"Didn''t you just have your birthday?" Juniper asked,pletely baffled by the random request.


    "Can I use next year''s?"


    Juniper was speechless. She reached over and felt his forehead. Was he sick? Delirious?


    "Can I?" Shanley asked again, his tone dead serious.


    "Sure," Juniper agreed, her mood soaring at the thought of seeing her sister. "What do you want?"


    "Promise me you won''t get mad in a minute," Shanley said quickly. "And if your sister is mad at me, please put in a good word for me."


    Juniper''s confusion deepened. But as soon as they walked inside, everything made perfect sense.


    In the dpidated room, Coralie sat cross-legged on a broken chair, looking disheveled but exuding pure fury. Her devoted boy toy stood right beside her, practically radiating a readiness to murder someone.


    Flint had secretly confessed the truth: Shanley had tried to eliminate a rival and identally kidnapped his girlfriend''s sister.


    Kidnapping. Unbelievable.


    No wonder he was desperate enough to cash in a birthday wish a year in advance.


    "I said, Shanley Schwartz needs toe in here and personally apologize. Until then, I''m not moving!" Coralie snapped, her back to the door as she examined her chipped manicure with an arrogant air.


    "Does that apply to me, too?" Juniper asked quietly, her voice trembling slightly.


    Hearing that voice, all of Coralie''s built-up pride instantly melted into overwhelming grievance. She whipped around, her eyes instantly welling with tears. Like a broken string of pearls, the tears cascaded down her cheeks.


    "No, no, of course not." Coralie jumped up, her eyes red as she rushed to exin, terrified Juniper. might misunderstand was just out getting coffee, and the next thing I know, I''m knocked out!"


    "Shanley kidnapped me, and his men yelled at me..." She sobbed. "And they ruined my new nails! I—"


    Shanley wanted to defend himself, but every single word she said was technically true. There was no defense.


    Juniper looked back and forth


    between her weeping sister and a


    Kol.n


    very guilty looking Shanley, rubbing her temples. Her sister was wonderful, but she was notoriously vain and held a killer grudge Kidnapping her and ruining her nails? Shanley wasn''t going to get out of this easily. They were both absolute menaces.


    "Ms. Quill, I am deeply sorry," Shanley lowered his head, his toneced with genuine remorse. "I acted recklessly today. I hope you can forgive me."


    Coralie turned her head away,pletely ignoring him.


    "You should step outside," Juniper sighed, waving Shanley away. "I need to talk to my sister."


    Shanley cast a frustrated nce at Coralie''s tear-streaked, stubbornly arrogant face. Why was his future sister-inw harder to please than Juniper


    "You leave too," Coralie ordered Channing.


    Channing gave her a long look but didn''t move.


    "Did you not hear me?" Coralie''s tone sharpened. She was about to have a family reunion; she didn''t need him hovering.


    "I heard you." Not daring to talk back, Channing obediently walked out.


    The room fell silent. Coralie and Juniper looked at each other, a tentative, almost shy energy lingering between them.


    "Um..." Coralie bit her lip, pulling a makeup wipe from her bag to clean her ruined face. She asked softly, "What did you call me just now?"


    Had she heard it right? Did her little sister really call her that?


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!