"Boss!" The doctor was taken aback to see her enter. "Why did youe in alone?"


    "All of you, get out. I''ll handle this." Juniper shoved her hands in her pockets and walked forward, her face a mask of indifference.


    "Boss—" A subordinate standing guard nced at the Sigma Network leader, his face etched with worry. The man might be injured, but he still looked full of vigor. Leaving the boss alone with him was dangerous.


    Juniper said nothing, merely staring coldly at the subordinates who were about to argue, her presence overwhelmingly intimidating.


    "Yes, ma''am." The doctor and guards didn''t dare say another word. They bowed respectfully and filed out of the room, leaving only Juniper and Shanley.


    Juniper walked to the hospital bed, looking down at the pale, blood-soaked man. He was about to bleed out, and he still refused treatment?


    "Juniper....." Seeing her stare at him without expression, Shanley''s heart began to pound. Hepletely forgot about his wound, about the pain.


    "You''re in high spirits for a captive, aren''t you?" Juniper pulled her hands from her pockets and crossed them over her chest, a humorless smile on her face. "For someone of your skill to get caught by Subterra Vanguard, and even get injured... Tsk, you must have gone to a lot of trouble, didn''t you?"


    Shanley listened in silence, not daring to utter a single word of protest. Juniper had seen right through his scheme.


    "I''m sorry," Shanley said, his lips pressed together and his eyes bloodshot. His voice was hoarse. "This was the only way I could see you."


    Juniper''s eyshes fluttered as she looked at his pained expression.


    "Ahem..." Speaking too quickly agitated his wound, and Shanley couldn''t suppress a cough. The more he coughed, the faster the blood flowed. In the midst of it, he secretly nced at Juniper''s reaction, worried that his injury wasn''t severe enough.


    "Just shut up." Juniper nced at the wound, pulled on a pair of gloves, and picked up sterilized forceps. She looked down at him. "Do you want it treated?"


    Shanley nodded.


    "Fine." Juniper methodically cut open his shirt, revealing the wound on his left chest. The bullet was embedded deep, the flesh torn open. A few more millimeters to the side, and he would have been meeting his maker.


    After cutting the cloth away, Juniper rummaged through the medical kit, shrugged, and gave a cold smile. "Looks like we''re out of anesthetic."


    "Fine," Shanley''s lips curled into a slight smile. "Just take it out."


    Compared to the bullet he''d once put near her brain, what was this little bit of pain?


    "As expected of the Sigma Network''s leader," Juniper gave him a deep look, a sneer in her voice. "I don''t go easy. If the pain is too much, just say the word and I''ll get someone else."


    "Okay."


    Like a small child, Shanley listened to whatever Juniper said. Forget surgery without anesthetic; even if she were to stab him through the heart, he wouldn''t have a singleint.


    Juniper leaned over, her fingertips


    gently pressing the area around the


    wound. The bullet was deep. To get


    it out, she''d have to cut the


    surrounding flesh. Without


    anesthetic, it would be even more. painful.


    "Bite down." Juniper grabbed a nearby towel and stuffed it into Shanley''s mouth, her


    tone sharp. "Don''t look at me, and don''t ask questions."


    Shanley''s eyes crinkled slightly as he obediently turned his head away.


    No anesthetic? He wasn''t a fool; he understood this simple procedure perfectly well. Dying for the anesthetre to take effect could tea to massive blood loss and shock. So, forgoing it was the best way to save his life. Juniper still wanted him alive.


    Realizing this, a brilliant smile spread across Shanley''s face.