Looking at the handsome face just inches away, feeling his slightly ragged breath, Juniper raised an eyebrow. "I''m quite curious."


    Quite curious? At her words, Shanley tensed even more, the smile on his lips widening. He was certain now; the girl was tantly challenging him. He watched her stare at him with that adorable, direct gaze, and the heat in his body surged.


    But reason quickly won over impulse. Shanley gave a helpless smile and leaned back, creating some distance between them. "Eat your cake, you little foodie."


    "Alright." Juniper arched an eyebrow, a smile ying on her pink lips, her eyes twinkling with amusement. Not bad. He had some self-control.


    "Wait." After a few bites of cake, Juniper opened her luggage and took out a bottle of antiseptic spray. "How did you get this?"


    It didn''t look like a knife cut, more like a scrape.


    "I wasn''t paying attention when I got out of the car. A loose stone kicked up by the tire hit me."


    "Oh." The exnation seemed usible. Juniper gently cleaned the wound for him. "Try not to touch it."


    “I''ll be careful.” Shanley fed her another bite of cake, his handsome face refined and elegant, his voice low. "I promise I won''t let this face get any permanent scars."


    Juniper shot him a look and clicked her tongue, saying no more. He knew what was important to her.


    Harold finished his handover of thepetition matters and returned to the hotel.


    "I heard there was some trouble at the abandoned factory nearby," Harold said as he organized his things. "Did you guys hear about it?"


    “Nope!” Juniper and Shanley answered in perfect, unhesitating unison.


    Hearing their synchronized denial, Harold couldn''t help but look up. "I haven''t even said what happened yet."


    “I was sleeping. I wouldn''t know if anything happened,” Juniper said, sitting cross- legged on the sofa ying a game on her phone, lying without a blush.


    "I was out on business and just got back," Shanley added, sitting next to her and thoughtfully peeling a tangerine for her. He feignedposure. "What happened?"


    "A shootout," Harold said. Seeing how calm they both were, he didn''t suspect anything. "It was pretty intense wonder if anyone was hurt. The police are investigating and said it might be two major


    factions Sigma Network frem Borealia and Subterra Vanguard


    from Australis."


    Juniper and Shanley listened quietly, neither saying a word.


    "I''ve heard about the feud between Sigma Network and Subterra Vanguard Harold continued, finishing his packing and sitting across from them. "Shanley, Sigma Network is based in Borealia. Have you had any contact with them?"


    At the question, Shanley''s hands stilled. Juniper hated Cybeic Shadows, and Cybeic Shadows was a subsidiary of Sigma Network. This was a trick question!


    Juniper looked up too, her gaze turning frosty as she stared at Shanley. The Schwartz family was powerful in Borealia, but for Sigma Network to establish a foothold there, they had to have some skill.


    "I haven''t had any contact with anyone from Sigma Network," Shanley said calmly, his throat tight. “Our paths haven''t crossed."


    It was the truth. Felton and Flint


    managed everything rted to Sigma Network. He really hadn''t


    been directly involved. He hadn''t


    hide


    won the girl over yet; revealing his identity now was out of the question. He decided he could t for a while longer and just beg for forgivenesster.


    "You are not to associate with Sigma Network." Juniper pushed away the slice of cake Shanley offered her, her eyes cold as she stared at him. "Shanley, promise me."