Uncle? The word sent a strange tingle through Shanley. By the time he snapped out of it, Juniper was already in the car, legs crossed, smirking at him.


    Shanley frowned and touched his own face. Did he really look that old?


    This wouldn''t do. He needed to hit the gym, maybe get a facial. Juniper was already young and looked even younger. If this kept up, in a few years people would probably start mistaking him for her grandfather.


    "Felton," Shanley said as he walked to the car, giving orders to his subordinate. “Contact a personal trainer and a skincare consultant for me.”


    “Huh?” Felton, who was loading luggage, was caught off guard. "Sir, you want me to book a trainer and a skincare consultant?" He paused, then added, "Is this for Ms. Payne?"


    "No," Shanley''s expression darkened, the single word emerging from between his teeth like ice. "Me."


    “... Yes, sir.” Felton swallowed his shock and ryed the order. It seemed Tucker''s ''uncle''ment had dealt a serious blow to the boss''s ego.


    Inside the car, Juniper was staring at her phone, her eyes fixed on the eighteen million that had just been transferred into her ount. Those kids from Neverfall Navigators were true to their word. They''d promised her the prize money if they won, and the moment it arrived, they sent it all to her. Her efforts hadn''t been in vain.


    Smiling, Juniper divided the money and transferred it into the ounts of every member of Neverfall Navigators.


    Almost immediately, the Neverfall Navigators group chat exploded with question marks.


    Demon: [Consider it a bonus from your big boss.]


    Shanley had already given her a credit card. Out of curiosity, she''d checked the bnce: two hundred million. He''d said he knew she had a thing for round numbers and threw in an extra twenty million to even it out. It was a temporary salve for the financial hit she''d taken dealing with the leader of Sigma Network.


    “Those kids are quite loyal to you," Shanley remarked as he sat down, catching her message. His lips curved into a slight smile. “Why didn''t you ask for more at the time?"


    "Tsk," Juniper shot him a look, her tone nonchnt. "You''re quite the spendthrift." Shanley stared at her, momentarily stunned.


    "If Demon had been anyone else, would you have paid whatever they asked?" Juniper''s voice was low and tinged with annoyance. "You should be counting your lucky stars it was me."


    "You''re right," Shanley chuckled,


    amused by her adorable expression. He slid closer, gently wrapping an arm around her shoulder. "Juniper, you''re much better with money. From now on, you can manage our finances."


    “Deal,” Juniper replied without a second thought. She liked being in charge of the money.


    "Get some sleep. We still have a little while before we reach the hotel. I''ll wake you when we get there,” Shanley said softly, letting her rest against him.


    Back at the hotel, Juniper was still drowsy, so Shanley simply carried her to their room. After tucking her in, he took his phone to the study to check on the progress of his operation.


    The moment the door clicked shut, the supposedly sleeping girl''s eyes slowly opened. She picked up her phone and started contacting Lue.


    "Don''t worry, we''re fully prepared this time. The leader of Sigma


    Network won''t escape again,” Lue said. She had already arrived on a neighboring ind and had her people in ce.


    "Keep it quiet," Juniper instructed, pinching the bridge of her nose.


    т


    If


    "Shanley is in Moralia Count


    we make too much noise, he might find out and decide to join the fight