She went through the list, eliminating names one by one. Finally, her eyesnded on a very familiar one: Faulkner Houston. Harold''s father was the most renowned phnthropist in Australis.
Seeing the name, Juniper couldn''t help but recall Harold''s reaction when he first met her. He had even said she looked familiar. So, it was highly likely that the person in that grave was either the Houston family''s biological son... or her brother.
The quickest way to find out was a DNA test. Or she could just rip open Harold''s shirt and check for a scar near his heart.
The thought that Harold could be her brother made Juniper''s expressionplicated. All this time, she''d been teasing him, calling him a fool, while he respectfully called her his grandmaster... only for him to turn out to be her brother. Just as she was lost in thought, the door opened and Shanley walked in.
"Dana said you ran upstairs as soon as you got back."
Her mood had been off for the past two days, and Shanley suspected she might have found out about her middle brother. He approached her cautiously. "What''s wrong?"
"Nothing," Juniper leaned back, a faint smile ying on her lips. "Just working on something. What''s that in your hand?"
"Egg tarts." Shanley opened the box, carefully observing her expression. She was smiling, her tone was light, and she seemed to be in a much better mood.
"I want one." Juniper opened the box and took one, taking a bite. Mmm. Delicious! "Want some?" Juniper offered the half-eaten tart to Shanley. "Try it, it''s good." "Okay." Shanley let out a sigh of relief and took a small bite.
"Come sit."
Shanley''s study was simple, with only a bookshelf, a desk, and a single chair, which the girl was currently upying. Shanley paused. Where was he supposed to sit?
Just as he was wondering, Juniper suddenly stood up and gestured to the chair. "You sit here."
"No, you can have it," Shanley''s smile widened, not wanting her to stand.
Juniper didn''t move. She just
Intra
chewed her egg tart and stared at him. Shanley hesitated fore mament, then obediently walked over and sat down. A few secondster, Juniper moved closer, turned, and gracefully sat down on hisp.
"Juniper....." The sudden intimacy caught Shanley off guard, and his whole body tensed.
"Shh." Juniper silenced him and happily continued eating her tart, asionally feeding him a bite.
Afraid she might lose her bnce and fall, Shanley wrapped his arms gently around her waist, his voice raspy "You can''t sit !
of your two brothee this in front
you know?"
"Hmm?" Juniper looked down, her beautiful face filled with confusion.
"There will be consequences," Shanley said, taking a napkin to wipe a crumb from the corner of her mouth. He smiled helplessly. "I''d probably get a beatdown from both of them."
"You could fight back," Juniper suggested.
"I can''t," Shanley''s lips twitched. He leaned his handsome face closer to hers, his voice a low whisper. "I can''t afford to offend my future brothers-inw."
Juniper stopped chewing and stared at Shanley. After a few seconds, she just said, "Oh and went back to eating. From the looks of it,
probably wouldn''t be a beatdown from two of them. It would be three.