Juniper: [What about the other members of the Wilcox family?]


    Lue: [Orville is a muddle-headed old fool. Who knows what his other son, Ezra Wilcox, was up to back then. And you know Yelena Wilcox... she''s unhinged. As for that Trent Wilcox, he came back from his studies abroad six months early. Something''s definitely fishy about him.]


    Fishy? Juniper mulled over the word, her eyes narrowing.


    This sudden charm offensive from Trent... he had to be after something. What could J possibly have that he wanted so badly? Sibling affection? From the looks of him, he didn''t have a decent bone in his body. So what else could it be?


    ...


    Back at Cloudscape Community, Juniper sat cross-legged in front of herptop, her fingers flying across the keyboard.


    It only took her a few moments to pull up Orville''s medical records. Eighteen years ago, he''d suffered a massive cerebral hemorrhage, which led to a stroke that left him partially paralyzed, severely affecting his mobility and speech. Though he''d been receiving treatment over the years, he was barely clinging to life.


    Juniper closed herptop and stood up. As she passed Dana, she paused. "I have something to take care of. Could you please let Shanley know? I''ll be back soon."


    Before Dana could ask any questions, Juniper had vanished.


    A short whileter, Shanley emerged from his shower, dressed in loungewear.


    "Where''s Juniper?" he asked, puzzled.


    "Ms. Payne..." Dana ryed Juniper''s message respectfully. "I didn''t have a chance to ask where she was going, but she seemed to be in a real hurry."


    In a hurry? Shanley''s expression changed. He immediately picked up his phone and dialed Juniper''s number.


    “The hospital,” Juniper answered through her headset as she weaved through traffic on her motorcycle. "Going to see the Wilcox patriarch, Orville. Need to find something out."


    The Wilcox family? Shanley guessed she was finally starting to deal with them.


    "I''ll be back soon," Juniper said curtly before hanging up.


    Listening to the dial tone, Shanley frowned slightly. He changed his clothes, grabbed his car keys, and headed out the door.


    ...


    At Era Hospital, Juniper parked her motorcycle and walked straight to the inpatient wing. She found the right room and pushed the door open.


    The Wilcox family had money, so Orville had a private room. As it happened, he was alone, lying frailin the hospital bed. His face was a web of wrinkles, and the long years of being bedridden and medicated had left him looking utterly ravaged.


    Hearing the door, the ashen-faced Orvilleboriously turned his head, his cloudy eyesnding on Juniper.


    "You..." He was on a venttor, and his breath came in ragged whooshes. His gaze was filled with confusion.


    "I''m J''s cousin,” Juniper said, pulling up a chair and casually crossing her long legs.


    J? At the mention of her name, Orville''s pupils dted, and a flicker of emotion crossed his face.


    "I''m just here to ask a few


    questions," Juniper said, her expression neutral, hertone


    chillingly cold. "Were you aware that Yelena has been bullying J at school?"


    Orville blinked but didn''t shake his head.


    “Second question." A cold smile yed on Juniper''s lips. "Are you aware that Trent has returned to the country and has been repeatedly trying to get close to J?”


    At this, Orville''s gaze sharpened, a look of shock and confusion shing in his eyes. It seemed he had no idea.


    "J''s father cut all ties with the Wilcox family eighteen years ago. All these years; she and her mother


    have had no contact with you


    Juniper tapped her finget


    gers on


    table, her foot gently swinging. Her voice was ice. "So why has Trent suddenly changed his tune and started pursuing J?"