Chapter 1085
[ 684 words ]
Juniper knew exactly how the system worked. For a coerced accomplice like Lila, she would likely spend a few days in holding, receive a stern warning, and be released.
That was fine. A little hardship was the only way people truly learned their lesson.
“Felton,” Juniper called out softly. “Contact the hospital. Tell them to use the best possible treatment plan for her brother.”
Ultimately, Lila was just a desperate girl trying to survive. Juniper knew exactly what it felt like to lose family. A rare spark of sympathy flickered in her chest.
“Right away, Ms. Payne.” Felton nodded, stepping out of the room to make the arrangements.
However, the rest of the elite crowd was still awkwardly lingering in the room. They were too terrified to leave without permission, but staying felt entirely too intrusive. Most of them wished the floor would just swallow them whole.
“Did you all need something else?” Shanley finally looked up, his voice dripping with absolute zero coldness.
“No, no!” The crowd furiously shook their heads, practically tripping over each other in their rush for the door.
“Wait.”
At the sound of Shanley’s voice, the entire stampede froze in their tracks. They turned around, their faces pale with anxiety.
“Mr. Schwartz… is there something else you need?”
“Juniper Payne.” Shanley pulled Juniper firmly against his chest, the icy aura around him vanishing entirely, replaced by a deep, undeniable tenderness. “My fiancée. The future Mrs. Schwartz.”
The crowd blinked, collectively stunned.
Once their brains finally rebooted, they scrambled to put on their brightest, most eager smiles, tripping over their words to shower her with respect.
“A pleasure, Ms. Payne!”
“Good evening, Mrs. Schwartz!”
Someone even got so flustered they accidentally blurted out, “Good evening, future Mrs. Schwartz!”
The rest of the crowd shot the poor guy a look of pure horror. *Are you trying to get us killed?*
“Hello, everyone.” Juniper honestly hadn’t expected Shanley to pull such a grand, possessive stunt. She reached behind his back and subtly pinched his waist.
“You’re dismissed.” Having successfully staked his claim on his future wife, Shanley waved them off with a highly satisfied smirk.
“Have a wonderful night!” The crowd practically sprinted out the door, terrified that if they stayed a second longer, they might get asked another trick question.
*Click.*
The heavy door swung shut, leaving only Shanley and Juniper in the quiet luxury of the suite.
“I’m exhausted.” Juniper let herself collapse back into the sofa, rubbing her neck with a lazy sigh.
“Did you have fun?” Shanley sat down beside her, his large hands finding her shoulders and gently massaging the tension away.
“It was decent.” Juniper closed her eyes, practically melting into his touch as she sha elessly draped her legs over his lap. God, that felt good.
“As long as you’re happy.” Shanley chuckled, his voice a low, raspy hum. “I’ll take care of the fallout.”
“Okay.” Juniper didn’t argue. She had absolutely no interest in dealing with the tedious aftermath anyway.
Tonight’s massive theatrical
production had served two perfect purposes. First, utterly destroying the Yardley family. Second, sending a loud unignorable message to
ever
socialite in Eclara City anyone who dared set their sights on Shanley Schwartz would face total annihilation.
Killing the chicken to scare the monkeys. And honestly? It had worked flawlessly. The young heiresses in the crowd hadn’t even dared to look up, terrified of catching astray bullet. It’ uld save her a fot of headaches in the future. Content .net
“Let’s go home,” Shanley whispered, intertwining his fingers with hers.
“The gala isn’t over yet.” Juniper stood up, leaning comfortably against his side.
“I only brought you here to be my beautiful excuse anyway.” Shanley smiled warmly. “You’ve had your fun. Let’s go home and rest.”
He knew better than anyone how much she hated crowded, pretentious social events.
“Alright.” Juniper squeezed his hand. “Let’s go over to Cybernetic Shadows and see
if there are any leads on Mom and Dad.”
She also wanted to know if they had managed to restore the photo of that poor, disfigured man.
*Mom and Dad.*
She had said *Mom and Dad*, not *my Mom and Dad*.
“Okay.” Shanley’s eyes crinkled at the corners, a wildly triumphant smirk tugging at
his lips. “Let’s go see if there’s any news on our parents.”
Juniper just rolled her eyes.
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