Chapter 967

The rest of the guests stared in absolute bewilderment.

In their minds, Miranda was a strict, unsmiling powerhouse of a director. Who knew she had such a fiercely affectionate side?

"Juniper, my dear!" Hannah bustled over, her wrinkled face glowing with joy. "I haven't seen you in half a month. I missed you to death!"

"I missed you too." Juniper gently squeezed the older woman's hand, her tone turning deeply respectful. "I wish you and Mr. Schwartz a very Happy New Year, and many healthy years to come."

"With you around, we'll live to be a hundred easily!" Hannah blurted out in her excitement. "I'm just holding out to hold my great-granddaughter!"

Juniper blinked, momentarily paralyzed by the sheer awkwardness of the statement.

"Mom, please don't jump the gun," Hayden sighed, shaking his head. "What if it's a great-grandson?"

*Smack-*

Miranda slapped her husband's arm, completely disregarding the shocked stares of the elite guests. She hissed under her breath, "I want a granddaughter. It has to be a granddaughter. If they can't give me a granddaughter, I'll break Shanley's legs."

Shanley was speechless. Weren't they getting a bit ahead of themselves? He hadn't even gotten her into bed yet.

"Alright, alright, that's enough," Miranda chimed in smoothly, noticing Juniper's deer- in-the-headlights expression. "We're just rambling, Juniper. Pretend you didn't hear a word."

Shanley had already met Juniper's family, meaning the marriage was essentially locked in. The women of the Schwartz household were simply too thrilled about officially claiming her.

"I brought a gift for you," Juniper said, subtly changing the subject. She gestured to a maid, who immediately brought over a velvet box.

Inside was a string of prayer beads.

They were perfect for meditation and blessing rituals. They looked understated, but they held immense significance.

"Oh, my sweet girl, I love them." Hannah eagerly slipped the beads onto her wrist. She purposely pulled her sleeve up to show them off to the room. "My

granddaughter-in-law gave these to me. Aren't they gorgeous?"

The crowd immediately offered a chorus of agreeable praises.

"Is that red sandalwood?"

Sheryl stepped forward, analyzing the bracelet with a critical eye before speaking up. "That's a very common wood. It's not exactly special. If you'd like, Hannah, I could find you something much better. We

in

shouldn't cut corners when it comes

to honoring the divine."

Hearing this, Juniper lazily raised her gaze, unexpectedly locking eyes with a girl glaring at her with blatant hostility.

"Hello, Ms. Payne." Sheryl took another step forward, taking the initiative to introduce herself. "I'm a friend of Shanley's."

*Shanley?*

That was a very intimate way to address him. Even Juniper rarely called him that.

"Shanley, it's been so long." Before Juniper could respond, Sheryl shifted her full attention to the man beside her. "How have you been all these years?"

Staring at the handsome face she had dreamed about for years, Sheryl's heart raced. If she hadn't

gone abroad to study, she might have been the one standing beside m today

Juniper glanced sideways at Shanley, the faint smile vanishing from her lips.

Sensing his girl's sudden shift in mood, Shanley's eyes turned freezing cold. "Who are you?"

Sheryl receited, genuinely shocked

that he had forgotten her. She

recovered after

nawkwane

me Sheryl We used to pla

together in the gardens all the time

when we were kids..."

*Kids? All the time?*

So, they grew up together. Childhood sweethearts.

Juniper pressed her lips together. Her expression remained unbothered, but her

hands, tucked deep into her pockets, slowly curled into tight fists.

"Don't know you," Shanley replied icily, his brow furrowing in distaste. He reached out to grab Juniper's hand.

Juniper took a half-step back, dodging his grasp perfectly.

Shanley froze.