Love Is a Sweet Addiction

Esther had just finished dinner when she received a call from Rory.

Hearing that Betty asked her to go back, she replied without thinking, “Rory, please tell Grandma that I am not free today.”

Rory was a little troubled. “Miss Esther, you should come back. Betty said that if you don’t come back tonight, you could never step into the house and see your parents again.”

Esther was furious. That was it again.

Rory paused for a moment and then advised, “Miss Esther, for your parents, you should also come back. It would be best if you could bring Mr. Terence back with you.”

Of course, Esther knew Rory’s meaning. If Terence accompanied her, Betty would restrain herself a lot, at least not punishing her like last time. It was just embarrassing to ask Terence to go back together. Forget it, she didn’t want to ask that cold man!

She probed, “Why did grandma ask me to go back?”

“It seems to be about a painting,” Rory said.

It turned out to be for the painting. Esther breathed a sigh of relief. She knew that Betty had been coveting the painting for a long time. Last year, she even used the company as an excuse to force her to take the painting out, but she refused.

Betty disliked her and she hated her even more because of this.

“Alright, I’ll be back soon.” She said after some thought.

After hanging up the phone, she went upstairs to change her clothes. When she went downstairs, she happened to meet Terence who came out of Gill’s room. He glanced at her and frowned slightly. “Where are you going?”

“Grandma told me to go back.”

“The Cusack’s?”

“Yes.” Esther looked at him. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, “Can you lend me your car?”

“OK.” Terence glanced at her again. “But are you sure you can come back alive?”

“Don’t worry.” Esther smiled and walked towards the gate.

When Esther returned to the Cusack’s, Betty was sitting on the sofa, and Anne was sitting next to Betty, eating with a plate of fruit in her arms. Apparently, they were waiting for her.

“Esther, you’re back.” Doris went up to her, grabbed Esther’s wrist, and asked, “Have you eaten? Are you alone?”

“I’ve eaten. I come back alone.” Esther patted the back of her mother’s hand to comfort her. She then turned to Betty and greeted her with a smile, “I heard that you are furious because of a painting, and wanted to ask me something in a hurry?”

Betty’s anger was immediately aroused by Esther’s words. She angrily slapped Esther and said, “Esther, how could you have the face to mention the painting? Last year, when the company was in trouble, I asked you to take the painting out and auction it. You refused and said that the painting was the only memory your grandfather had left you. However, you gave it to the Anetly Group now. Don’t you feel ashamed to be such a traitor?”

Esther covered her bruised face, walked to the sofa, and sat down. She said indifferently, “You said that my grandfather left me the painting, then I have the absolute right to deal with it. Why should you be bothered with this matter?”

“Esther!” Betty was furious and wanted to slap her again. “That’s right. The painting is yours, but the Cusack Group belongs to all of us. It’s fine that you refuse to help the company tide over the difficulties. But how could you take the painting to snatch the contract from Anne to prevent her from marrying into the Gibson family?”

Betty’s palm was grabbed by Doris. Doris anxiously pleaded, “Mom, Esther was just punished by you last time. Her wounds must have not recovered yet. Don’t hit her anymore. She…”

“You still have the face to speak here? Look at what kind of daughter you have raised!” Betty slapped Doris.

Esther felt depressed by that slap.

She did not know how many slaps her mother had to suffer from Betty when she was not home. It must not be less.

Betty called her back not only for the painting but also for Anne.

She gritted her teeth and said to Doris, “Mom, go upstairs to rest first. Don’t waste time here.”

Doris wanted to say something but hesitated. Her daughter was here. How could she leave?

Esther did not force Doris. She raised her eyes and glanced at Anne who had not spoken since the beginning. She said, “First of all, the Cusack Group had belonged to others since Dad failed. It’s not ours. My mom and I didn’t take a single cent of the Cusack Group over the years. Secondly, I gave the painting to the Anetly Group for the contract of the Fairy Mountain. But I did it to help my husband complete the task given by Master Gibson, not to prevent Anne from marrying into the Gibson family. Anne is so capable, and no one can stop her from marrying into the Gibson family. Just be at ease, Madam Cusack,”

Esther then turned to Anne, “Miss Anne, is there any need for me to spend so much effort to stop you from marrying into the Gibson family?”

Anne understood what she was referring to and gritted her teeth in anger.Exclusive content © by Nô(v)el/Dr/ama.Org.

“Esther, how dare you speak to your sister and grandmother like this?” Betty was furious. “Besides, why doesn’t the Cusack Group belong to us? How could you say you and your mother didn’t take a single cent from the Cusack Group? What you eat and wear all count.”

Esther was not in the mood to argue with Betty about this boring question. She said, “Ever since I started working, what we wear and eat were all earned by me from outside. It would only be three meals a day. You treat my mother as a servant all day long. It’s fine if you don’t pay her much, but three meals a day was the most basic, right?”

She paused for several seconds and continued, “I didn’t come back tonight to discuss these trivial matters with you. I didn’t come back because of the painting. I came back for my mother not to be angry with. You also scolded and hit me. If there is nothing else, I will go back first.”

Betty was infuriated by her. She gritted her teeth and threatened, “Esther, I’m warning you. Anne would marry into the Gibson family sooner or later. If you do anything to hinder her happiness again, I will never forgive you!”

“When did you become so unconfident?” Esther sneered at Anne mockingly.

Anne finally spoke, “Isn’t it because you used despicable means?”

“Since you know that my methods are despicable, don’t provoke me. Also, be good to my mother. Otherwise, I will be even more despicable!” After speaking that fiercely, Esther stood up from the sofa and walked in the direction of the gate.