Hannah watched how protective he was of this girl and snorted. "You''d better know your limits and behave yourself."


    Still in school... she probably wasn''t very old. For him to be so fixated on her already, he was truly a scoundrel.


    "I know, Grandma." Shanley put on his jacket and gave a slight bow. "The preparations for the banquet are nearlyplete. Please get some rest. I''ll be heading back now."


    With that, he turned and strode out of the house.


    "Mr. Schwartz..." Wendy emerged with ate-night snack, ready to call him, but he was already gone. She asked curiously, "Didn''t Mr. Schwartz say he was hungry?"


    “Hmph.” Hannah sighed, a faint smile on her lips. “He heard his precious darling wasn''t eating, so he rushed back to see her."


    Her grandson had always been unppable, but she had never seen him so devoted to anyone.


    "Are you worried the girl isn''t good enough for Mr. Schwartz?" Wendy asked.


    With the Schwartz family''s wealth and status, countless heiresses were desperate for a chance to marry in.


    "Of course not," Hannah replied, her aged but elegant face softening into a warm smile. “Shanley has always had excellent judgment. Any girl he chooses is bound to be remarkable. I''m just worried..." She gazed out the window, sighing again. "He''s pining after a young girl. Do her parents even know? If they found out, wouldn''t they break his legs?!"


    At that very moment, thousands of miles away, Jimmie Tate, who was on a business trip, suddenly sneezed.


    "Are you all right, Mr. Tate?" his assistant asked.


    "I''m fine.” Jimmie waved his hand and continued reading his script. Perhaps his sister was thinking of him. The thought of her made him eager to return home, but he quickly rxed. Shanley, his reliable friend, was taking care of her. He had nothing to worry about.


    ...


    Back at Cloudscape Community, Juniper was tutoring J Wilcox.


    It was already ten o''clock at night, and there was still no sign of movement from next door. Was Shanley noting back tonight?


    Just as she was lost in thought, a knock came at the door, followed by Dana''s voice. "Ms. Payne..."


    "I''m heading back now," Juniper announced, immediately getting to her feet.


    "Oh? Okay!" J, still holding her pen, was caught off guard as Juniper bolted out the door. What was wrong with her? She had been distracted all evening.


    Juniper rushed into her own house and scanned the living room. Seeing no sign of the man she was looking for, a wave of disappointment washed over her she turned to look at Dana, who was wearing an apron and holding a bowl of sweet pear soup.


    Dana stared back, confused. "Mr. Schwartz isn''t back yet."


    She had just prepared ate-night snack to warm Juniper''s stomach, which was why she had called her.


    "Oh." Juniper''s shoulders slumped, and she sat down at the dining table, dejected.


    "I don''t want..."


    "Mr. Schwartz requested it," Dana said, cutting her off when she saw Juniper was about to refuse. "Please have a little."


    After a few seconds of silence,


    Juniper finally picked up the spoon and finished the entire bowl. Afterwards, with nothing else to do, shey on the sofa, ying games other phone and asionally ncing at the clock on the wall. At some point, her eyes drifted shut.


    In a drowsy haze, she felt a gentle touch on her hair. Her eyelids


    fluttered open, and she found of


    staring into a pair of eyes as deep. as the ocean, yet incredibly gentle.


    It was Shanley.


    Was she dreaming?


    Juniper blinked, trying to shake off the sleepiness.


    "Why are you sleeping out here?" Shanley asked softly, crouching by the sofa and


    tucking the nket around her.