A notification pinged on Shanley''s phone while he was in a meeting. It was his private number, and he had a specific alert set for any messages concerning


    Juniper.


    “Hold on,” he said, his expression turning icy as he saw the sender''s name.


    The executive who was speaking immediately fell silent. Everyone else looked up, confused, as their CEO, his face suddenly grim, began typing furiously on his phone. What was going on? Was it about the girl he was so smitten with? Thest few times their boss had lost hisposure, she was the reason.


    The executives exchanged nces, but no one dared to speak.


    Shanley texted Qadir: [Rival?]


    Qadir replied instantly: [Yeah, that racing champion, Melvin. He just showed up at school looking for Juniper and even bought her fried chicken.]


    Melvin? Shanley''s fingers tightened on his phone, his face clouding over. The guy was like a bad penny.


    Shanley: [Juniper didn''t take anything from him, right?]


    Qadir: [Uh, she did.]


    She did? Why would Juniper ept a gift from someone else? A knot of frustration formed in Shanley''s chest. He felt like he didn''t understand her at all anymore. Was she trying to y the field? But if she was going to do that, she could at least pick someone younger. Melvin was just as old as he was.


    Shanley replied: [I see. Thanks for the heads-up.]


    Qadir''s response was immediate: [No problem! I just think you''re the only one in the world who''s good enough for Juniper.]


    Qadir had seen firsthand how well he treated Juniper. Besides, they were a perfect match, in looks and in spirit. He wouldn''t let anyone break up his favorite couple.


    "Heh." A small smile touched Shanley''s lips as he read Qadir''s message. The kid was young, but he had good taste.


    Ending the chat, Shanley turned to Felton and said in a low voice, "Invest another twenty million in Qadir''s family farm."


    "What? Oh, yes, boss," Felton replied, startled.


    Meanwhile, Qadir had just finished his report when he got a call from his father.


    ...


    "Son," his dad, Ondo, said, "that wealthy stranger just invested another twenty million in our farm."


    "What?"


    Qadir''s head was spinning. Another twenty million? Who was this rich? It seemed like every time he reported


    over


    on Juniper to Mr. Schwartz, his family received an investment. Could the investor be... Mr. Schwartz?


    het


    Holy cow. Qadir pped his forehead, trying to clear his head From now on, he decided, he had to be even more vignt and keep any weirdos away from Juniper


    When school let out, Shanley was waiting at the gate as usual.


    "Right on time," Juniper said, expertly handing him her backpack as she slid into the car. She picked up the milkshake from the small tray table. want some cookies.


    Shanley got in beside her, tore open a pack of cookies, and held one to her lips.


    "Yummy," she said after a bite, her face breaking into a wide, contented smile.


    “Did you have a good day at school?” Seeing her smile, Shanley''s expression softened, and his voice grew gentle.


    “It was okay,” Juniper repliedzily, sipping her milkshake.


    "Anything interesting you want to share with me?" Shanley coaxed, wiping a stray drop from the corner of her mouth.


    "Hmm?" Juniper crunched on her cookie, thinking for a moment before looking up at him. "You want to hear about it?"


    "I do," Shanley said, his gaze deepening. He was curious to see just how honest this girl would be.