"From what I remember, I was the oldest, too," Melvin countered, unwilling to back down. "How about I be the big brother?"


    Number two? Number three? Neither sounded very appealing.


    "Why don''t we ask Juniper who she wants as her big brother?" Jimmie''s fondness for this newly found brother was rapidly plummeting to zero. Didn''t he understand the concept of firste, first served?


    "Fine, let''s ask our little sister," Melvin agreed with a nod.


    In the next second, four eyes were fixed on the girl sitting in the chair, her chin propped on her delicate hand as she watched them with an air of casual amusement.


    Jimmie: “Juniper, who do you want to be the big brother?"


    Melvin: "Speak from the heart. I won''t hold it against you."


    Jimmie shot Melvin a look. Did this guy have no shame? Suddenly, he felt that Shanley hadn''t hit him hard enough.


    “Hmm?” Juniper shifted in her seat, slowly unwrapping a piece of candy and popping it into her mouth. "You want me to choose?"


    "You choose!" the two brothers said in unison, their eyes filled with anticipation. Whoever she chose would be the brother she liked best.


    “How about this....." Juniper blinked slowly. “You two y rock-paper-scissors. The winner gets to be the second oldest, and the loser will be the third oldest."


    There was another brother out there, wasn''t there? He could be the oldest. Since they both disliked being second or third, this way they could both be unhappy, which would create harmony, right? She was a genius.


    Jimmie and Melvin stared at each other in silence.


    "So, uh, do you remember much from when we were kids?" Jimmie asked, deftly changing the subject.


    "I remember some things," Melvin replied, understanding Jimmie''s intent. Neither wanted to be number two or three, so they tacitly agreed to both be big brothers for now They talked for a while, and many of their memories matched up, though the details were fuzzy.


    "There''s still one brother and three sisters out there," Melvin said, his expression turning serious. “I don''t have any leads on the others."


    "Don''t worry, we''ll find them eventually," Jimmie reassured him. "For now, you should talk with our little sister."


    "Right." Melvin finally turned to Juniper, his face a mixture of nervousness and excitement. "I can''t believe the legendary J is my sister."


    The person he had idolized for years was his very own sister. He must have saved the gxy in a past life.


    "It is surprising," Juniper said, raising an eyebrow. Her voice was clear and pleasant. "Hello."


    “Hello,” Melvin said, gently taking her hand. His voice choked with emotion. "From now on, your big brother will protect you. Especially from maniptive men who prey on young girls."


    As he said this, he deliberately nced at the maniptive man in question— Shanley. "Tell me, how did this so-called guardian force you into this?"


    Force? Jimmie''s gaze shifted between them, his stomach churning with unease. The way they had interacted at breakfast that one time had seemed more natura than a long-married couple. Something was definitely off. But surely Shantey wouldn''t be so shameless?


    "If I recall correctly," Melvin said,


    deciding it was time to settle the


    score for the beating he''d taken, "the first time we met, Mr. Schwartz


    introduced himself as Juniper''s... future husband."


    What? Future husband? Juniper and Jimmie''s heads snapped toward Shanley in unison.