Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 1130

"I won't play the martyr. Definitely not."

Hearing her lethal threat, Shanley's brows knit together, forcefully pushing out whatever morbid thoughts he had entertained.

Seeing his sudden panic, Juniper gave a faint, satisfied smirk and stood up. "Let's eat."

"Alright." He took her hand and led her to the dining room.

He ladled a bowl of soup and placed it in front of her. His voice was soft and coaxing. "This is a hearty pork and root vegetable soup. Dana's been simmering it for hours. It's really good."

"Yes, Miss Payne, please try some," Dana said with a warm smile.

"Thank you, Dana." Juniper didn't have much of an appetite, but to be polite, she took a small sip.

"I'm glad you like it." Knowing she was stressed and unable to help, Dana did the only thing she could—cook her favorite comfort foods.

"Miss Payne." Just as Dana was about to leave, she stopped and looked at Juniper earnestly. "You and Mr. Schwartz are good people. The heavens will watch over you. Try to relax. All these dark clouds will pass."

Juniper swallowed the lump in her throat, the corners of her lips lifting into a soft, genuine smile. "Thank you. Yes, they will."

After Dana left, the dining room fell quiet.

Neither of them had much of an appetite, slowly moving their silverware and chewing mechanically.

"Northbeck Bridge has the heaviest traffic in the city," Shanley said, placing a tender piece of fish into her bowl. "A crash there would get massive media exposure instantly."

"Heavy traffic means we risk hurting innocent people," Juniper muttered, keeping her eyes down. "If we want to keep collateral damage at zero, the car has to go over the edge into the river."

But no. That was way too dangerous.

"Then it goes into the river," Shanley said casually. He put down his fork and leaned back in his chair, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "I can have scuba gear stashed in the water beforehand. Once the car sinks, I slip out. We stage the wreck and make it look like I was critically injured."

Juniper listened quietly, analyzing the logistics. It was viable, but there were holes.

"Because if I die, you'll go find a new boyfriend," he sighed, pinching her nose playfully.

Juniper pressed her lips together, looking utterly exasperated.

As if she would just settle for any random guy off the street.

"Is that so?" She pushed his hand away, leaning in close until they were inches apart, her voice deadly serious. "You'd better stay alive then. Because I absolutely will."

Shanley's eyes flickered, and his playful smile vanished entirely.

—

That night, Juniper and Shanley meticulously ironed out every single detail of the bridge crash.

Only after making absolutely certain that the plan was foolproof did Juniper finally let out a long breath of relief and, at Shanley's urging, went to bed.