Ynda craned her neck, trying desperately to see which family''s heiress had captured him. Anyone who could win over the Schwartz family had toe from an impable background. She strained to see past the sea of heads, but it was no
use.
Just then, another piece of gossip floated over: "Her clothes are quite in, she doesn''t look like a socialite, but she has incredible presence.”
"Maybe Mr. Schwartz doesn''t care about family background?"
"I heard the younger Schwartz brother is back, too."
The younger Schwartz brother? At that, Ynda''s eyes lit up. She felt a renewed sense of hope. If she couldn''t get Shanley, someone else from the family would be just as good. As long as she could marry into the Schwartz family... Thinking of this, she nced at the man beside her, a flicker of disgust in her eyes.
...
At the banquet, Kent Schwartz, the family patriarch, and Hannah sat at the head of the main table. Shanley was seated to their right, with Juniper right next to him. Across from them were Kurt''s parents, and further down the table were other important Schwartz rtives. Shanley''s own parents had never made a public appearance. Rumor had it they had died long ago, while others imed their professions were too sensitive for them to be seen.
All eyes were curiously fixed on the unfamiliar young woman. They had heard she was Kent''s savior, but watching them now... it seemed her rtionship with Shanley was anything but ordinary.
"Who is she?" Monique, Kurt''s mother, leaned over to her son, who was busy devouring his food.
"Your cousin personally escorted her here," she whispered.
Throughout the meal, he had been serving her food and even peeling her shrimp, treating her like royalty. She had never seen him act like that.
"Huh?" Kurt, who had been subsisting on fried chicken and sandwiches abroad, was too preupied with the gourmet food to talk. He nced across the table at the affectionate pair and mumbled with his mouth full, "My future cousin-inw."
He had already gotten the full story from Flint. This little spitfire was the apple of Shanley''s eye. Best not to cross her.
"Future cousin-inw?" Monique eximed, her gaze on Juniper turning from curiosity to scrutiny. "She''s very cute, but isn''t she a bit young?"
"Don''t let her age fool you, she''s a wild one," Kurt said, wiping his mouth now that he was full. "Ah, it''s tooplicated to exin."
He needed to find a way to get closer to Juniper and ask her about racing.
Once they had eaten enough, and feeling the weight of everyone''s stares, Shanley decided to lead
Juniper way. Their rtionship was it wasn''t
Still undefined, an righ
time for a formal introduction to the family.
Back in the private lounge, Shanley had just poured Juniper a ss of water when a
head peeked around the door.
"Shanley..."
Kurt clung to the doorframe, his eyes fixed on him-or more urately on Juniper. The look in his eyes was like that of a starving man staring at a feast, practically drooling could it be that he d actually fallen for Juniper at first sight?
“What is it?” Shanley handed the ss to Juniper and turned to block Kurt''s view, his expression cold.
“Shanley, I''m here to see Ms. Payne," Kurt exined hastily, intimidated by his cousin''s re. “Don''t get the wrong idea. I have something important to ask her.”
He absolutely had no ulterior
motives. Maybe it was because she
was always with Shanley, but his future cousin-inw, despite her age, had a terrifyingly strong presence.
He wouldn''t dare even think about it; just getting close to her was unnerving.
“Important?” Shanley narrowed his eyes, a sardonic smirk ying on his lips. “What
kind of important business could you possibly have?"
Kurt clutched his chest, feigning injury. He might not be the most serious person, but his question was absolutely serious.
"Ms. Payne..." Knowing he wouldn''t get anywhere with Shanley, Kurt pinned his hopes on Juniper. “Would you mind if I asked you something?"