“Haha... uh.”


    Flint''sughter died in his throat. A chill ran down his spine, and he quickly shut his mouth, terrified that after crushing the bottle, she might crush his neck next.


    Ms. Payne seemed so calm when the boss was around. Why was she like this today? He should have let Felton handle this.


    ...


    At the Cloudscape Community, for the first time since moving in, Juniper was eating dinner alone. “Mr. Schwartz was dyed by some business and might be backte,” Dana exined softly as she arranged the dishes. "Please, Ms. Payne, go ahead and eat."


    “Okay.” Juniper picked up her knife and fork but only took a few bites of her favorite dishes before setting them down. Nothing tasted good.


    "Are you finished, Ms. Payne?" Dana asked, surprised. "Is the food not to your liking?"


    She had barely eaten anything, a stark contrast to her usual hearty appetite.


    "No, I''m just not very hungry," Juniper said, standing up. “Thank you for cleaning up, Dana. I''m going to visit Saskia."


    Seeing the untouched dinner, Dana grew worried that something was wrong and immediately called Shanley.


    "She came home from school and hasn''t eaten anything?" Shanley, who was at the family estate, frowned with concern. "I''ll be back as soon as I''m finished here."


    After hanging up, he turned to find his grandmother, Hannah, studying him intently. "From school?" she asked, her expression serious. "This girl you''re so smitten with is still in school?"


    Shanley pressed his lips together, his silence a confirmation.


    "You...," Hannah stammered, clearly shocked. "You wouldn''t be..."


    "Grandma, your grandson is not that kind of person," Shanley said, shaking his head with a weary patience. "She''s an adult, just still in school. And rest assured, we are just friends for now."


    He would never cross any lines at an inappropriate time.


    "No wonder," Hannah said, shaking her head with a look of utter disdain. “With that ice-cold expression of yours, what girl could possibly like you?"


    Especially not a young one. It was no surprise he''d been chasing her for so long without sess.


    "Grandma, I''m your grandson," Shanley reminded her, a shadow of frustration crossing his handsome face.


    "If you were really my grandson, you''d have listened to me and met the gifted doctor," Hannah retorted, sitting off the sofa with her arms crossed and tips pursed. "But it''s toote to change your mind now. She already has another prospect."


    “Oh?” Shanley picked up the water pot and poured Hannah a ss of water.


    "Your second uncle''s son ising


    back from abroad soon," Hannah


    huffed. "That boy is only in his


    twenties. He''s a much better match


    for her And you, at your age had the nerve to look down on her I''m embarrassed for you!"


    "Him?" Shanley felt an unexpected wave of relief, and the corners of his mouth turned up. “Yes, they are a good match."


    At least now his grandmother would stop trying to set him up with that woman.


    "Are you going to bring this girl of yours for me to meet this time?" Hannah red at him, annoyed by his cheerful expression. She wanted to ?mack him. She had to see for Herself What kind of extraordinary girl had captured his heart so


    "Not yet," Shanley declined, grabbing his jacket. "She has something else on the day of your birthday banquet."


    Besides, the girl was shy around strangers and likely wouldn''t enjoy such a formal event. He would wait a while longer, at least until he could openly pursue her and win her over.