Chapter 1084

Manners? She was talking about manners at a time like this?

Sheryl sprawled on the carpet, the vibrant red imprint of five fingers rapidly blooming across her pale cheek. It took her several long seconds to process what had just happened. When she did, she glared at Juniper with bloodshot eyes.

"You hit me? I'm calling the police!"

"Save your breath. The cops are already outside," Juniper cut her off cleanly. Acting every bit the pampered heiress, she extended her hand toward Shanley with a look of mild disgust. "Dirty."

Shanley stood up immediately. Taking a wet wipe from Felton, he cradled Juniper's hand and meticulously cleaned her fingers, completely unbothered by the chaos around them.

The guests watched in profound silence, too terrified to even breathe.

"You conspired to drug Shanley Schwartz, intending to destroy both his reputation and the Schwartz family's name in one night." Juniper looked down at Sheryl as if inspecting a squashed bug, her tone dripping with disdain. "Who do you think Shanley Schwartz is? Did you honestly believe his bed was that easy to climb into?" Shanley's movements paused. He lifted his dark, intense gaze, his eyes tracing the delicate lines of Juniper's face as the corner of his mouth curved up.

She was right. It wasn't easy at all. His bed was strictly reserved for her, and her alone.

"You—" Sheryl clutched her burning cheek, realization crashing over her as her eyes widened in terror. "You knew about this the whole time? You set me up!" She played along? Just to make a spectacular, public mockery out of her?!

"Just figured that out?" Juniper stepped forward, effortlessly plucking a hidden micro-camera from Sheryl's hair. She twirled the device between her fingers, her voice dropping to a freezing whisper. "Did you really think you were worthy of touching my fiancé?"

*Fiancé.*

Hearing her claim him so fiercely made Shanley's chest swell with deep, unrelenting satisfaction.

"Premeditated framing, kidnapping, extortion, and terroristic threats." Juniper crouched down slowly, her piercing gaze locking onto Sheryl's ashen face. "I wonder how many years that carries?"

Sheryl's eyes dilated in raw, unfiltered fear.

"Don't worry," Juniper added with a chillingly sweet smile. "With the Schwartz Group's legal team handling the prosecution, your

sentence won't be shool.ne

It's

inspiring to see someone so young work so hard to secure a permanent residence on the state's dime."

The crowd caught the heavy sarcasm and desperately wanted to laugh, but they bit

their tongues, too afraid to make a sound.

"No!" Sheryl bit her lip hard enough to draw blood, fighting back with pure

desperation. "Where's my dad? I want my dad!"

The Schwartz Group might control the city, but the Yardley family wasn't entirely powerless. Her father wouldn't just stand by and let her rot in a cell.

"Your dad?" Juniper tilted her head and glanced at Felton. "Bring Mr. Yardley out, please."

"Right away, Ms.-" Felton caught the downright lethal glare from his boss and seamlessly corrected himself. "Right away."

Juniper shot Felton a look, then glanced back at the devastatingly handsome man beside her. She clicked her tongue in quiet amusement.

Moments later, Barnaby Yardley pushed through the crowd, escorted by two towering bodyguards. He rushed to his daughter's side, his face tight with panic.

"Mr. Schwartz, what is the meaning of this?" Barnaby demanded, his voice trembling with anger as he saw the glaring handprint on his precious daughter's face.

"The meaning of this?" Shanley

l.ne

pulled Juniper back onto the sofa, elegantly crossing his long legs. He stared down at Barnaby with half-lidded, lazy eyes that masked a terrifying storm assured you were a smart man, Barnaby. assumed you knew exactly what kind of suicidal idiocy your daughter was up to."

Before Barnaby could form a response, Shanley delivered the final blow. "Or maybe

you did know. Seeing as you helped her orchestrate the whole thing."

Barnaby choked on his own breath. He scanned the room, realizing there was no way out, and decided to play his final card. "Shapley, regardless of what's happened, I've been friends with your parents for years. Sheryl simply lost her mind for a moment. You haven't actually suffered any real losses here. Do we really need to make this so ugly?"