Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 1774

"Old Amos Ainsworth has been your friend for years. Are you really not going to help?"

Hannah leaned in, her eyes wide as she enunciated every single word.

"N-No, absolutely not."

Kent stuttered in sheer panic, instantly declaring his allegiance. "The Ainsworths are completely in the wrong here. I stand with justice, not connections."

"Besides, whatever my wife says is the law. Naturally, I'm listening to you."

"Then it's settled."

Seeing that her husband had no objections (or didn't dare to have any), Hannah nodded in satisfaction. "Let's eat."

"Yes."

Hector and Monique nodded slightly, their faces practically buried in their bowls.

Kent picked up his silverware and went back to eating the half quail egg his wife had scared out of his hand earlier.

"Eat, eat. The police will handle all of that," Hayden chimed in, quickly trying to smooth over the awkward atmosphere.

Juniper hadn't said a word the entire time, but she had absorbed every single piece of the conversation.

A warm current seemed to flow through her, sinking deep into her chest and lifting her spirits.

She must have saved the galaxy in her past life. How else could she have found such an incredible family?!

Juniper leaned over, flashing a sweet smile. "Grandmother, try this."

"Oh, thank you, sweetie."

All of Hannah's previous dominance and sharpness vanished instantly, replaced by a purely loving smile. "Don't take what we were just talking about to heart."

"Monique just..."

"I know," Juniper said softly. "I'm not mad at Monique at all."

Monique looked up, her cheeks stuffed with small Tortellini, looking a bit like a chipmunk.

Looking at her like this, Kurt really did resemble her.

A little foolish, but adorably so.

"That's good, that's good." Hannah let out a sigh of relief, and the family happily went back to their meal.

—

"Dad, I'm going to work really hard." Just before hanging up, Kurt's tone turned entirely serious. "Over this past year, I've learned so much just by being around Ebony Fox."

"She taught me how to persist, how to work hard, and how to keep moving forward. Even without the Schwartz family, I can build my own career."

"Sooner or later, I'm going to take this shackle off."

Even if he was never as powerful as his older cousin, he could at least realize his own true value.

"You've grown up."

Hector felt a deep sense of pride, his voice catching slightly in his throat. "Work is important, but make sure you stay safe."

He had checked the weather forecast for Froskia Country; the winds were incredibly strong right now.

And for the drone test flights, Kurt had to be at the peak of the mountain during heavy winds to test their maximum performance.

As a father, alongside pride, there was an inevitable ache of worry.

—

Upstairs.

Juniper was sitting on the sofa in Miranda's room, an elegant gift bag resting beside her.