Twenty minutester, the car finally pulled into Cloudscape Community.


    "Juniper..." J started to lean over to check on her but was deterred by the powerful aura emanating from the back seat.


    "The police might still need to ask you some questions, and you''ll have to exin what happened with Saskiater," Juniper said. "You should go home and rest."


    "Okay." J nced from Juniper to the man beside her and decided it was for the best. With Mr. Schwartz here, she probably wouldn''t be much help anyway.


    ...


    Back at their residence, Shanley gentlyid Juniper on the bed and covered her with a nket.


    "Where''s your medicine?"


    "In the drawer below."


    He got her a painkiller and a ss of water. "You''re soaked in sweat. Do you want to change your clothes?"


    "I don''t have the energy. I can''t," Juniper replied, too weak to lift a finger.


    "I..." Shanley began, instinctively about to offer his help, but caught himself when he saw her startled expression. Whoa, almost crossed a line there.


    "Should I get Dana to help you?" he asked gently.


    "No," Juniper said, her gaze fixed on him, her voice muffled.


    "...Alright." Remembering her aversion to being touched by others, Shanley simply used a warm, damp cloth to gently wipe her face. By the time he was done, she had already drifted off to sleep, her head resting on his hand.


    Shanley carefully tucked the covers around her and was about to leave when she suddenly tightened her grip on his hand.


    "I''m just going to get something. I''ll be right back," he whispered, his thumb stroking her brow in a tender, loving gesture.


    Only then did Juniper rx her hold and close her eyes, falling into a peaceful sleep.


    ...


    Downstairs.


    "Dana, how do you make a hot ginger drink?" Shanley asked, standing somewhat helplessly in the kitchen with a pot in his hand.


    "Huh?" Dana was so shocked she almost dropped what she was holding. She thought, "Mr. Schwartz is making that for Ms. Payne? I''ve seen it all now!"


    "I''ll show you, sir," she said, beaming as she walked him through the steps.


    "Besides the drink, a heating pad on her stomach will also help."


    "Okay." Shanley listened intently,mitting every word to memory.


    When Juniper woke up again, she found a steaming mug of the ginger drink on her


    bedside table and a warm heating pad resting on her abdomen.


    From the balcony, she could hear Shanley on the phone, his tone sharp. "The legal team will be pulled directly from the Schwartz Groups bot need to teach you how to handle the Wilcox family? Don''t bother Juniper with these trivial matters."


    "Yes, boss." Flint, on the other end of the line, hung up, feeling thoroughly chastised.


    "Isn''t Ms. Payne the one on her period? Why does the boss seem so irritable? Is this thing contagious?"


    The Schwartz Group''s legal team was legendary in the industry, an undefeated powerhouse known for being so formidable they could get opposing counsel thrown in jan The Wilcox family stood no chance against them.


    Seeing that Juniper was awake, Shanley quickly returned to her side, a gentle smile gracing his handsome face. "Drink some of this. The temperature is just right."


    "You made this?" Juniper eyed the drink, her lips parting slightly to ask.


    "Dana taught me." Shanley held the mug to her lips, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Give it a try."


    "Oh." Juniper took a small sip. Her brow arched slightly, her expression unreadable. Tsk. It''s actually pretty good.


    "Have you made this for other girls before?"


    "Hmm?" Shanley''s deep gaze settled


    on her, a helpless but fond smile touching his lips. He leaned in, his voice a low, patient murmur. "You know, I''ve only ever served one youngdy in my life."


    "And for the rest of my life," he thought, "there will never be another."