Victor understood. This was Hayden showing mercy. If he begged any further, he risked not only his son''s life but the entire Garner family''s future.


    "Yes," Victor said through clenched teeth. After a single word of assent, he slumped to the floor, utterly defeated.


    "And you..." Hayden''s gaze shifted to the captain. He let out a dry, mirthlessugh. "Aiding and abetting a tyrant. Well done."


    "Mr. Schwartz—” the captain started to plead, but the words caught in his throat when he met Hayden''s sharp, unforgiving eyes.


    "One more thing," Hayden said as he reached the door, pausing with his back to them. “I shouldn''t have to remind you what to say and what not to say about tonight."


    "Yes, sir," they all answered in unison. The message was clear: they had never seen him.


    In the adjacent room, Juniper kept a close eye on the time. Miranda''s husband had said he would resolve the matter in ten minutes. Nine minutes and thirty seconds had passed.


    Just as she was starting to wonder, the door opened. Hayden stood in the doorway, his tall, imposing figure silhouetted against the dim light, radiating an aura of immense power. There was something familiar about his build and presence, but she couldn''t quite ce him.


    Her gaze drifted past him, into the other room, where she saw a crowd of men kneeling on the floor. The man who had just vowed to break Hayden''s leg was kneeling straighter than anyone.


    Juniper blinked, her eyes widening in disbelief. He really did solve it in ten minutes. To make the Garners kneel, his power and status had to be far beyond theirs. There were only a handful of families in Era City that powerful.


    "Is it over?" Miranda, who had been in the middle of her friendly interrogation, asked as soon as she saw Hayden.


    “Yes.” Hayden habitually took his wife''s hand. “You can go home and get your beauty sleep now," he said softly.


    Then he turned to the young woman beside her, the formidable chill he carried moments agopletely gone, reced by the kindness of an elder. "Ms. Payne, thank you for waiting. Where do you live? We can give you a ride home."


    "That''s alright,” Juniper said, pulling her gaze away and replying politely. "My friend is here. Thank you."


    "Oh, okay," Miranda said, a little


    disappointed as she looped her arm through her husband''s. "Well, once


    were less busy we should get coffee sometime  fo


    "I''d like that," Juniper agreed with a nod. She genuinely liked Miranda''s personality. More importantly, they had simr tastes Miranda liked all the same snacks she did.


    "We''ll get going then," Miranda said, waving to Juniper. She took a few steps, then turned back. “Oh! You never answered me. Do you have a boyfriend?"


    “I do,” Juniper replied without a moment''s hesitation.


    “You do?” Miranda''s brow furrowed in disappointment.


    Oh well. Even if she didn''t, it''s not like it would work out with Shanley.


    Miranda sighed internally. Maybe she could try to adopt Juniper as her goddaughter instead.


    Later, as Lue was driving Juniper back to the Cloudscape Community, her phone buzzed. A breaking news story had just hit the headlines.


    [Heir to Garner Group in Freak ident, Suffers Multiple Broken Ribs and Shattered Right Leg.]


    [Doctors Fear Permanent Disability.]


    "His leg is broken?" Lue said,


    chewing her gum with a frown. "Who


    were those people? They actually


    made the mighty Garner family


    break their own son''s leg?"


    Juniper was just as curious. She typed "Miranda" into her phone''s search bar. In


    seconds, tens of thousands of results flooded the screen.


    Her eyes widened in disbelief at what she saw. She nearly dropped her phone in shock.