"Yes," Juniper confirmed with a nod. "Dr. Zigmund and I are acquaintances. We''ve known each other for a long time. Isn''t that right, Dr. Zigmund?"


    "Yes, yes, of course!" Dr. Zigmund nodded frantically, his face a mask of misery. "Master, this is all a misunderstanding. I didn''t mean to....."


    He trailed off, mortified. There was no exining his way out of this. Could he just kneel and beg for forgiveness?


    "I haven''t said anything," Juniper replied with a slight smirk, her eyes scanning the living room, clearly looking for someone.


    "Looking for Shanley?" Hannah guessed, immediately sending someone to find him.


    "Come on in, it''s too hot outside." She happily led Juniper inside, with a dejected Dr. Zigmund trailing behind them.


    Once they were seated, Hannah couldn''t help but gloat a little. "So, what do you think now? Not only is Juniper a medical genius, but she''s also Shanley''s future wife. And you wanted to introduce him to another girl? Could she possiblypare to our Juniper?"


    Future wife? Dr. Zigmund''s head shot up again, his heart pounding. So his Master really was Shanley''s girlfriend. What a coincidence!


    "Introduce him to another girl?" Juniper sipped her coffee, then nced quizzically at Dr. Zigmund.


    "A misunderstanding, aplete misunderstanding!" Dr. Zigmund quickly exined. "I originally thought you and Shanley would make a perfect couple, Master. I was nning on ying matchmaker for the two of you! Who knew it was already fate, a match made in heaven, destined to be..."


    "Is that the only reason?" Juniper stared at him coolly as he rambled on, one eyebrow raised. "It wasn''t just him you were interested in, but his money as well, right?"


    "Ahem!" Caught, Dr. Zigmund''s old face flushed. He couldn''t admit it, but he couldn''t lie and deny it either. All he could do wasugh awkwardly to cover his embarrassment.


    "So Juniper is Dr. Zigmund''s Master!" Hannah and Kent eximed in unison. "And here we were, thinking she could be your apprentice."


    "Never! I wouldn''t dare!" Dr. Zigmund shot to his feet, hands sped in front of him, head slightly bowed in a gesture of utmost apology.


    "Well, this is a case of friendly fire, isn''t it?" Kentughed heartily. "It makes things much simpler now that we all know each other."


    As they were chatting, Shanley and Harold returned from their walk in the garden. "Over here, quickly!"


    Dr. Zigmund waved Harold over,


    desperate for a distraction. If he set


    heat his Master''s re was going to kill him content belongs to


    "Professor," Harold said with a polite smile.


    "Be serious," Dr. Zigmund said, pping Harold on the back. "Your grandmaster is here too."


    "Huh?" Harold looked over and saw his sister''s nonchnt expression, then nced at his professor''s terrified demeanor. He immediately guessed Dr. Zigmund had gotten on Juniper''s bad side


    "What do you mean, ''huh''?" Dr. Zigmund felt like he was about to have a heart attack. This was not the time to provoke his Master further.


    "Oh," Harold drawled, a smirk ying on his lips. "Juniper, my dear sister, how long have you been here?"


    "Are you trying to get us killed?" Dr. Zigmund gasped, nearly fainting on the spot.


    What did Harold just call her? Juniper! Sister! Even he didn''t know his Master''s first name, and Harold had the nerve to act so familiar? The dot! Was he out of his mind?