But now that Lemuel was gone... she could do more than just discipline her. She could have her killed, and no one would care.


    The next second, the sharp crack of a p echoed through the hallway. A stinging pain exploded across Frigga''s face, and she staggered backward on her high heels, crashing heavily to the floor.


    "Juniper, you hit my mom!" Ynda was the first to react, wing her way toward Juniper like a wild animal. "I''ll kill you! I''ll kill you!"


    Juniper stood her ground, her face hardening into a mask of pure fury. Her patience had run out, and a simmering rage was about to boil over. If she didn''t get serious, they would really think she was a pushover.


    Juniper''s eyes turned icy. With lightning speed, she grabbed a handful of Ynda''s hair and yanked it back hard.


    "Juniper—" Ynda was forced to crane her head back, her face contorted in pain. Before she could recover, Juniper dragged her into the women''s restroom and shoved her toward the sinks, turning on a faucet full st.


    "Juniper, what are you doing?" Ynda shrieked, struggling in terror at the sight of the water.


    But before she could finish, her head was shoved down, and icy water cascaded over her scalp, stinging her eyes so badly she couldn''t open them.


    "Aaaahhh!" Ynda''s agonized screams filled the restroom. "Dad, Mom, help me!" "Ynda! Ynda!" Malcolm and Frigga, shocked into action, scrambled after them. "Juniper, what do you think you''re doing?" Malcolm bellowed. "I''m calling the police!" "Should we call the reporters, too?" Juniper held Ynda by the neck with one hand and waved her phone with the other. "You wanted to clear Ynda''s name, right? A face-to-face confrontation would be most effective!"


    "You think we''re afraid of you?" Frigga''s face was a mess of tears and rage. "Where''s the phone? I''ll call!"


    Juniper''s words snapped Malcolm back to his senses. He snatched the phone from his wife''s hand. "Call who? Don''t be a fool!"


    They couldn''t call the police or the reporters. The Sherwin family had just managed to establish a foothold in Era City. If the authorities got involved, who knew what outrageous things this little tramp would say? It wasn''t worth risking thepany''s reputation.


    "Juniper, calm down!" Malcolm was genuinely frightened now. He had never seen her so vicious. In his memory, she was like a weak vine clinging to Lemuel, someone they could crush at will. When did she learn to dance? When did she be like this?


    "What do you want? Just tell us!" Malcolm forced the words out through gritted teeth, his voice strained with suppressed fury.


    "I want your lives. Are you giving them?" A faint smile yed on Juniper''s lips, but her voice was devoid of any warmth.


    The words hung in the air, and the restroom fell silent. Malcolm and Frigga were too stunned to even breathe.


    What did she want? Their lives? How dare she!


    The couple stood frozen as Ynda struggled weakly under the running water. The scene was utterly bizarre.


    Meanwhile, Shanley was growing concerned. Juniper had been gone for fifteen minutes, far too long for a trip to the restroom.


    "Boss, should I go check on Ms. Payne?" Flint asked respectfully.


    "Have the waiter bring two slices of cheesecake," Shanley instructed after a moment''s pause. Then he stood and headed toward the restrooms himself.


    As he neared the corner, he overheard people whispering about a fight, about a girl getting a vicious beatdown.


    Shanley''s eyes went cold. He picked up his pace, breaking into a light jog. But when he reached the restroom and saw the scene inside, he froze.