Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 286

What was there to stress about? It was just a matter of picking up a pen.

“Good to hear,” Jimmie said. Then he and Melvin, their faces equally grim, turned and walked away, afraid that if they stayed any longer, the sight of their precious sister being stolen away would make them beat Shanley to a pulp.

...

In the back of the car, a faint smile played on Shanley’s handsome face.

“What are you smiling about?” Juniper asked, dabbing ointment on the cut on his lip. Her expression was a cute mixture of awkwardness and concern.

“I’m happy you chose me,” Shanley replied, his voice a low murmur. “Today’s beating was worth it.”

“Oh,” Juniper arched an eyebrow, not denying it. “What did you say to my brothers?”

For them to actually agree to let her stay was surprising.

“I told them…” Shanley leaned closer to make it easier for her, his eyes swirling with emotion as he gazed at her. “That this is the first time in my life I’ve ever fallen for someone, and that I’m aiming for marriage.”

At his words, Juniper’s fingers trembled. She looked up, her eyes meeting his deep, vortex-like gaze, and her heart began to pound.

“I also said…” Shanley’s lips curved, his magnetic voice laced with a captivating charm, “that I will cherish her, protect her, and respect her. And that after she graduates, I will seriously pursue her.”

“Oh…” Juniper swirled the cotton swab, a smirk playing on her lips. “And what if you fail?”

“That’s okay,” Shanley said, gently brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead. His voice was a lazy, magnetic drawl. “I’m very persistent. If I fail, I’ll just keep trying until I win her over.”

Juniper finished applying the ointment and tossed the swab into a trash bag. She pressed her fingers lightly against his chest, a bright, knowing smile spreading across her beautiful face.

“You certainly are determined… But I’m quite a difficult person to win over. You’ll have to try very hard.”

Juniper stared at Shanley, her gaze deep.

“By the way,” Shanley added, raising an eyebrow, “at my grandmother’s birthday party, I remember your gift was also from her studio. As I recall, that piece was quite difficult to acquire. Don’t tell me you know someone at J-Five Studio?”

Juniper’s lips moved as she tried to think of a plausible lie, but her phone suddenly rang.

“Boss! Shanley offered nine figures to buy out our entire new collection!” The design director was practically screaming with excitement. “He seems to be obsessed with your designs! He’s being very aggressive, absolutely insistent. What do you say? Should we raise the price a bit more, squeeze some more cash out of him? A few dozen million last time was way too little!”

“Boss?” the director asked when he heard only silence.

Of course, Juniper couldn’t answer. She was too busy dying of embarrassment. In her haste, she had accidentally hit the speakerphone button, and the director’s entire speech had echoed through the car. Shanley, Felton, and Flint all stared at her.

After a few agonizing seconds, Juniper silently ended the call and calmly uttered the words: “You have the wrong number.”