Chapter 1233
[ 598 words ]
Did a proposal really require an audience this large?
“What are you guys doing here?” Juniper leaned back in her chair, narrowing her eyes in feigned confusion.
“That sly fox said the weather was nice and since none of us were busy, a group dinner sounded fun,” Melvin blurted out eagerly.
“Not busy?” Juniper’s gaze shifted to Jimmie’s face. “Doesn’t Jimmie have a commercial shoot that’s been delayed for weeks scheduled for today? Doesn’t Harold have a lab report due? And Ebony Fox, don’t you have a boxing match today? Celine…”
She continued down the line, before finally looking at Janet and the others. “And as for you guys… shouldn’t you be in class right now?”
“Uh.” Melvin froze, nearly biting his tongue.
Jimmie shot Melvin a withering glare. No one would think he was mute if he just kept his mouth shut! Did he really think they could fool their genius sister with such a flimsy excuse?
“Shanley said a lot has happened recently, and he was worried you might be feeling overwhelmed. So he forced us all to come keep you company,” Jimmie smoothly covered, pulling out a chair and pouring Juniper a glass of juice. “We told him he was overreacting, but you know how he is. He basically blackmailed us into showing up.”
Juniper frowned, her lips pressing into a tight line.
If she hadn’t already figured out the proposal, she might have actually believed him. Jimmie really earned that Best Actor award.
“Is that so?” she asked, dragging out the syllables.
“Yep, absolutely,” the others hastily agreed, offering smiles that looked more like grimaces.
Just as the tension peaked, a sharp, confident voice rang out. “Juniper!”
Luella Langley strutted in, dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, a charming smirk on her face. She looked handsome enough to win a beauty pageant.
The moment Jimmie saw her, his brow furrowed in deep annoyance.
Luella caught the look and tilted her head. Oh, so the pretty boy wanted to glare at her? If it weren’t Juniper’s special day, she would have absolutely terrorized him.
“The Subterra Vanguard mess has
been sorted out. You need to take me to meet Mom and Dad later, Luella said, walking right up and taking a sip straight out of Juniper’s water glass.
“Who are you calling Mom and Dad?” Jimmie snapped, swapping his sister’s glass for a fresh one and filling it with juice.
“Juniper promised me. Her parents are my adoptive parents now.” Luella crossed her legs, leaning back with infuriating ease. “So, Juniper, are we going or not?”
“Sure, later,” Juniper smiled softly.
Luella’s birth mother had passed away early, leaving her with a scumbag father and a wicked stepmother. She had never known the warmth of a real family When. they had first met Juniper promised that if she ever found her real parents, she’d let Luella become their godchild.
“See?” Luella shot Jimmie an arrogant, triumphant look.
“Heh,” Jimmie scoffed, crossing his arms and simmering with quiet rage.
***
Once everyone had settled in, Coralie Quill suddenly walked up behind Juniper and covered her eyes. “Juniper, let’s play a game, okay?”
Juniper sighed, playing along with the theatrical production. “Okay.”
She heard the shuffle of footsteps and hushed, frantic whispers. Then, a familiar, intoxicating scent drifted. in, the at the clean, distinct cologne that belonged only to Shanley.
The leading man had finally arrived.
“Alright, you can open your eyes now,” Coralie announced, stepping back quickly.
Juniper lifted her lashes. There was Shanley, down on one knee, holding up the ring. His handsome face was flushed with poorly concealed panic.
“I… You…”
The entire audience stared at him in utter confusion.
What was wrong with the man? He was choking at the most critical moment!
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