"Yeah." Juniper tilted her face up, scratching her hair awkwardly.


    Specter had a boyfriend. Specter''s boyfriend was the leader of their arch-nemesis, Sigma Network.


    One blow was heavier than the next. Michael''s vision went ck, and he nearly copsed.


    The other masters'' expressions were even moreplicated. Before, they wanted to kill the leader of Sigma Network immediately. Now... they wanted to torture him sufficiently before killing him.


    This leader of Sigma Network looked to be almost thirty. And how old was Specter? The man was a predator!


    "You,e out," Michael managed to say, forcing down the urge to shoot Shanley on the spot. His voice was tight with suppressed fury.


    "Okay." Juniper blinked and walked forward.


    Fearing that Juniper was about to be scolded, Shanley tried to follow.


    "This doesn''t concern you," Michael said, pointing a trembling, dismissive finger at Shanley.


    Shanley looked at Juniper, then obediently stayed in the infirmary.


    As she reached the door, Juniper suddenly paused. She looked at the subordinates guarding Shanley and ordered in a low voice, "Don''t touch him."


    "Yes, ma''am," the subordinates replied respectfully.


    Well, now. They''d never seen the boss so protective of anyone. Things weren''t even official yet and she was already defending him?


    "Hmph." The masters could hardly bear to watch, turning and storming out of the infirmary.


    In the adjacent room, Juniper stood leaning against the wall, her hands at her sides, her usual rebellious air slightly subdued. She looked unusually docile.


    "Aren''t you going to exin what''s going on?" Michael looked up, his expression a mixture of anger and exhaustion. "How far have things gone between you and this Sigma Network guy?"


    "We''re dating now, and I n to marry him someday," Juniper replied nonchntly, her chin held high.


    "Marry him?" The words made Michael shoot to his feet, feeling his blood pressure spike.


    "We all know what kind of person he is, kiddo. Don''t let him deceive you," Catherine said with concern.


    "That''s right," Robert added. "The only thing that kid has going for kim is a pretty face. Besides, he''s fought against Subterra Vanguard time and time again. Have you forgotten? Ple nearly killed you a few years ago."


    The other masters chimed in, all insisting that Shanley was bad news.


    "I understand all that," Juniper said, her voice raspy as she pursed her lips. "But he said if I''m willing to forgive him, he''ll let me deal with him however I want."


    "Deal with him how? You think you could actually bring yourself to kill him?" Michael had already seen through her; the girl was hopelessly smitten. "I''m telling you right now, we don''t approve."


    "He said....." Juniper pulled a piece of candy from her pocket that Shanley had just given her. She unwrapped it and popped it into her mouth. "...he''ll give me Sigma Network."


    "I thought it was something serious, but this..." Michael began with a cold sneer, but his words caught in his throat. His tone shifted dramatically as he took two steps forward, Kis voice filled with excitement. What


    did you just say? The lea of


    Sigma Network is going to give you


    Sigma Network?"


    "Is that for real? Would he really give it up?" The other masters found it just as oundish, asking in disbelief.


    "And besides being the leader of Sigma Network, he''s also Shanley, the heir to the Schwartz Group in Borealia." Juniper added unhurriedly.


    "Shanley?" Michael scratched his


    face, his expression growing more astonished by the second. "You mean the Shanley? The billionaire whose business empire spans the globe, with enough money to circle the Earth hundreds of times?"


    "Yep," Juniper nodded slowly. "And all of Shanley''s personal assets... he''s giving


    those to me, too."


    The masters'' eyes widened. Just how much money was that?