Juniper and Shanley stared at each other, neither saying a word.


    Seeing Shanley staring intently at the legendary gamer, Demon, Miranda felt a vein throb in her temple. What was this about? Don''t tell me he fell for her at first sight. Then again, who wouldn''t be captivated by a face like Juniper''s?


    But wait, he already has a girlfriend. How could he fall for another girl? Tsk, tsk. What a yer!


    "Smack-!"


    Miranda refused to let such a scoundrel tarnish the Schwartz family name. She smacked Shanley hard on the arm and hissed, "What are you staring at? Greet her!"


    Shanley''s mind was aplete nk. He was so stunned that he didn''t even hear what his mother was saying.


    Miranda sighed and reminded him again. "Even though Juniper is young, we''re like sisters now, which puts her a generation above you. It''s only proper for you to call her Auntie."


    Juniper listened quietly, her eyes darting between the mother and son. Shanley''s expression was priceless, so dark it looked like a storm was about to break. It was actually kind of funny.


    "You" Miranda was starting to feel embarrassed as Shanley continued to stare fixedly at Juniper. Just as she was about to prod him again, he finally moved.


    "Are you sure?" Shanley slowly turned to his mother, his voice hoarse. "Are you sure you want me to call her Auntie?"


    “Huh?” Miranda leaned in, confused but nodding. "Yes, I''m sure."


    Shanley forced a helpless smile and walked straight up to Juniper, taking her hand. He turned back to his mother. "Are you absolutely sure you want me to call my future wife... Auntie?"


    "Yes, Auntie..." Miranda nodded, then trailed off, her words catching in her throat. Her eyes shot to their joined hands, widening in disbelief as her lips trembled. "What? What did you say? She''s your future wife?"


    The legendary Demon was Shanley''s girlfriend? How did he manage that?


    "Yes," Shanley confirmed, finding the absurdity of their meeting almostughable. "My girlfriend, Juniper."


    “Hello,” Juniper said, turning her head to offer a polite greeting to Miranda.


    Miranda stumbled back two steps, her mouth hanging open, utterly speechless. Her sworn sister had just be her daughter-inw.


    "I didn''t know you were Shanley''s mother before," Juniper exined softly, trying to smooth things over. "My apologies for the presumptuousness."


    But at least now it all made sense-why they couldn''t be seen together in public. Their identities... would indeed cause a city-wide sensation.


    "No, no, no, Miranda said, waving her hands frantically after hearing Juniper''s exnation. She gave an awkwardugh. "I was far more presumptuous than you."


    Juniper just blinked, not sure how to respond to that.


    “Let''s talk inside,” Shanley interjected, ying peacemaker as he led Juniper toward


    the private suite on the top floor.


    Watching them go, Miranda


    scratched her cheek, barely


    suppressing a snort ofughter. You


    had to hand it to him. The brat


    actually had some skills to win over


    Denton. They were all family how and having her as a daughter-inw was even better!


    Inside the suite, Hayden and Miranda sat on one side of the table, across from Juniper and Shanley.


    "Ms. Payne, what a coincidence," Hayden said with a warm, polite smile. “I never expected you to be Shanley''s girlfriend."


    "It must be fate," Miranda said, pushing a fruit tter toward Juniper. Her eyes crinkled into samle her affection for the gi obvious. "Here, try some. It''s very sweet."