"Even though we can only see their backs, you can just imagine how furious Mr. Tate must be," one dancer whispered.


    "Lunar is so arrogant. How dare she ignore Mr. Tate to his face?"


    "She must know she''s crossed a line and can''t fix it, so she''s just given up."


    "She''s acting calm, but I bet she''s panicking inside!"


    "Elvira, you should get ready to take her ce."


    "Exactly," Ynda chimed in eagerly, quick to tter her new ally. "Elvira is the only one who''s right for this role."


    Elvira smiled, then nced at Ynda. "With your skill level, you''d make a fine backup dancer." Once she was the lead, it was only natural for her to pick her own team.


    "Thank you, Elvira!" Ynda beamed. Juniper would be cklisted from the dance world, disgraced and forgotten, while she would rise to international fame in Mr. Tate''s MV. The thought alone was intoxicating. This was the oue she had been waiting for.


    Inside the studio, the only sound was the crisp cracking of nuts. Jimmie took a step forward, finally seeing the girl''s face. In that instant, his breath caught in his throat.


    There was no need for a DNA test. One look at that face was all the proof he needed. This girl was his sister!


    "My sis—" Jimmie started, his voice cracking. He clenched his fists, afraid of scaring her, and quickly changed his words. "You..."


    "Tsk," Juniper tilted her head back, meeting his gaze without a hint of fear. "I''m just eating some nuts. Mr. Tate, you''re not going to tell me to ''get out'' again, are you?" "No," Jimmie said, his face paling in rm. "Eat all you want. Anything you want." He''d let her eat bullets if it made her happy.


    "Or maybe..." Juniper raised an eyebrow, her hands never ceasing their work, a subtle smile ying on her lips. "You heard the rumors about me, found out I dismissed the dancers, and came to settle the score?"


    "No," Jimmie shook his head, his eyes stinging, a lump forming in his throat. How could he ever be angry with her? He only wanted to spoil her.


    "Oh." Juniper seemed satisfied with his response. She cocked her head, her voice softening slightly. "Mr. Tate, I''ve heard that you''re devoted to your sister''s memory. Aren''t you afraid my bad reputation will ruin the MV you''re making for her? After all,st time, I just identally touched her photo frame, and you shoved me into the door. My arm was bruised for days."


    Her tone wasced with a genuine sense of grievance.


    "I''m sorry," Jimmie choked out, the memory ofying a hand on her filling him with agonizing regret. "I didn''t know then. I didn''t know you were my..."


    Sister...


    The word was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn''t bring himself to say it. He had acted like such a monster, he had even hurt her. She must despise him. If he told her the truth now, would she ever ept him?


    "You didn''t know I was your what?" Juniper set aside the nuts and slowly rose to her feet. She walked toward him, her clear eyes locking onto his.


    "You didn''t know I was your sister, did you? Bro!"


    What? What did she just call him?


    Bro?!


    It felt as if something had just exploded in his brain.