"And one more thing," Warren said, his gaze softening as he looked at Celine, but
his voice wasced with a chilling frost. "Specter is full of tricks. Be careful when you apprehend him."
"Yes, My Lord." The subordinate bowed and retreated, leaving the garden in silence.
Warren walked back to Celine''s side and crouched down to watch her tend to her small nts. "Are you getting tired?" he asked gently.
Celine shook her head. Not tired at all. She wanted to make the garden beautiful for when Juniper came to visit again.
“Alright, keep ying then," Warren said with a faint smile, sitting beside her to watch. Soon, his Celine would be healthy and living a normal life.
Three dayster, the time came for Juniper to return to Liberty Ind and present her treatment n.
Before she left, Shanley stood by the vanity, watching her apply her disguise. "Are you still sure you don''t need me toe with you?" he asked.
Juniper nced at his reflection in the mirror. “I''m sure,” she said lightly. "You handle things at thepany."
He''d been recovering from his injury, and then Ebony Fox''s illness had taken up even more of his time. A mountain of work was waiting for him.
She yawned and muttered, “Felton told me thepany is negotiating a multi-billion dor international deal. Money is no small matter.”
Shanley chuckled. His little treasure-hunter.
He stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. His gaze met hers in the mirror. "Let me know the second anything happens,” he murmured, his voice husky.
Juniper shot him a look. "What could happen? Celine is my sister. My actual sister. My brother-inw? That''s debatable."
"So you''re resorting to threats now," Shanley said, his grin widening.
“You bet I am." Juniper tossed her
makeup brush onto the table,pletely unapologetic. "If it
weren''t for the fact that he''s
genuinely good to my sister, I''d
Etwisted
suspect he has some kind oftwisted
fetish."
After all, her sister had the mind of a six-year-old. Who else would marry someone in her condition?
"Just talk to him calmly. Don''t be too impulsive," Shanley soothed, draping her coat over her shoulders. “Now that you know the truth, things should be easier to handle."
"Fine." Juniper took a deep breath. She still felt a pang of guilt over snatching his medicine. If Warren wanted to yell, she''d let him yell. For a little bit. But not for long.
...
Once she was ready, Juniper left the house, once again dressed in her handsome male disguise.
"Ms. Payne, take this for the road," Dana called out, rushing to press a container into Juniper''s hands The journey to Liberty ind was long, and she knew Ms. Payne wouldn''t like the food along the way. She''d packed some of her favorite snacks. Cóntent
“Thank you, Dana." Juniper took the container and gently patted Dana''s cheek.
It was meant to be a warm, friendly gesture, buting from her impossibly handsome persona, it looked like pure seduction. Dana stared, star-struck, and blushed as she replied, "Oh, you''re wee."
Shanley pinched the bridge of his nose, an unpleasant feeling stirring in his chest. That phrase came to mind again: a heartbreaker for all ages and genders. Once this was over he decided she was never wearing men''s clothes again.
At Liberty Ind, Juniper passed through security without a hitch and was escorted directly to the castle''s interior.
She was taken to the same small vi as before. But unlike herst visit, the garden was now filled with new varieties of flowers. The blue roses were particrly striking.
“Where is thedy of your ind?” Juniper asked, looking around and finding no sign of Celine. Before she''d left, she had specifically told them when she would be back. Celine should have been waiting.
“She is taking her medicine. It will be a moment,” the servant replied.
"Alright.” Juniper nodded and prepared to wait in the living room. She had barely taken a few steps when she heard Celine''s voice from nearby. "It''s bitter! I don''t want it!"