Chapter 1293

Richard: [Probably when she starts texting people all over the place to ask about it, just like you are right now.]

Luella: [??]

Richard: [The very second your friend asked if she had feelings for him, she already had her answer.]

Luella bit her lip hard.

Richard: [It's game over. Your friend has officially fallen into the ocean of love.]

Richard: [By the way, who is this guy? Do I know him?]

Luella: [You don't.]

She ended the conversation there, leaning back against the seat and staring lifelessly at the car roof.

She slapped her own cheeks lightly, staring out the window in total despair.

She was doomed.

After surviving the ruthless underworld for so many years, she was finally brought to her knees by a pretty-faced actor.

Thank god he hadn't caught on. If a straight guy thought another guy was in love with him, he'd probably die of fright.

The thought actually brought her a weird sense of relief.

Once the business partnership was fully sorted, she needed to catch the first flight back to Stellara Country.

She couldn't afford to be anywhere near Jimmie anymore.

If she stayed around him too long, she wouldn't be able to control herself, and who knew what kind of disastrous things she might end up doing.

***

Two days later.

Jimmie was discharged from the hospital and returned home to recover.

Juniper and Shanley came over specifically to check on him.

"Just the two of you?" Jimmie glanced behind them, a slight frown forming.

"Who else?" Shanley set down the bags he brought, looking the injured man up and

down. "Everyone else is tied up with work. They'll stop by later."

Jimmie's frown deepened. He took a sip of water and asked, "How is Luella's recovery coming along?"

"Hmm?" Juniper looked up, shooting him a meaningful glance. "Perfectly fine."

"Hmph," Jimmie scoffed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Little ingrate doesn't even have the decency to check on the guy who saved her life."

"She's been swamped finalizing the partnership details," Shanley explained, pouring Juniper a glass of warm water before sitting next to him and elegantly crossing his legs, "She has to wrap everything up before the end of the month so she can head back to Stellara Country."

"Before the end of the month?" Jimmie's fingers tightened around his glass. His dark eyes snapped up. "She's going back?"

"Yeah." Juniper nodded slowly. "And she probably won't be returning here for a very long time."

Jimmie sat in silence, his brow knotting tighter by the second.

"What? Going to miss her?" Shanley meant it as a joke, but Jimmie didn't argue.

Shanley's smirk faded as the gravity of the situation hit him.

Wait. Had fighting with Luella actually sparked real feelings? Did he genuinely bend his own sexuality for her?

His rival in love was about to become his... family?

Shanley honestly didn't know whether to be thrilled or just incredibly shocked.

He glanced over at his girl, who was happily munching on some fruit, entirely oblivious to the tension.

Halfway through the visit, Shanley found an excuse to send Juniper out of the room, turning a sharp eye on his friend. "You like Luella?"

"Heh." Jimmie leaned back against the headboard, letting out a self-deprecating laugh. "Crazy, isn't it?"

"It happens." Shanley shoved his hands in his pockets, raising an eyebrow with practiced nonchalance. "Juniper and I used to be at each other's throats, too. Look how that turned out."

"You have a real gift for comforting people." Jimmie glared at him. "I admit I like her, and somehow it feels like you're secretly celebrating."

"Is it that obvious?" A smirk tugged at Shanley's lips. "I used to worry Luella had her eyes on Juniper. Knowing this puts my mind at ease."

"I don't judge If it makes you happy, you've got my support." Shanley drawled lazily. "But does she even look at you that way? She's a

seasoned player. Her roster net

the globe You might not even make the waiting list."

"That little bastard. I nearly died saving her and she hasn't even shown her face." Jimmie's temper flared. He glanced at his injured leg in frustration. "If I'm not on the list, I'll just cut the line."

Shanley was speechless.

Who would have guessed? The untouchable A-list actor had quite the wild side.