Listening from the top of the stairs, Juniper raised an eyebrow. A smile didn''t quite grace her lips, but her steps were noticeably lighter as she came downstairs.


    "The reservation is for four this afternoon," Shanley said softly, setting her breakfast on the table. "You can go back to sleep for a bit after you eat."


    "Okay," Juniper nodded, focusing on her food.


    At three in the afternoon, Juniper opened her closet and changed into afortable outfit: a white hoodie, ck pants, and her long, silky hair falling loosely over her shoulders. Her face was wless and radiant even without a trace of makeup; she was breathtakingly beautiful.


    "Let''s go," she said,ing downstairs.


    Shanley stood up and gently took her hand. "Are you nervous?" he asked with a smile.


    "Nervous?" Juniper retorted coolly. "You''re the one who should be nervous, Mr. Schwartz."


    If his parents didn''t approve, she could just take the money and leave. He, on the other hand, would be out a girlfriend.


    "You''re right," Shanley chuckled, his grip on her hand tightening. "A treasure like you needs to be protected. I can''t afford to lose you."


    "Tsk." Juniper stared at him with aplicated expression. She''d noticed thattely, his words had been as sweet as honey. It was like he''d been taking sses on how to be the perfect boyfriend.


    At Moonlight Peak, Hayden and Miranda were still stuck in traffic when Juniper and Shanley arrived.


    "I''m going to go check on how the restaurant has been doingtely," Juniper said, deciding to embrace her role as the owner since she had time to kill.


    "Alright," Shanley replied, settling onto a sofa to peel a grapefruit for her. "I''ll call you when they get here."


    Ten minutes after checking the ounts, Juniper went to inspect the new renovations. She


    remembered approving a budget for redecorating a while back. It looked good, much morefortable.


    At that moment, Hayden and Miranda finally arrived.


    "Where''s my daughter-inw?" Miranda asked, out of breath. She was so worried about beingte and making a bad impression that she had run thest stretch, and her forehead was beaded with sweat.


    "She had to step out for a minute," Shanley said with a slight frown. "Why don''t you two sit and rest for a bit?"


    "Good idea," Hayden said, copsing onto the sofa, still trying to catch his breath. Damn, his old bones nearly fell apart on that run.


    "Yes, yes," Miranda agreed, frowning at her disheveled state. "I need to touch up my makeup. I can''t let my daughter-inw see me like this."


    She handed a box to Shanley. "Here, this is the gift for her. It''s very important, so don''t lose it."


    "Okay," Shanley said, a faint smile on his lips. They hadn''t even met, and his mother was already calling her daughter-inw.


    "I''m going to find the restroom," Miranda said with a wave, rushing off. "Let me know as soon as my daughter-inw is back."


    Moonlight Peak was arge ce,


    and since it had been cleared out for


    their private event, the restaurant


    was empty Miranda wandered


    around but couldn''t find the


    restroom.


    Just as she was getting anxious, a familiar figure came into view.


    "Juniper!" she called out, her voice filled with excitement.


    Hearing her name, Juniper looked up from her ledger and saw Miranda''s astonished face.


    "Miranda?" Juniper was surprised to see her here.


    "Oh my goodness, what are you doing here?" Miranda rushed over excitedly and


    grabbed Juniper''s hand, her eyes crinkling into a happy smile.


    "I''m meeting someone for dinner," Juniper answered simply.