Australis.


    New Year''s Eve.


    The Subterra Vanguard base was alive with festivities. Brilliantly colored fireworks illuminated the night sky, and the entirepound was draped in vibrant decorations. The atmosphere was electric with celebration.


    Even though Juniper was the youngest and arguably the wealthiest among them— her friends still prepared massive holiday cash bonuses for her. She went around the room, collecting the envelopes and offering her thanks.


    Midway through the evening, her phone buzzed. Kent and Hannah, along with Hayden and Miranda, had all wired her generous holiday funds. The amounts were so staggering it took her a moment to count the zeros.


    Juniper respectfully replied with heartfelt holiday wishes, graciously epting the elders'' gifts.


    Then, her eyes drifted to the pinned contact at the top of her message list.


    Her chat app waspletely silent. Not a single notification dot.


    *Must be busy.*


    His grandparents and parents could find the time to text her, but not him. Juniper silently cursed Shanley out a few more times in her head. But the more she criticized him, the heavier her chest felt.


    They had agreed on fifteen days apart, but it had only been fifteen hours... and it already felt like an eternity.


    Habits were truly a terrifying thing, especially when someone had seeped into your very bones. The withdrawal was brutal.


    When the New Year''s Eve party wound down, the group insisted Juniper go to bed early since she was the youngest and didn''t need to stay up for the midnight countdown.


    She returned to her room with little enthusiasm. Pushing the door open, she looked around the empty space, a sudden wave of mncholy washing over her. She had lived in this room for years, yet tonight, it felt strangely unfamiliar and cold.


    She wondered what Shanley was doing at this exact moment.


    *Boom-*


    Midnight struck, ringing in the new year. The deafening crackle of fireworks echoed across the sky.


    "Happy New Year, kiddo!"


    Her six found-family members sent their blessings one after another.


    "Happy New Year, sweetheart."


    "Happy New Year, Juniper. Wishing you endless happiness."


    Kent, Hannah, Hayden, and Miranda all sent their greetings right on the dot.


    She checked her messages for Shanley again.


    Nothing.


    Juniper opened their chat, typed out a long paragraph, and then aggressively deleted it all. Finally, she just sent a single period: "."


    There was no reply.


    Juniper pressed her lips into a thin line, gripping the bedsheets in silent frustration. *Call me day or night,* he had said.


    What a joke. Men were all liars. None of them could be trusted.


    *Smack-*


    She tossed her phone onto the nightstand,y back on the bed, and stared nkly at the ceiling.


    The fireworks eventually faded. The world outside grew quiet—so quiet that she could hear the faint rustling of the wind.


    Just as she finally gave up waiting, hugging the pillow that carried his faint, lingering scent to try and sleep, a frantic knock hammered on her door.


    "Boss! We''ve got a problem!" one of her subordinates yelled, his voice panicked.


    "What is it?" Juniper yanked the door open, frowning at the pale, terrified man in front of her.


    "There''s a rival gang at the front


    gate! They''re demanding to see you, and our guys can''t hold them off much longer." The man pointed.


    toward the entrance, his voice


    trembling with exaggerated fear.


    "Jimmie and the others don''t know yet."


    "Rivals?" Juniper''s gaze turned ice-cold. She grabbed her jacket and strode out the door. "Keep it from the others," she ordered over her shoulder. They were all having such a good time, finally getting some rest. She wasn''t about to let some about suicidal idiots ruin their holiday.


    As soon as Juniper was out of sight, the terrified subordinate''s panic instantly vanished. He let out a long breath and grinned at the others hiding around the corners, How was that? Oscar-worthy, right?"


    "Brilliant," the others whispered, giving him thumbs up. "You''ve got balls of steel, lying to the Boss like that."


    "What do I have to fear? Mr. Schwartz said he''d cover for me."


    "Hahaha..." The group tried to muffle theirughter. "Mr. Schwartz? You do realize how little weight his word carries when Specter gets mad, right?"