Computer Science department was near the north gate of Era University, so Juniper got out of the car first. J''s Law department was on the other side of campus, by the east gate.


    After Juniper left, only Melvin and J remained in the car. J, who was already intimidated by older figures, was now so nervous she barely dared to breathe.


    "J," Melvin began, his earlier unease gone now that his sister wasn''t watching. A warm smile spread across his handsome face. "How are you settling into school? Is everything okay?"


    "It''s fine,” she replied. Her mom had asked her the exact same question.


    "Oh." Melvin hadn''t expected such a concise answer. After a few seconds of silence, he tried again. "Since you and Juniper are at the same university, you two should look out for each other."


    “Okay,” J said with a polite, graceful smile. “My mom told me the same thing.”


    Her mom? Why was he being lumped in with her mother? Melvin''s smile twitched. "Well," he said, changing the subject, "how about we exchange numbers? Just so I can, you know, check in on how Juniper is doing."


    J blinked, then obediently took out her phone. "Should I get your number, Mr. Steele?" she asked timidly.


    "Sure."


    The friend request came through instantly, and Melvin epted,beling the contact: J.


    J did the same, saving his number as Mr. Steele. Then, she mentally filed him away in the same category as her elders.


    "We''re here." Melvin pulled up and got out to open the door for her.


    "Thank you, Mr. Steele." J quickly hopped out of the car and gave him a deep, respectful nod. "Goodbye, Mr. Steele."


    "...Goodbye."


    Melvin felt there was something strange about their dynamic, though he couldn''t quite put his finger on it.


    Oh well. She was still young. He''d have to take things slow so he didn''t scare her off. He''d ask that old fox Shanley for some adviceter... it should be fine.


    Just as he watched J walk away, Melvin''s phone rang. It was Jimmie, his tone uncharacteristically grave "Clear your afternoon.


    Something important hase up I''ve already notified Harold.


    "What is it?" Melvin frowned. It was rare for Jimmie to sound so serious.


    "I can''t say over the phone," Jimmie said, checking the time. It would be a few more hours until the test results were ready. “Just trust me and wait for my call.”


    Melvin''s mind raced. "Did you find another one of our sisters?"


    "It''s very likely,” Jimmie admitted, though his voice held no trace of excitement. "I''m just not sure if she''s..... a good person. So don''t say anything to Juniper yet.”


    He could never forget what the


    woman had said the night before: I''m used to killing. What kind of normal person had a hobby like that?


    this sister raised dbeey


    the wrong people and her character


    was warped... he had to be cautious.


    ...


    Meanwhile, at a DNA testing facility, Ebony Fox waited nervously by the door, afraid something might go wrong.


    Three hourster, a technician finally


    emerged with the report. She tore it open, and a faint smile touched her lips as she read the conclusion at the bottom. She and Jimmie were full siblings... which meant that. spirited, beautiful young woman was her sister. Perfect!


    Leaving the facility, Ebony Fox immediately called Jimmie. "Did you get the results on your end?"


    "Yeah.” Jimmie, who had just received the report himself, felt a bit dazed. His voice trembled slightly. "Do you remember what number you are?"


    “The fourth,” Ebony Fox replied, her memory of this detail sharp. Her little sister had always called her ''Fourth Sister'' in her tiny, sweet voice.