Out in the garden, Warren stared at the sea of blue roses, his irritation growing. All these damn flowers, nted for Nocturne. And he was the one who had hauled the soil. So he had personally orchestrated a romantic surprise for his own rival.


    How utterlyughable!


    "Someone get over here!" Warren roared, his face livid. "Rip out every single one of these damn flowers!"


    "What?" The servants were shocked. One dared to speak up. "My Lord, your wife nted all of these by hand."


    She''d been so careful when she nted them, allowing no one but the boss himself to help.


    "I said, rip them out!" Warren''s voice was cold steel, his eyes cial.


    Damn it all. Every time he looked at these flowers, he pictured Celine staring at that pretty boy''s face, giggling like a fool.


    The servants exchanged nces, then deliberately raised their voices. "If we pull them out, the Madam will cry her eyes out!"


    "Well, the boss will just have to coax her, I guess."


    "I remember that one time the boss identally stepped on one of her flowers. She cried for two hours. He was about to have aplete breakdown by the time she stopped."


    Hearing his staff''sints, Warren was suddenly reminded of all the times he''d had to console his little crybaby, and his expression shifted. "Wait!"


    The servants, shovels in hand, all paused.


    "Fine, don''t pull them," Warren sighed, rubbing his temples. His head was about to explode. "She''s got a stubborn streak a mile wide. I don''t know who she gets it from. Just take good care of her."


    Leaving that final order, Warren headed for the "cell" where Juniper was being held.


    The doorway was swarmed with bodyguards, all on high alert, periodically peering inside, terrified that Specter would suddenly make a move.


    They''d all heard the stories.


    .n


    Specter''s greatest feat was taking on a hundred enemies at once. He''d survived countless impossible situations. Even before he''d shacked up with the leader of the sigma Network, that leader couldn''t get the better of him. It was a testament to his power. Liberty Ind was no match for the Sigma Network, so they had to be constantly vignt.


    "How is Specter?" Warren asked.


    “Uh..." The guard hesitated, struggling to find the words. "My Lord, you should probably just see for yourself."


    Warren frowned slightly and walked to the door,zily looking inside. He saw Juniper sitting in a chair, one leg crossed over the other, a spread of snacks on the table beside her. She was casually, contentedly cracking pistachios.


    If you knew the context, you knew she was a prisoner. If you didn''t, you''d think she was on vacation at a prison-themed hotel.


    Looking closer, Warren instantly


    recognized the snacks. Celine had prepared them justst night. He''d only gotten a single nce before Celine had hidden them away refusing to let him touch any. So, they were for this pretty boy. Cóntent


    "Open the door," Warren said, the tightness in his chest intensifying.


    "Yes."


    The heavy iron door creaked open. He stepped forward, standing before the transparent, explosion-proof ss, and sized up the rxed "boy" inside.


    "Specter," he said coolly. "Long time no see."


    "Tsk." Juniper didn''t even bother wondering how he''d found out. She nced at him once, then ignored him.


    "The thing you want is the A-NO nt strain, isn''t it?" Warren''s lips curled. "You and the leader of the Sigma Network... do you really take me for a fool?"


    "Those are your words, not mine,” Juniper said, popping a mango-vored cookie into her mouth. It was delicious.


    Facing his rival, Warren fought to control his rage. "The hypnotherapy," he said through gritted teeth. "How long will it take to get Celine backt normal? As long as she healthy, I''II let bygones be bygones and det you live."