Westly clenched his fists, his eyes red with fury. He had hated her sharp tongue more than anything. Five years had passed, and it had only gotten worse.


    Damn that girl! Damn her!


    ...


    Once they were alone, Ewan''s expression changed instantly. He held up a photograph and asked through gritted teeth, "You kidnapped my son?"


    “Let''s not use such ugly words,” Juniper said, sitting down and crossing her legs as


    she surveyed her surroundings. "I merely invited your son out for a coffee."


    "Who sent you?" Ewan''s fists tightened, the knuckles cracking audibly as he seethed with rage. "What is your purpose?"


    "My purpose is simple." Juniper tapped the table, her voice icy and firm. "I''ll trade your son for one of the Huntsman Institute''s senior instructors."


    A senior instructor? Ewan froze for a second, then looked closely at Juniper''s face, and it all clicked. "Ebony Fox?"


    "That''s right." Juniper admitted it without hesitation, her tone sharp and demanding. "I want Ebony Fox."


    "She''s your sister?" Ewan finally understood. The resemnce was uncanny. So, the family Ebony Fox had found on her trip to Era City was this girl right here.


    What a coincidence! When Juniper was wreaking havoc at the Institute back then, Ebony Fox had been away on a mission. If not for that, they might have met long ago.


    The thought filled Ewan with a hint of regret. This girl was also a rare talent. If he had discovered her sooner, he could have trained her into an even more useful asset than Ebony Fox.


    "What makes you think you can threaten me As the director of the Huntsman Institute, Ewan sat


    upright, showing no sign of panimet


    "Ebony Fox is one of my top instructors, a once-in a century talent. Letting her go would be a great loss for me."


    "And your son?" Juniper tilted her head up slightly, her eyes under her thickshes calm and cold. "If he dies, your bloodline ends. Are you really so generous as to let this entire enterprise fall into someone else''s hands?"


    "Oh, right,” Juniper added with a faint smile, her tone taking a turn. “An assassination attempt years ago left you sterile, Director Ewan. That boy is your only heir."


    "How the hell do you know all this?”


    The barb hit its mark, and Ewan could no longer remain calm. He became agitated. These were his most carefully guarded secrets; he was certain they couldn''t have been exposed.


    "That''s not your concern." Juniper nced at the time, her tone hardening. “Where is Ebony Fox?"


    Ewan stared at her, silent.


    "It seems you still think Ebony Fox is more important.” Juniper''s lips curled into a


    cold smile. “In that case, let''s start by getting rid of your son''s leg.”


    “You dare!” Ewan mmed the table and shot to his feet, radiating fury.


    *CRASH-*


    Juniper stood up and kicked over the table next to her, her presence even more overwhelming than his "I''ve been polite, haven''t I? Let me make something clear, you side fossil. My patience is wearing thin. Don''t push it."