Pushing himself any harder would likely break him, doing more harm than good.


    "I''ll go with you when the timees," Juniper said, her gaze distant as she sipped her juice. Her tone was light, but it carried an undercurrent of deadly intent.


    "Master, please don''t do anything reckless," Dr. Zigmund warned with a nervousugh. "You''re so petite. If you cause a scene, those foreigners will just toss you out."


    "I wouldn''t be so sure about that," Shanley interjected. He ced a peeled grape onto a small te, his eyes fixed on Juniper with a soft, knowing smile. "It''s not certain who would be tossing whom out."


    Dr. Zigmund was speechless. From the sound of it, Shanley was going to back her up. With the Schwartz family''s wealth and influence, it was usible. As long as his Master didn''t get hurt. Otherwise, with her temper...


    Dr. Zigmund rubbed his bald head, sighing internally. He was genuinely afraid she''d see her brother being bullied by the foreigners, leap onto the stage, and start punching the judges.


    After dinner, Dr. Zigmund had to leave. As a gracious host, Shanley walked him to the door, with Juniper following along.


    Just before he left, Dr. Zigmund leaned in close to Juniper, his eyes darting between her and Shanley. "That wood you got from mest time," he said pointedly, "was it to make a bracelet for him?"


    Juniper didn''t answer. It was supposed to be a secret; she hadn''t told Shanley yet. She''d overheard Felton and Flint talking and learned that Shanley''s 29th birthday wasing up. As for a gift... Shanley wanted for nothing, so she had to give him something more personal.


    "I see, I see," Dr. Zigmund chuckled. Though his Master was silent, her expression said it all.


    "I wish you two a long and happy life together, and may you have children soon..." He trailed off, realizing thest part might be inappropriate, and swallowed the words.


    "Shanley, I''ll be off then," Dr. Zigmund said, turning to him with the air of a proud father-inw. "You''d better take good care of my Master. A treasure like her is impossible to find twice."


    "I will," Shanley replied, personally opening the car door for him with a slight bow. "Take care."


    "You two head back inside," Dr. Zigmund said, waving smugly at Shanley before his gaze fell on Juniper, his attitude instantly reverting to one of humble respect. "Master, I''m entrusting Harold''s matter to you. It''s easier to scold your own family, after all


    "Just go already," Juniper said, tired of his chatter, and pushed the car door shut. "Felton, drive."


    "Wait, I wasn''t finished! Shanley, you know myb, right? All that equipment is very expensive! And my Master-argh!"


    Before Dr. Zigmund could finish, the sports car shot off down the driveway.


    Finally, the world was quiet.


    you


    "Do


    I dislike Dr. Zigmund?" Shanley asked softly, taking Juniper''s hand and leaning down slightly.


    "No," Juniper mumbled. Dr. Zigmund was actually very good to her; he just talked too much.


    "Still, don''t get too close to him," Juniper added, looking up at Shanley. "Why?" he asked, confused.


    "Before..." Juniper averted her gaze, a faint blush on her cheeks as her voice dropped to a mumble. "...we were doing an experiment, and he insisted on provoking me foot angry and smashed his equipment."


    The old man had probably assumed she was too poor to pay for it and just epted the loss. But now that he knew abget her rtionship with Shanley...


    The way he had been looking at Shanley earlier, his eyes were practically glowing.


    He wasn''t looking at a person; he was looking at a pile of cash.