Love Is a Sweet Addiction

But Russell’s hobbies were a little…

They weren’t special but a bit too elegant. Russell didn’t like smoking or drinking but music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, as well as collecting antiques.

Serena advised Esther, “It’s a bit difficult to use that to bond with him. Why don’t you tell him the offer the Gibson Group can make? I believe he will give you the land after that.”Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

“Didn’t you say that Mr. Russell is eccentric and difficult to deal with?”

“But no matter how eccentric one is, he can’t hate money. Besides, isn’t he in a hurry to sell the land in the Fairy Mountain?”

Esther was lost for thought. She nodded at first and then shook her head. “Just in case.”

…

It was the second time that Esther had returned to the Cusack’s after she married Terence.

When Esther entered the door, Anne was eating lychees with her legs crossed. When Anne saw Esther coming in, Anne immediately mocked, “Mrs. Gibson is back.”

Anne glanced over Esther’s shoulder and continued, “Why do you come alone again? Where’s the handsome and charming Mr. Terence?”

Esther ignored her, looked around before walking straight to the kitchen, and called out, “Mom, are you there?”

As expected, Doris was washing the dishes in the kitchen. When hearing Esther’s voice, Doris immediately came out of the kitchen. She was both happy and worried, so she asked, “Esther, you’re back. What’s up? Have you eaten yet?”

Esther glanced at her and said, “Mom, I have eaten. Is Elisa not here? Why do you wash the dishes?”

“The company is not profitable, so we have no money to hire servants. We can only wash the dishes ourselves.” Anne glanced at them and said coldly.

“Why don’t you wash the dishes?” Esther asked.

“I? I have to go to work during the day. Do I have to wash the dishes after work? Do you think I am a robot?”

“Do you have work? Obviously…”

Doris quickly grabbed Esther’s arm and shook her head. “Esther. Stop it. It’s not a big deal. Anyway, I have nothing to do except to take care of your Eduardo all day.”

Esther wanted to argue with Anne. However, when Esther realized that Doris would definitely be the one who would suffer even if she won the fight, she could only grit her teeth and endure it.

“Do you regard you as Mrs. Gibson that the Cusacks can’t afford to offend?” Betty appeared and rebuked.

Esther frowned and slowly turned to look at Betty.

Doris hurriedly said, “Mom, don’t blame Esther. She just feels sorry for me and doesn’t understand the situation at home…”

Betty interrupted Doris, stared at Esther, and said angrily, “How dare you to be so aggressive without understanding the situation at home? Anne is now pregnant by James. She is delicate, but you ask her to wash the dishes. What are you up to?”

Esther was stunned and thought, ‘Is Anne pregnant by James?’

It was so fast!

Doris explained, “Mom, Esther didn’t know that Anne is pregnant. Esther is wrong.”

“Esther, are you dumb? Do you need someone else to speak for you?” Betty shouted.

Esther recovered from the fact that Anne was pregnant and said to Betty, “Grandma, I’m afraid you won’t be happy if I say anymore.”

“Even if you don’t know how to speak, have you forgotten how to greet people? Other than Doris, do you want to cut all lies with Anne or me?”

Esther still put on a faint smile and said coldly, “Would you believe me if I said no? Besides, Grandma, you hate me so much that you don’t like to hear me greet you, right?”

Betty was so angry that she was speechless.

Doris hurriedly pulled Esther’s arm, signaling to Esther to stop talking.

Noticing that Betty was angry, Esther suddenly kind of regretted and thought, ‘When did I become so disrespectful to the old or the pregnant? I shouldn’t be like this!’

Although Betty and Anne were so hateful, they were now weak.

Esther softened her voice and apologized to Betty, “I’m sorry, Grandma. I’m just here to get something, not to make you angry.”

How could Betty listen to her apology? Esther gave Betty an out, so Betty snorted and then ignored Esther.

But Anne said, “It’s funny. The Gibsons are rich and very generous. Mrs. Gibson, why do you still need to go back to the Cusacks to get anything?”

In consideration of Anne being pregnant, Esther didn’t want to argue with her or pay more attention to her but walked towards her bedroom on the second floor.

After Doris quickly cleaned up the kitchen, she also went upstairs and came to Esther’s bedroom.

When Doris entered, Esther was sitting on the bed and admiring a painting.

“Esther, it is too valuable, so you should bring it to the Gibson’s.” Doris walked up to Esther and then sat down. When Doris looked at the painting with Esther, she said apprehensively, “The company is getting less profitable. Betty asked me about the painting a while ago. I think she wants to sell the painting to save the company.”

“My grandfather left the painting to me. Why should I give it to them?” Esther was puzzled.

Doris shook her head and said, “Esther, you can’t say that. The company is Eduardo’s life’s work. Can you watch it close down? You are his daughter, so you have a responsibility to save the company.”

“I know that the company is Dad’s life’s work, but now the company has been occupied by Anne and her relatives. Since Anne is willing to give the company to her relatives relying on the fact that she can marry James, I think it won’t be long before the legal person of the company will be changed to her uncle.”

Doris understood this, but what could she do?

Doris and Esther had no right to interfere with the company’s affairs, nor did they have the ability to salvage anything. What was worse, they could not even protect the foundation of the company.

Doris smiled bitterly and said, “I hope that your Eduardo will wake up one day.”

Esther patted Doris on the shoulder and said, “Mom, don’t worry. If the company closes down, it’s not a big deal. Whether Dad can wake up or not, I can support you in the future.”

Doris looked at Esther with pity and said, “Is it the reason why you insist on marrying Terence even though you know that he is sick?”

Esther smiled as she shook her head. “Not exactly. There are other reasons as well.”