"My face, and my money," Shanley repeated, a triumphant smile ying on his lips.


    Jimmie, Harold, and Melvin were utterly speechless. It was an answer so ridiculous it looped back around to being impressive.


    "You know, you''re with her without any official title," Jimmie shot back, knowing just how to needle him. "Isn''t that a bit inappropriate?"


    The remark hit its mark. Shanley''s deep eyes narrowed thoughtfully. He had been holding back because she was still in school, but now that she had graduated... a lot of things were suddenly on the table.


    "Where''s my milkshake?" Juniper''s voice cut through the tension. Her earlier gloom was gone, reced by a radiant energy.


    "Right here,” Shanley said, waving her over. He thoughtfully put a straw in the cup and reminded her gently, "It''s warm. Be careful.”


    "Oh." Juniper took a sip, her pretty face wrinkling slightly. "Tastes okay," she muttered, then proceeded to down half the bottle in one go.


    "What?!” Melvin stared, his world turned upside down. “I gave you the exact same milkshake yesterday, and you said it didn''t taste good!"


    "Huh?" Juniper paused mid-sip, her longshes fluttering as she gave Melvin an innocent look. "Was it the same kind?"


    "Yes!" Melvin insisted, feigning a wounded expression. “I even asked that old fox for the recipe and bought it myself!”


    The temperature, the sweetness—everything was identical. How was it that Shanley''s tasted better?


    "Oh," Juniper said, her eyes darting away guiltily. "I forgot."


    "Tsk." Melvin couldn''t help butugh at her tant favoritism. Choosing a handsome face over her own brother!


    "You have things to do at thepany, right?” Jimmie interjected. "Alright, you two should get going."


    You two? Juniper looked up, confused.


    "Juniper, do you want toe back with me?" Shanley asked, his smiling gaze fixed on her.


    Juniper''s lips parted, her eyes


    screaming ''yes.'' But then she


    hesitated. If she just left her brothers like this, it would break their hearts. She should probably stay with them a little longer.


    "I..." She shook her head, about to refuse, when Harold spoke up. "You are yourself first, and our sister second."


    Juniper fell silent, listening intently.


    "I asked Jimmie. Shanley has been the one taking care of you ever since we found you. The three of us can''tpare to the bond you''ve built over three months together. I also heard from Dana that you often have trouble sleeping, and it''s better when Shanley is with you." Harold looked at his sister, his smile gentle. "All we want is for you to be happy. If being with Shanley makes you happy, then we''d rather you be with him."


    The memory of her heartbroken expression from yesterday until just moments ago was still fresh in their minds. It hurt to see her like that.


    "Don''t worry," Jimmie added. "No matter where you are, you''ll always be our sister. And soon, you''ll have three sisters too. If Shanley ever dares to bully youte trailed off, then added with a helpless sigh, "Actually, I don''t think he could bully you even if he tried."


    When it came to their sister getting the short end of the stick, he wasn''t worried at


    all. Anyone who tried would probably end up dead.


    Juniper''s lips trembled, but in the end, she said nothing.


    “Alright, take her,” Jimmie said, waving them off. “Go."