Juniper''s heart skipped a beat, a tingling warmth spreading through her. After a few seconds of silence, she raised an eyebrow, her smile a little stiff. “Do you have any idea what losing thispetition means?"


    "Sigma Network''s reputation takes a nosedive," Shanley replied, a faint, unconcerned smile on his handsome face. "But what does that matter? Sooner orter, everyone has to learn that everything I have is yours anyway."


    He figured Juniper would make an honest man out of him eventually, so he could handle a little public scorn for now.


    "Tsk." Juniper stared at him for a long moment before snapping herptop shut and moving to get up.


    "Where are you going? Ngh—" Shanley instinctively reached out to grab her, but the movement was too abrupt, pulling at his wound and drawing a pained grunt from him.


    "Still ying the victim?" Juniper let him hold her arm, looking down at him with an amused smirk.


    "No," Shanley said, one hand clutching her and the other pressed against his chest, his face pale with pain. "This time, it really hurts."


    "Serves you right,” Juniper huffed, but she still knelt to check his injury. Lifting the blood-soaked gauze, she revealed a mangled, gaping wound.


    "Don''t you ever do something this stupid again,” Juniper murmured, gently dabbing the area with antiseptic.


    "It must have hurt you a lot, too, right?" Shanley looked down, his gaze soft as he watched her. "Back then," he asked, his voice hoarse, "if that bullet had been off by just a little... would I have ever seen you again?"


    They had been enemies, caught in a surprise confrontation. In the ensuing sh, both had been aiming to kill. But at that moment, Juniper had seemed unwell. He''d seized the opportunity, and the bullet had struck her in the head. He''d heard the rumors... Specter was gravely injured, bedridden for three months, and nearly didn''t make it back.


    "Could have," Juniper said, her gaze flickering for a second before she gave a careless shrug. "I should really thank the leader of Sigma Network for showing mercy."


    "I was such a beast back then," Shanley''s body went rigid for a moment before he gently pulled her into an embrace, his voice thick with regret and self-loathing "Juniper what carti do to make up for all the pain I''ve caused you?"


    "That''s easy," Juniper said, letting him hold her. She rested her chin on his shoulder, inhaling the familiar, clean scent of him and felt her own frayed nerves begin to calm Give me your money, and give me yourself."


    "Done," Shanley chuckled, nuzzling his forehead against her cheek. His voice was deep and rich. "It''s all yours for the rest of my we "Me, Ken


    your man. Beat me, curse me, kill


    me, do whatever you want.


    "Don''t worry." Juniper leaned in, her slender fingers tracing a path from his face down to the bloody wound on his chest. With a light press, she made her point.


    "Hiss-" Shanley winced, gritting his teeth to keep from crying out.


    "I''m just letting you borrow your life for now. If you ever dare to cross me again.....” Juniper''s lips curved into a smirk. "Rest assured, I''ll finish the job."


    "Okay," Shanley nodded, gently stroking her face, his voice full of doting affection. "If that day everes, don''t hold back."


    He leaned in closer, his eyes deep and intense. “Juniper... when are youing home?"


    "Tomorrow," Juniper replied, her brow furrowed. “I still have some things to take care of here."


    Just then, Shanley''s phone rang. The caller ID read: Grandma.


    Why was his Grandma calling him all of a sudden?


    “Grandma,” Shanley answered, putting the call on speaker as he started peeling a candy for Juniper.