Juniper stopped in her tracks and looked up at the man, her beautiful face etched


    with a knowing expression. He had the gall to talk about others? He''d been swindled out of tens of millions by her as well.


    "What is it?" Shanley asked, puzzled by her stare.


    "If you made me angry, and I scammed you out of some money, would you be mad?" Juniper raised a delicate eyebrow, her voice azy drawl, her eyes dancing with amusement.


    “Hmm?” Shanley paused for a second before a warm smile spread across his face. "Of course not. Good for you, Juniper."


    "Then we''re good," Juniper said with a shrug, turning and walking ahead with a bounce in her step.


    Shanley followed behind,pletely bewildered. What on earth was she talking about?


    ...


    Inside the top-floor apartment, Saskia and J were so intimidated by the tall, handsome, and impably dressed man that they barely dared to breathe. The apartment was spacious, but his presence seemed to suck all the air out of the


    room.


    "So, that''s the situation," Shanley said, doing his best to soften his intense aura and curve his lips into a gentle smile. "For a number of reasons, I will be looking after Juniper from now on. My apartment is right next door, so you cane over and see her whenever you like."


    “Juniper, is this true?" Saskia asked, looking at the girl who stood with her eyes downcast.


    "Yes," Juniper nodded calmly. "Saskia, I''ll move over tonight."


    Ever since she had arrived, Saskia had poured nearly all her attention into making her feelfortable. But J''s university entrance exams were just around the corner, and she needed special care. With her around, Saskia couldn''t fully focus on J, which might affect her daughter''s studies. The arrival of her brother and Shanley presented the perfect opportunity.


    "Tonight..." Saskia nced at the room she had just finished setting up, a look of disappointment on her face. But her biological brother had arranged it; as an outsider, she couldn''t really object.


    “Saskia, we''re only separated by a couple of walls," Juniper said, pouring her a ss of water. "We''ll still see each other all the time."


    "Juniper, can I still ask you for help with my homework?" J asked, her eyes red as she struggled to ept the separation.


    "Of course," Juniper said, affectionately stroking J''s head with a small smile. "You can ask me anything, anytime."


    "Juniper!" J cried, throwing her arms around Juniper and burying her head in her embrace.


    Watching the scene, Shanley''s deep eyes darkened, and his fingers tightened around the ss he was holding.


    "Juniper," he said, setting his ss down and cutting in at just the right moment. "It''s gettingte. We should go."


    "Okay," Juniper released J and stood beside Shanley. "Saskia, J, you two get some rest."


    "Alright,” Saskia and her daughter said, tearfully walking Juniper to the apartment across the hall.


    "Don''t cry, Mom," J said, patting her mother''s shoulder. "Juniper is only ten steps away."


    "I know, but..." Saskia wiped away her tears, a sour feeling in her heart. "I just feel like that man isn''t a good person. He looks less like a guardian and more like some slick operator trying to whisk a young girl away."


    J couldn''t help butugh. Mr. Schwartz clearly exuded an air of sophistication. "With two brothers watching over her, Juniper''s future is bound to be bright."


    “Really?” Saskia sighed, looking disinterestedly at the pile of priceless gifts. "All these things... it feels less like she''s moving next door and more like we''re giving her away in marriage!"