Chapter 1240

The Engagement Party.

Someone had "accidentally" leaked the news, sending every major media outlet into a total frenzy. The headlines screamed about Shanley and Juniper's upcoming nuptials.

Reporters deployed every dirty trick in the book, but not a single one could discover the venue. Forget getting a photograph; they couldn't even catch a glimpse of a guest's shadow.

Desperate tabloids resorted to photoshopping old pictures of the couple together, pushing the hashtag to the top of the trending lists.

One media conglomerate even publicly offered a staggering one million dollar bounty for a single, verified photo of the engagement venue.

"Wow, wow, wow..." Luella sat on the sofa in the private dressing room, waving her phone wildly. "Juniper, one million for a single picture! If I do nothing today but snap photos of you, I'll be the richest person on earth by tomorrow!"

"Oh?" Juniper was dressed in an exquisite bespoke silk dress that perfectly accentuated her graceful curves. Her makeup was light, yet she looked radiant, commanding, and utterly breathtaking. "Go ahead and take one. Just be prepared for Shanley to send a hit squad after you."

Luella immediately shoved her phone deep into her pocket. She walked over, looking a bit uncharacteristically sheepish. "Do you think your parents will like me?"

"Of course they will," Juniper met her eyes, speaking with absolute certainty. "If I like you, my parents will love you."

"Okay." Luella pouted, momentarily dropping her tough facade for a flash of genuine vulnerability. "Also, there's something else. I might need your help."

"?" Juniper looked confused.

"Remember the day of the proposal? I hitched a ride with Jimmie. When we got to my place, he didn't even try to wake me up! He just let me sleep, and then he said I slept like a dead pig!"

Luella sat down next to Juniper, rambling furiously. "He practically called me a pig! Isn't that crossing the line?"

"Uh." Juniper forced a strained smile and nodded enthusiastically. "Very out of line."

"Right?!" Luella felt validated, puffing her chest out. "So, before I got out of the car, I threw a five-hundred-dollar tip at him."

"And then what happened?"

"He told me never to let him see my face again." Luella offered a weak, terrified laugh. "He looked like he was ready to commit murder, Juniper. He's not going to actually assassinate me, is he?!"

Juniper stared at Luella, processing the story.

Her oldest brother gave Luella a ride home. Luella fell asleep... and Jimmie just let her sleep? That didn't make any sense. When had Jimmie ever been that patient and accommodating with Luella?

"Juniper..." While Juniper was still piecing it together, the door opened and Coralie Quill walked in. "It's about time. We should head out."

Knowing Juniper hated overly lavish, noisy affairs, the engagement party had been kept incredibly intimate. Only the closest family and friends were invited.

"Okay." Juniper stood up, looking over Coralie's shoulder. "Did you come by yourself, Coralie?"

"Who else would I bring?" Coralie

raised an eyebrow, a careless, breezy smile on her face. "You didn't think I'd bring Channing, did you? He's just my kept man He's far too embarrassing to bring out in public.'

Juniper and Luella both froze, their eyes drifting to the doorway right behind Coralie.

Her 'embarrassing kept man' was standing right there, holding a gift bag. His face was ashen.

"What's wrong?" Coralie turned

around, catching sight of Channing's devastated expression. Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second before hardening into cold indifference. "Oh, you brought the gift forgot. You can go now."

ve

Channing's jaw clenched tightly, a flicker of pained anger flashing across his handsome features.

But instead of arguing, he stepped forward and handed a different velvet box directly to Juniper. "Happy engagement, Ms. Payne."

"Thank you." Juniper accepted the box, shooting Coralie a look of deep surprise.

"Ms. Quill, since I'm clearly too much

of an embarrassment to be seen

with, I'll be taking my leave," Channing said, stopping beside Corale. He gave her one longe agonizingly deep look before turning on his heel and walking out.

Inside the room, the atmosphere was suffocatingly tense. The three women stood in silence.

Juniper opened the velvet box. Inside rested a pair of limited-edition, luxury couple's watches. They were easily worth eight figures.

"Holy—" Luella gasped, her eyes going wide. "He's that generous?!"