Chapter 976

"Send me their trace IPs..."

Juniper's face was stone-cold as her fingers flew across the keyboard.

The rival company was registered as "Sanctum Holdings." An odd name. It was clearly a dummy corporation. The legal representative on paper was a middle-aged man with a flawless background check but only an elementary school education— basically a convenient scapegoat placed there to take the fall if things went wrong.

Juniper spent a considerable amount of time digging but still couldn't unearth the true mastermind or real headquarters behind "Sanctum Holdings."

She tapped her cheek lazily, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

Something she couldn't hack into?

Interesting!

"Juniper, word is that reps from Sanctum Holdings will be attending the Global Securities Summit this weekend," Luella added, grinding her teeth over the phone. "Wanna go teach this bastard a lesson?"

Playing dirty with them?

Perfect. There was live trading happening at the summit. If Juniper took control of the floor herself, she could probably recoup all their losses in real-time.

"Done," Juniper replied, her voice dropping into a low, predatory register. "When are you flying into Eclara City?"

The summit was being held in Eclara City, and since Luella managed the financial side of Subterra Vanguard, she absolutely had to be there.

"Miss me?" Luella laughed cheekily through the speaker. "I thought you'd completely forgotten about your little darling now that you've got that older man of yours."

"?"

Shanley, who had just walked into the room carrying a glass of juice, stopped dead when he heard that.

Little darling?

Luella?

The absolute nerve of that girl. Did she lack basic self-awareness? Didn't she know *he* was the only 'little darling' in Juniper's heart?

"How could I?"

Juniper had her back to the door, completely unaware of the looming presence behind her. She swung her bare feet playfully. "You'll always be my little darling."

Bang-!

The moment the words left her mouth, the bedroom door slammed shut with aggressive force.

Juniper jumped.

She turned around to see Shanley standing near the entrance, dressed in comfortable loungewear but looking anything but relaxed. His face was a thundercloud as he stared at her.

Uh-oh.

Juniper's smile froze. she blinked at him innocently.

He definitely heard that, didn't he?

"Ooh, little darling," Luella kept chattering obnoxiously through the phone. If your old fox heard you that he'd be drowning in vinegar right now."

"Honestly, I can't even lie, hahaha..." Luella pushed her luck, "Every time I see that

guy get jealous, it just makes my day."

"Exactly how much does it make your day?"

Shanley stepped forward, placed the juice heavily on the desk next to Juniper's hand, and let the words slip through his teeth in a slow, Lethal drawl.

The temperature in the room instantly plummeted.

"Haha... *cough, cough, hack*!"

The sudden voice drop nearly caused Luella to choke to death on her own spit. She desperately tried to backpedal mean I could laugh for three days straight, MO Schwartz."

Shanley's expression turned murderous.

"Alright, enough." Afraid Shanley might actually order a hit, Juniper quickly cut in.

"Get here early, call me when you land."

"Mr. Schwartz isn't going to assassinate me, is he?" Luella yelled dramatically. "Juniper, I'm so scared!"

Juniper: ?

She almost snorted. Was that what Luella considered 'scared'?

"Just shut up," Juniper muttered, ruthlessly hanging up the phone.

Shanley stood beside her, lips pressed in a tight line, his eyelids lowered.

He didn't say a word.

He just stared at her with deep, wounded eyes, looking utterly wronged as if she were some heartless heartbreaker who had shattered his soul.

"I was just joking around," Juniper massaged her temples, offering a placating smile.

"Who is your little darling?" Shanley wasn't laughing.

"You, obviously." Juniper maintained her smile. She knew exactly how to stroke his ego.

"The only one?"

"Of course."