During dinner, Miranda''s phone suddenly rang.


    "Miranda, is that you in the photos online?" a staff member asked cautiously. "I''ve sent them to you. Netizens are saying the man with you is your husband."


    Miranda frowned slightly upon seeing a paparazzi photo of her and Hayden Schwartz at an esports tournament.


    “They''re also saying the girl next to you is your daughter," the staffer continued.


    "Pfft—” Miranda couldn''t help butugh when she saw Juniper in the picture with them. "There is a strong resemnce, isn''t there?"


    If only Juniper really were her daughter.


    "How should we handle this?" the staff member asked, wiping a bead of sweat from his forehead. "I''m afraid your rtionship with Mr. Schwartz is about to be exposed."


    "I''ll take care of it," Miranda said slowly, ncing at the man beside her who was peeling shrimp for her. It was time to make their rtionship official.


    After dinner, Hannah and Miranda showered Juniper with more gifts, from fine jewelry to decadent desserts.


    Before they left, Miranda pulled Shanley aside, her expression turning serious. "You''re injured?"


    “Hm?” Shanley paused, momentarily stunned. How did she find out when he had hidden it so well?


    "Don''t pretend," Miranda snorted, lowering her voice. "To let someone hurt you like that... you must have done it willingly, right?"


    Shanley remained silent, feeling a pang of embarrassment.


    "Serves you right," Miranda said, her tone firm as she nced at the young woman standing a short distance away.


    "Years ago, I nearly killed Juniper," Shanley confessed, rubbing his temples. "This wound is nothing less than what I deserve."


    "Nearly killed her?" Miranda looked surprised for a moment, then considered it. "In that case," she said slowly, "you got off easy."


    Shanley frowned, seriously starting to suspect he was adopted. How else could a mother with a normal body temperature say something so cold?


    "Since you''ve decided to be together, you had better treat that girl right," Miranda said, her tone growing serious. "Otherwise-"


    She paused for a few seconds before continuing, "Her brothers are not ordinary people. If theye looking for you, the Schwartz family won''t be taking your side."


    "Don''t worry," Shanley replied, a resigned smile on his face, his voice deep and certain. “You just focus on the engagement party. Leave the rest to me."


    "Quite confident, aren''t you?" Miranda chuckled. "A girl as brilliant and beautiful as Juniper will have plenty of admirers Don''t let someone else shatch her away


    Shanley''s gaze softened as he


    looked at Juniper, who was standing by the car talking with his


    have


    grandmother. He really would hav to clean himself tip after he himselfly


    recovered. This face of his? When


    necessary, it could still be quite useful.


    On the way back, Shanley suddenly received a call from Dana.


    "Mr. Schwartz, maybe you shouldn''te back tonight," Dana whispered hiding in the kitchen and peering out at the menacing figures in the living room. "All three of Ms. Payne''s brothers are here. Especially. Steele. He brought a really thick club with him and is yelling about breaking your legs."


    Mr.


    The call was on speaker, and the sound filled the car.


    In the front seat, Felton and Flint swallowed hard. They wouldn''t put it past Ms.


    Payne''s third brother to actually do it.


    “Boss, are we still going back?" Flint asked cautiously.


    "Yes," Shanley replied in a low voice, pulling a nket over Juniper, who had her eyes closed. "While I''m injured, Juniper will feel sorry for me and protect me."


    Juniper, not quite asleep, felt the corner of her mouth twitch. That old fox!