Juniper checked the time and replied: [Don''t worry, I''ll be there on time.]


    She needed to drop off more of the old gentleman''s medication anyway.


    The olddy was overjoyed: [Wonderful, wonderful! I''ll be waiting for you, dearie!]


    Juniper: [Okay.]


    After ending the chat, Juniper remembered that today was the deadline to deliver the custom jewelry. She couldn''t possibly hand it to Shanley herself. If he found out that the person who''d charged him a small fortune was her... the scene would be incredibly awkward.


    After some thought, she contacted her studio and had them notify Shanley that his order was ready for pickup.


    Just as she sent the message, her phone buzzed again. It was Shanley: [Juniper, I''m outside the school. Usual spot.]


    Juniper: [Okay.]


    She grabbed her backpack and hurried out.


    "Juniper!" Qadir called out, grinning as he saw her rush. He guessed it had something to do with Mr. Schwartz. Only Mr. Schwartz could make her move that fast.


    "Is your brother waiting for you outside?"


    At his words, Juniper stopped dead in her tracks, her beautiful eyes fixed on Qadir. "Wh-what''s wrong?" Qadir froze, unnerved by her cold stare.


    "He''s not," Juniper said, her lips barely moving.


    Not what? Qadir waspletely bewildered.


    Queenie also sensed her friend''s displeasure and stayed quiet, blinking curiously.


    "He''s not my brother," Juniper stated, her voice clear and firm, emphasizing each word. "Shanley Schwartz is not my brother."


    Qadir and Queenie stared,


    speechless. If he wasn''t her brother, then what was he? They were both bursting with curiosity but neither dared to ask.


    "R-right," Qadir stammered, nearly biting his tongue. "I''ll remember that."


    "Good." Juniper''s expression softened slightly, and she continued on her way.


    Once she was gone, Qadir immediately turned to Queenie, frowning. "What''s with Juniper? Did she have a fight with Mr. Schwartz or something?"


    To disown him as a ''brother'' like that...


    "A fight?" Queenie rested her chin on her hand, her eyes narrowed in thought like a detective on a case. "I don''t think so."


    "Then what is it?" Qadir leaned in closer, his warm breath fanning across her face.


    Queenie''s cheeks immediately flushed. She instinctively took a step back and turned away, pretending to collect homework. "How should I know?"


    There were only two reasons a girl


    wouldn''t want to call a guy she


    ''e''


    wasn''t rted to her brother. One was that she disliked him. But it was obvious that Juniper didn''t dislike Mr. Schwartz, in fact she seemed closer to him and relied on him more than anyone.


    The other reason... was that she liked him. Because she was in love with him, she didn''t want him to see her as just a little sister.


    Which one was it? Based on Juniper''s reaction just now, Queenie felt the second possibility was much more likely.


    Of course, this was just her theory, and she wasn''t about to share it with a bbermouth like Qadir.


    "Why are you moving so far away?" Qadir clicked his tongue, annoyed. "First Juniper gives me the cold shoulder, and now you too?"


    "I''m not!" Queenie insisted, looking utterly innocent.


    "Really?" Qadir''s mood brightened instantly. He pped her on the shoulder like a buddy. "Great! Go grab Dolce I''ll treat you guys to obster


    Queenie nced at the hand on her shoulder, the heat in her face intensifying.