Sensing someone behind him, Shanley turned slowly. He saw the girl standing at the top of the stairs, dressed in white with her long hair cascading over her shoulders. She was breathtaking, like a figure from a painting, utterly captivating.
"What are you looking at?" Shanley put down his wine ss and walked over to her, a fond smile on his face.
"I should get home," Juniper said, blinking to feignposure. "I''ll return the clothes next time."
"No need." Shanley had the kitchen bring out the special desserts he''d ordered. He gazed at her face and said in a low, husky voice, "I''ll take you home."
"Okay." This was a secluded, wealthy neighborhood of private vis; there was no public transportation.
"Ms. Payne, you''re wee back anytime," Dana said, handing Juniper a box of pastries with a warm, motherly smile. "Next time you visit, I''ll make you different kinds of desserts."
"Okay," Juniper replied obediently, not thinking too much about the hidden meaning in Dana''s words.
Next time? Shanley''s lips curved upward, a deep satisfaction in his eyes.
Dana was sharp. Her sry and bonus for the month would be doubled.
...
In the car, Felton and Flint sat in the front, with Shanley and Juniper in the back.
Juniper was scrolling through her phone, looking at news about Jimmie. ording to some reports, he would be finishing his work and returning to the country ahead of schedule in three days. Once he was back, they could do the DNA test.
If he wasn''t her brother, that was that. But if he was... Juniper''s face scrunched up in worry. She didn''t know how she would face him. Would he be able to ept having a sister?
Shanley nced over and happened to see her phone screen. He noticed she was staring intently at a photo of Jimmie.
"You like him?" Shanley''s brows furrowed, and his deep eyes narrowed, a strange emotion mingling with his usual warmth.
"Hmm?" Juniper snapped out of her thoughts and turned off her phone.
"No," she replied casually.
"He''s a national idol. I thought all young girls liked him." Shanley felt an inexplicable sense of relief, and the curve of his lips deepened. "If you want autographs or photos, I can get them for you."
"No, thank you." Juniper raised an eyebrow slightly. If she wanted those things, it would only take a few taps on her phone.
"Alright." Shanley chuckled, the fondness in his eyes growing even stronger. As long as she didn''t like him. That Jimmie fellow was, after all, quite popr with the youngdies.
As they neared Moulnds, Juniper sat with her hands ced properly on her knees, hesitating over how to bring up his "health" issue.
Just before getting out of the car, she took out a pen, wrote down a prescription on a piece of paper, and mustered up her courage to hand it to him.
"I heard you''re not in the best of health. You could try this herbal remedy." She couldn''t guarantee a 100% cure, but it would definitely have some effect.
Shanley was confused. "The medicine for my stomach? I haven''t finished it yet."
"This isn''t for your stomach." Juniper tilted her head, unable to look him in the eye. Her cheeks flushed as she tried to sound nonchnt. "An unmentionable problem is still a problem. It needs to be treated."
"What?" Shanley frowned, even more baffled. What was she talking about?
"The rumors are all over..." Juniper clutched her backpack straps tightly, blinking. "They say you... can''t perform, Mr. Schwartz. And that''s why you can''t find a girlfriend."
"You''ve helped me so many times, so I guess we''re friends. And as a friend, I should help if I can. Take this for now. If it works, I can adjust the prescription for youter."
After she finished, Shanley finally understood. She was giving him medicine for impotence!
The words hit him like a ton of bricks. He was a vtile mix of angry and utterly helpless.