A smile spread across Shanley''s handsome face as he listened to her bold deration. "Yes," he said, his voice husky. "Forever and only yours."


    “Oh," Juniper replied, her heart skipping a beat. She blinked, feigning a calm she didn''t feel. "Is that everything, then?"


    "Hm?" Still basking in the glow of the moment, Shanley looked at her, confused.


    "You went to all this trouble just to confess, right?" Juniper met his intense gaze, the corners of her eyes lifting as her lips parted slightly. "I''ve epted you and your assets, so we''re done here, aren''t we?"


    "Right," Shanley murmured, his eyes dropping to the dazzling light reflected in hers. He felt his heart melt. "Just sign these, and it''s official."


    Only her signature would make the transfer agreements legally binding. And only then would he truly be hers.


    "There are so many," Juniper groaned, ncing at the thick stack of documents. Her face fell. "I''ll deal with itter. Let''s cut the cake first."


    With that, she ignored the multi-billion-dor agreements, walked straight past him, and leaned over to admire the cake, her eyes sparkling. "What vor is this? Is that a fruit filling? It looks delicious."


    Everyone else stared, dumbfounded. Was a cake really more appealing than billions in assets? Given her emotional intelligence, it was a miracle Shanley had managed to win her over at all.


    Shanley just chuckled, a helpless smile on his face, and put the documents back in the drawer. He walked over to her side, his voiceced with affection. "Which piece do you want?"


    “This one," Juniper said, outlining a section with her finger, her eyes glued to the chocte decorations.


    “Let''s cut it together, shall we?" Shanley ced the knife in her hand and then covered it with his own, his voice a soft, alluring murmur.


    Juniper turned her head and found his face just inches from hers, his expression so handsome and full of love she felt like she could drown m it. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and a blush crept up he cheeks. She quickly looked away. "Fine," she managed to say.


    As the knife sliced through the cake, he served the first piece to Juniper. Then he personally cut several more slices for the others.


    "Mr. Langley, have a piece. It''s quite good," Shanley said, stopping in front of Lue Langley. A sly grin yed on his lips.


    "I don''t like sweets. No, thank you," Lue shot back, not bothering to hide her disdain. The man was nearly ten years older than Juniper, and she was only eighteen. Her life was just beginning, and this cradle-robber had already snatched her up. Lue was fuming!


    Even worse, the old-timers at Subterra Vanguard''s base had specifically told her to keep an eye on Juniper and make sure no one whisked her away. Now, not only had she been whisked away but it was by an old man. If they found out, they''d skin her alive.


    "It''s not too sweet," Shanley exined with a calm smile. “Juniper doesn''t like things overly sugary, so it''s half-sweet."


    Lue nced at Shanley, then at Juniper, who was happily eating her cake nearby. She sighed. Fine. As long as Juniper was happy, she would deal with the fallout from the base. It wasn''t like the old-timers could beat her in a fight anyway.


    "Thanks," Lue grumbled, reluctantly taking the cake.


    "Of course," Shanley said, his lips curling slightly. "You''re like a brother to Juniper, which makes us family. No need to be a stranger."


    “Let''s see a marriage certificate first,” Lue retorted with a roll of her eyes and walked away, cake in hand. She didn''t want to talk to the old man anymore. Any longer and she was afraid she might just punch him.