Seeing the admiring looks from the male guests and hearing the women''s praise, the triumphant smile on Ynda''s face vanished instantly. Juniper''s outfit was from a cheap brand; it couldn''t evenpare to hers. So what if she had a pretty face and a great body? What was so special about that? These men were practically drooling over her. *They have no idea what a slut she is behind closed doors,*


    Ynda fumed internally.


    In the director''s room, Miranda stared intently at the screen, a slight frown on her face. "This outfit we found is..."


    "Miranda, it was the most conservative andfortable one avable," her assistant quickly exined. "We were on a tight schedule, and with Ms. Payne''s proportions, it was hard to find anything better on such short notice."


    "I''m not ming you," Miranda said, a smile touching her lips as she nced at the assistant. “It''s not about the clothes, it''s about the person wearing them.”


    The assistant looked confused.


    "With a face and body like that, she''d look good even in a potato sack," Miranda sighed. “I miscalcted. That boy Shanley is probably tearing his hair out at home right now.” But she wasn''t worried. “It''s my job to protect my future daughter-inw.”


    The equestrian club, located in northern Era City, was a massive facility with state-of-the-art amenities. Several well-groomed horses tossed their heads and pawed at the ground, curiously watching the guests arrive. Not far away, a trainer galloped across a field, expertly guiding his horse over a series of obstacles beforeing to a smooth stop.


    As the van door opened and the guests stepped out one by one, a loud neigh startled Jiana. “Ahh!" she shrieked, scrambling to hide behind Jasper.


    Willow wasn''t scared, but with so many horses around, she instinctively kept her distance.


    “Jiana, these horses are actually very gentle," Ynda said, jumping out of the van before Yates and holding her head high. "I''ve beening to riding clubs since I was a child, at least a few hundred times.....” Thest part, of course, was the main point.


    Jiana rolled her eyes. *Just because you''re not scared doesn''t mean other people aren''t. Way to make it all about you.*


    Soon, Jimmie and Juniper''s van arrived.


    Before they got out, Jimmie turned to Juniper. "Are you afraid of horses?" he asked softly.


    “Huh?” Juniper looked up from her phone, her brow furrowing at the mention of horses.


    "It''s okay," Jimmie said gently,


    e2


    assuming she was scared. "They''re actually quite docile as long as you don''t provoke them. Don''t worry I''ll


    have a


    i stay with you


    “Oh.” Juniper grabbed her riding crop and ducked out of the van. "You should


    probably worry more about yourself," she tossed back casually.


    *Horses, docile?* That was the biggest joke she''d ever heard.


    Once everyone had gathered, the contestants, all dressed in riding attire, entered the main area. They first observed the trainers caring for the horses feed bathing, and


    training them. Then, they listened


    intently to a briefing on safety


    precautions for riding.


    "Now, I''d like to ask for a volunteer to give it a try," the trainer announced with a


    smile. “Would anyone like to step forward?"


    "I will," Ynda said, standing up proactively. "I''ve taken lessons


    before, but it''s been many year


    Please don''tugh if I make a foot myself."


    fof


    “Ynda, you know how to ride?” Jasper asked in surprise. “You''re so young, I never would have guessed."


    “Mhm, just a little.” Hearing the praise, a faint blush crept onto Ynda''s cheeks.