was ready to officially embark on her journey back to Halwanest.

Roberto looked at the woman standing in front of him and felt slightly emotional. "To put it in Halwanese, you look worlds apart from how you looked when you first came here."

'I still remember that when Hesper left Halwanest and came to Fredonia, she was in quite a sticky situation. The savings that she had at that time weren't even enough to allow her to stay in a safer, better community. However, she's now the rather well-known River A. in the fashion design circle, and she got here without any of my help. She got here with just her own ability and tenacity.'

Ever since getting back in touch with Matthew, it was only natural for Hesper to reconnect with Renee and Isaac.

The two complained to her about her sudden disappearance, but they mostly wanted to know how she had been doing recently.

"Ms. Lane, do you know about Master Lane's sudden illness?" Renee asked tentatively.

Hesper naturally knew about it, but Renee seemed to have something to say, so she shook her head. "Grandpa has always been in great health, so why would he fall ill all of a sudden...? Please don't tell me that it has something to do with me."

"Well, it's related to you, but at the same time, it isn't."

Renee did not know how to put it into words, but Isaac blabbered away instantly. "It was because of Ms. Rachael. She laid her hands on the contracts between you and Mr. Duval, and Master Lane found out about it."

Hesper raised her eyebrows.

'I kept those contracts within the company because I had hoped that Lane Holdings could make good use of them and consider them as the last few things that I've left behind for the company. I didn't expect them to be so well-protected.'

"It wasn't a big deal at first, but Mr. Lane and Master Lane have issued repeated orders, saying that no one can touch your projects casually. However, Ms. Lane still ignored the order. She even quarreled with Master Lane... to the extent that he fell ill."

Hearing this, Hesper frowned.

'Grandpa is the most important person in the entire Lane family. Even Wilfred wouldn't dare to confront him directly. Rachael has only returned to the Lanes not long ago, so how could she speak rudely to Grandpa? ...It's obvious that Grandpa is someone who loves his grandchildren the most in this world.'

Isaac had been accumulating all his dissatisfaction about Rachael for a very long time, so he complained, "Renee hasn't spent too much time with her, but I'm stuck by her side all day long. I have to say, she's extremely annoying. Ms. Lane hasn't been showcasing much ability in the company, but she flaunts her status and identity as a Lane everywhere she goes."

"Isaac."