“Juniper, I...” Shanley began, stepping forward to gaze at her with profound affection. But he was so nervous that the speech he''d prepared was suddenly stuck in his throat.


    "Is all of this for me?" Juniper asked, picking up the transfer n and scanning it with surprising focus. Every asset was listed with perfect rity, each one followed by Shanley''s signature. The designated recipient: Juniper Payne.


    "Yes." Shanley''s voice was a low rasp as he watched her expression. She seemedpletely rxed. It seemed his approach was working.


    Juniper flipped through the pages, confirming that Shanley was indeed transferring his entire fortune to her. All it would take was her signature, and it would all be hers.


    "Why?" Juniper put the documents down, her delicate eyebrows raising as she looked at him intently.


    "I want..." Shanley''s expression was incredibly serious, as if he were in the middle of a high-stakes business negotiation. "Juniper, you..."


    The onlookers were dying of suspense. Who would have thought that Shanley, the man whomanded Era City, would be rendered speechless while trying to confess his feelings?


    "Just say it, bro!" Kurt blurted out. He couldn''t take it anymore.


    "Juniper..." Shanley took another step forward and knelt on one knee. He looked up


    at her, his handsome face etched with emotion, and his voice finally found its strength. “Juniper, marry me."


    Six stunned faces stared back at him. What was happening? They had been expecting a confession, not a full-blown marriage proposal. This was a whole new level of bold. Not even a rocket moved as fast as Shanley.


    "I''ve never pursued a woman before, so I don''t know how to do a proper confession, Shanley admitted, hisz voice soft and tender. "But you once said that I needed to work hard and earn money to support you ever


    forgot that."


    "This is my entire


    it''s not even a fraction as precious as you are." As he spoke, Shanley found his rhythm his words flowing. with sincerity and adoration. "But it''s the best thing I have to offer to show you how I feel."  s?novels


    He was giving her everything he had, including himself, without reservation.


    "I''m giving you the power to move forward with me or to walk away," Shanley said, his eyes turning a little red. "If I ever treat you with anything less than perfect devotion, you can leave at any time."


    Though, in his mind, that was an impossibility.


    "So..." He gently took Juniper''s hand, his voice raspy and cautious. "Juniper, my dear, would you agree to be my fiancée?"


    He proposed an engagement because Juniper wasn''t yet of legal age to marry. The moment she was, he nned to whisk her straight to the courthouse.


    After Shanley''s heartfelt speech, all eyes were on Juniper. But what was going on? Why was she so calm? It was as if she weren''t the one being proposed to, but merely a bystander watching a scene unfold unfold was she really going to reject him?


    That couldn''t be right. Her three brothers exchanged confused nces, all arriving


    at the same conclusion. They knew their sister liked Shanley. So why was she acting like this?


    Seeing Juniper''sck of reaction, Shanley''s heart began to pound with anxiety. Had he not been clear enough? Had his sincerity note through? Why was her expression so nk?


    Juniper finally spoke, pursing her lips. "If you give me all your assets, won''t you be a pauper?"