Chapter 126

How could Juniper possibly be Jimmie’s sister? The coincidence was staggering. Was it too late to take back his offer to be her honorary brother?
“Hello, bro,” Juniper said, her red lips curving into a polite, yet teasing, smile.
Shanley stared at the young woman’s arched eyebrow and smug grin, feeling a mixture of frustration and helplessness. So, she and Jimmie had already reconnected, and she knew about his friendship with her brother.
Yesterday, when he’d invited her to this dinner, supposedly as a celebrity meeting a fan, she must have deliberately kept quiet, just waiting to watch him make a fool of himself.
“What’s wrong?” Jimmie asked, finally noticing Shanley’s strange expression as he stared intently at his sister.
“Nothing,” Shanley replied, snapping back to reality. A warm smile spread across his handsome face. “Hello, little sister.”
Juniper simply stared back at him, saying nothing. The atmosphere in the room turned strangely tense.
Once they were all seated, Shanley had the desserts he’d pre-ordered brought out and placed them all in front of Juniper.
“Thanks,” she said, nonchalantly digging into a small pudding with her fork.
“Shanley, didn’t you say your little girl was coming?” Jimmie asked, glancing at the time. “You even said you were bringing a big gift.”
But there was no sign of another girl, nor any gift.
Shanley lifted his eyes and met the gaze of the young lady across from him, who was looking up at him with wide, blinking eyes.
This little minx…
“Ahem,” he cleared his throat to cover his embarrassment, affecting a calm demeanor. “She had something come up last minute. Couldn’t make it.”
“Something last minute?” Jimmie peeled two shrimp for his sister, then looked up at Shanley, a sly glint in his eyes. “You didn’t tell her not to come because you were afraid she’d be outshone by Juniper, did you?”
Shanley’s lips twitched.
“Yes,” he admitted in a low, resonant voice. “She can’t compare.”
Jimmie’s hands froze mid-peel. He was genuinely surprised. The last time they’d talked, Shanley had been fiercely protective of his mystery girl. What had changed?
“As for the gift, I did prepare one,” Shanley continued, pulling out his phone and opening a file. “Juniper seems to like candy. I’m giving her this candy store chain as a welcome present.”
Jimmie knew this wasn’t just any candy store. It was a major brand with international exports, valued in the tens of millions. Shanley had gone through a great deal of trouble to acquire it recently. And now he was just handing it over to Juniper?
“Isn’t that a bit too extravagant?” Jimmie asked with a placid smile.
“Not at all,” Shanley replied, his gaze returning to the girl across the table. A subtle, almost predatory smile played on his lips. “For Juniper, only the best will do.”
Juniper snuck a glance at the man, a faint blush creeping up her cheeks.
Jimmie’s smile felt a little stiff. This was all very strange. He was starting to feel like Shanley was more of a doting brother to Juniper than he was.
“Alright, then,” Jimmie said, deciding not to refuse. He poured Shanley a glass of wine. “On Juniper’s behalf, thank you.”
“Of course,” Shanley said with a low chuckle. He picked up his knife and fork, carefully removed the chopped green onions from a dish, and pushed it toward Juniper. “Try this. It’s quite good.”
“Okay,” Juniper accepted it naturally and began to eat.
“This one is good too,” Shanley added, placing a piece of fish in her bowl, having meticulously removed the skin he knew she disliked.
Juniper ate happily.
Jimmie’s brows furrowed as he watched them. Was this really their first time meeting?