"I said he won''t, and he won''t," Shanley repeated, his eyes fixed on Melvin. Just as Kurt had said, the man''s gaze was practically glued to Juniper. "Now focus on your training."


    He hung up and strode forward.


    "Ms. Payne..." Melvin called out to Juniper, a faint smile on his lips. “Do you have a moment? I''d be honored if you''d join me for a cup of coffee."


    Her driving technique today, many of her moves, had been strikingly simr to J''s. J''s style was notoriously difficult; countless drivers had tried to imitate it, only to end up in fiery crashes. It wasn''t something an ordinary person would dare to attempt. How had someone so young managed to learn it? Could it be that J had taught her? "That''s not going to happen," Juniper replied, shooting him a cold look.


    "Ms. Payne..." Melvin took a step closer, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "This isn''t about racing. It''s personal."


    Personal? Juniper''s expression remained frosty. She had nothing to say to him.


    "You look a lot like someone I used to know," Melvin said, his voice thick with emotion.


    Ever since he''d met her, he''d been dreaming every night. In his dreams, her face kept merging with his little sister''s. He just wanted to ask about her family, to put his restless mind at ease.


    "Oh?" Juniper arched an eyebrow, a single, cold word escaping her lips. "Don''t tell me you''re going to say I look like your sister."


    "How did you know?" Melvin''s eyes widened in disbelief.


    “Please,” Juniper said, stuffing her hands in her pockets and tilting her chin up. “Are cheesy pickup lines like that still a thing wherever you''re from?"


    Melvin stood frozen, his face flushing red then paling. "Ms. Payne, I''m serious," he said, his expression earnest. “Do you have any siblings.....”


    "Juniper."


    A familiar voice cut through the air before Melvin could finish. They both turned to see Shanley


    vel


    approaching, backlit by the setting sun, his presencemanding.


    “Here''s your milkshake,” Shanley said, putting a straw in the cup and handing it to her.


    Then, his gaze shifted to Melvin, and his eyes turned deadly.


    "Go wait in the car," Shanley said softly, taking her backpack. "I''ll handle this."


    "Okay,” Juniper nodded obediently. She took a sip of her milkshake, then added quietly, "I didn''t agree to get coffee with him."


    "Hmm?" Shanley paused for a second, then broke into a smile. Was she worried he''d misunderstand?


    "I know," he said, patting her head gently. "A girl like you wouldn''t waste her time on someone like him."


    Melvin frowned. Someone like him? What''s that supposed to mean?


    al.n


    "Right," Juniper mumbled, biting on her straw, an odd feeling stirring inside her. Why did she feel the need to exin herself to Shanley? Unwilling to meet his intense gaze any longer, she turned and walked towards the car.


    “Ms. Payne—” Melvin started to follow, not ready to give up.


    ghis


    "If you value your life, stay away from her, Shanley said, blocking path Achilling aura emanated from him as he delivered the warning, each wordced with ice.


    Melvin was forced to stop. He looked Shanley up and down before asking coolly,


    "And you are... to Ms. Payne?"


    Given his age, he had to be an uncle or some other rtive, right?