<h4>Chapter 786: Dad wants to see you</h4>


    "Sis, who gave you this?" Elina asked, her eyes wide as she stared at the expensive gown hanging in the cupboard. "Where did you even wear this? Did you finally start spending money on yourself?"


    "Prince Dominick gave that to me," Jeniva replied, trying to sound casual.


    "What?" Elina’s voice rose in shock. "Why would a Prince give you a dress?"


    "Umm... remember I went to Gridlock for work?" Jeniva began, her hands nervously finding the pockets at her hips. "I met him there by ident. Then the higher-ups ordered me to work alongside him."


    "And he gave you a gift just for working for him?" Elina frowned, her confusion deepening. "That doesn’t make any sense, Jen."


    "No!" Jeniva quickly brought her hands to the front, twisting her fingers. "It’s more than that. We ended up finding out we’re mates. So... we’re kind of seeing each other."


    "What???" Elina’s jaw dropped. "Oh my God! My brother-inw is an Alpha Prince!"


    Elina began pacing the small room, her shock turning into manic excitement. "A Prince! Jeniva, do you realize what this means? You’re going to be a Princess!"


    "Wait! Wait! That’s not confirmed. I mean, yes, we are mates, but we are just trying to get to know each other," Jeniva replied, her voice filled with a mix of caution and nerves.


    "That doesn’t happen, sis," Elina countered, her face bright with joy. "If you’re mates, you get together. Hardly anyone defies the fate the Moon Goddess grants them."


    "But Prince Dominick has gone through a terrible divorce. Everyone knows about that," Jeniva asserted, trying to ground her sister’s expectations. "He’s trying to know me, and I’m doing the same. We don’t want to rush anything."


    Elina’s expression softened. She moved back to the bed and sat down. "Well, I just want you to be happy. Fated mates are supposed to be together, not reject each other. So, fall in love. Don’t hold yourself back. You always corner yourself because of your past."


    Jeniva hummed, looking at the gown again. "We will see. There’s so much I still feel I need to discover about him, and the same goes for him."


    "Hmm. Well, I trust the destiny the Moon Goddess brought your way," Elina remarked, reaching out to take her sister’s hands. "You have done so much for us and this family. It’s time for you to do everything for yourself. Don’t hold yourself back from enjoying the moment."


    Jeniva squeezed Elina’s hands. She knew Elina was right about her tendency to stay in the shadows because she always thought alphas hated her.


    ~~~~~


    Juniper returned to her house in the morning. As she unlocked the door, and walked in, she felt a familiar presence.


    She stood in the tiny living space, her keys still gripped tightly in her hand. Her pulse spiked the second she saw him.


    "Cillian, what the hell are you doing here?" she snapped, her voice echoing in the small room. "And how did you get in? I’ll press charges for breaking and entering."


    Cillian calmly lowered the magazine onto the coffee table and stood up. He adjusted his round sses, looking her over.


    "Dad wants to see you," he said simply. "As for the door, guessing the passcode was easy. You still use the birthday Mom gave you." He let out a light, dry chuckle.


    Juniper felt a surge of irritation. "So what? You have no right toe here."


    "Dad is sick," Cillian pronounced, his voice dropping an octave. "He wants to see you onest time. He won’tst much longer. That’s why I’vee to take you."


    "I have nothing to do with the Vittileo family! You all discarded me when I needed you most. Because of all of you, my marriage was destroyed!" Tears streamed down her face as her chest tightened, making her feel suddenly breathless.


    "You still me us for something you started in the pce," Cillian countered, adjusting his sses. "You told us not to mention your origins to Prince Dominick, and we didn’t. Regardless, I’m not here to argue. I’m simply rying Dad’s message."


    When he noticed Juniper rubbing her chest and struggling to take deep breaths, his detached expression faltered. He stepped toward her.


    "Are you alright?" Cillian asked, reaching out to ce a hand on her arm.


    Juniper yanked her arm away. "Don’t touch me. I’m not rted to you or your father."


    Cillian’s expression hardened into a sneer, but his cynicism vanished when she suddenly copsed. He lunged forward, catching her just before she hit the floor.


    "June!" he shouted, patting her cheek sharply. She didn’t respond. "Fuck," he cursed under his breath, lifting her into his arms and heading straight for the hospital.


    After she was admitted, the doctor approached him in the hallway. "And you are?"


    "I’m Cillian Vittileo, Juniper’s brother," he introduced himself.


    "Alright. Miss Vittileo was discharged from this hospital only recently, and now this fainting spell. May I know what happened?"


    "We were talking and she just started struggling for breath," Cillian replied, his brow furrowing. "Wait, why was she admitted here? When was this?"


    The doctor looked at the chart. "She was brought in just a few days ago with a knife wound. Maybe she is undergoing some kind of trauma. I know about her history. She underwent a divorce, so maybe all this is taking a toll on her health. I advise you to consult a psychiatrist."


    Cillian nodded his head. The doctor excused himself and moved to the other bed. Meanwhile, he pushed open the curtains and looked at Juniper, with IV drip attached to her arm.


    He handed her a polybag with energy drinks inside it.


    "Drink one," Cillian said.


    When she didn’t, he took out a bottle and uncapped it. "Dad is seriously sick. I don’t have to waste time on you, June." He forwarded the bottle to her.


    "You think we are your enemies. But you also know that we never intervened in your affairs once you were an adult. We never wanted bad for you after you found Prince Dominick. You got greedy," he asserted, keeping his voice low.