Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 969

"Fake?"

Miranda looked down at the chocolates. The box was devoid of any fancy branding, but the texture of the packaging and the rich, distinct aroma of the chocolate itself were unmistakable.

She had been eating this exact brand for years. She wouldn't mistake it for anything else.

"I think you're mistaken, Ms. Yardley," Miranda said, her tone cool but retaining a sliver of polite restraint. "There are no fakes here. I appreciate your concern, but why don't you go grab a drink and rest?"

Sheryl stiffened.

Did Miranda really not recognize it was a knockoff, or was she just trying to cover for Juniper to save face?

"I'm only thinking of your health," Sheryl pushed, setting her own box of chocolates down with a pointed look. "But of course, as long as you're aware."

It was a blatant move to corner Juniper. She wanted everyone in the room to know that the future daughter-in-law was handing out cheap counterfeits.

"Ms. Yardley—"

Miranda's patience officially snapped. Her face hardened, the polite veneer vanishing entirely.

But before Miranda could unleash her fury, Juniper's calm voice cut through the tension.

"The chocolate is indeed fake."

Miranda choked on her words, whipping her head to stare at Juniper.

The surrounding guests gasped, their eyes darting to the girl in shock.

She was actually admitting it? Was she forced into a corner because she knew she couldn't keep up the lie?

"I knew it."

Sheryl hadn't expected Juniper to fold so easily. She casually flipped her perfectly styled hair, lifting her chin with aristocratic pride. "It makes sense. You've never had the real thing before, so it's easy to get scammed into buying a knockoff."

"Miranda, please don't be angry with her. She didn't know any better."

Miranda's eyes darkened as she stared at Sheryl in sheer disbelief.

This was the Schwartz estate. Since when did some arrogant little girl have the right to dictate the room? And she dared to throw thinly veiled insults at Juniper—the future lady of the house?

Who gave her the audacity?!

Was it because... she was jealous?

Either way, they knew their girl wasn't going to let anyone walk all over her.

Amused, the two matriarchs settled back into their chairs, perfectly content to sit back and enjoy the show.

"Ms. Payne, you owe me an explanation for throwing away my property," Sheryl demanded, raising her voice just enough to ensure the entire room heard her. "I was only trying to protect Miranda from eating something harmful. I wasn't trying to humiliate you."

"Didn't you just say fake products are bad for your health?"

Juniper let out a dry, mocking laugh at the girl's self-righteous speech. She gave the trash can a light kick, her icy gaze pinning Sheryl down as she spoke with chilling precision.

"Since they're fakes, the trash is exactly where they belong. Right?"

Sheryl froze.

Did she hear that correctly?

Juniper was actually trying to flip the script and claim *her* chocolates were the fakes?