Chapter 1201

Ebony Fox pressed her lips together and nodded helplessly. "Alright."

"I'll go count our people," Luella Langley said, equally resigned. "The remaining members of Sanctum Holdings will be sent over to Subterra Vanguard for rehabilitation."

It was best to keep them from causing any more trouble for the authorities.

"Sounds good."

Juniper Payne turned to Luella with a faint smile. "Thanks for the hard work."

"Oh, come on, it's us!" Luella's mouth twitched into a smirk as she leaned in close to Juniper, dropping her voice. "If your giant jar of jealousy wasn't standing right there, I'd give you a massive hug."

"Oh."

Juniper glanced over her shoulder at the man staring unblinkingly at the two of them. She let out a lazy, low chuckle. "He's been through a lot. Let's not push his buttons today."

After making the necessary arrangements for the aftermath, Juniper returned to Shanley Schwartz's side. Tilting her elegant neck, her eyes crinkled with amusement. "Mr. Schwartz, holding up okay?"

Shanley instantly stood up straighter, forcing himself to look energized. He pulled the girl into his arms, leaning down so his breath brushed hotly against her ear. "Never doubt your man, Juniper. I'm doing perfectly fine."

Juniper's ears burned. She lightly punched his shoulder, her voice muffled against his chest. "I'm genuinely asking about your health!"

Could he please just have a normal conversation without turning it into an innuendo?

"And my health is genuinely fantastic!" Shanley fired back defensively.

A man's pride was on the line-you never question his stamina!

"Uh-huh." Juniper raised a brow, stretching lazily. "Let's go back." "Juniper-"

Seeing her turn to leave, Shanley instinctively reached out to grab her arm.

The sudden movement tugged at his wounds, causing him to let out a sharp hiss of pain. "Hiss-"

"You're so stubborn." Juniper stopped in her tracks, wrapping her arms around his waist and looking up at his bloodless face. "I thought you said you were perfectly fine? What's with the whimpering, Mr. Delicate?"

The moment that nickname dropped, Ebony Fox, Luella, and the surrounding subordinates widened their eyes in shock.

Mr. Delicate?

What kind of nickname was that? It completely shattered his intimidating aura.

"Perfectly fine?" Taking advantage of the moment, Shanley leaned all his weight against her, his pale lips paring as he spoke in a low, maspy tone. "My body is actually quite...

"Shut up!"

II

Knowing exactly what kind of dirty joke he was about to make, Juniper cut him off coldly. "Keep talking nonsense, and see if I don't throw you into the fire pit."

"My lips are sealed." Shanley chuckled, turning his head to press a kiss against her

hair. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight. "Did you miss me?"

The words plucked at her heartstrings, and Juniper felt a sudden prickle of heat behind her eyes.

"A little," she muttered, refusing to give him a serious answer.

"I missed you so much," Shanley murmured, rubbing his cheek against hers, his voice hypnotic. thought about you every single second. I missed you so much I thought I was going to die.

Juniper listened quietly, her palm gently patting his back.

Well, he wasn't dead, was he?

"Ahem." Seeing them practically glued together, Ebony Fox couldn't help but interrupt. "Alright, break it up. It's not safe here. We need to leave ASAP."

"Let's go."

Juniper nodded, taking his hand to lead him out.

As they passed the garden, she paused. "Someone burn all these hideous flowers."

Theia Sommers wouldn't want to look at such garbage.

On the drive back, the estate erupted in roaring flames, painting half the night sky a brilliant orange.

Shanley leaned heavily against Juniper, his hand clutching hers tightly.

"He's putting on quite the show," Ebony Fox muttered from the front seat. "He was perfectly fine on the way here."

Juniper looked down, pressing two fingers against his wrist to check his vitals. Her brow furrowed deeply.

Mr. Delicate wasn't faking it this time. He had genuinely passed out.