Chapter 13 Jenny Is Missing
Juniper couldn't even grasp what happened when suddenly the blankets were yanked off her.
She felt a chill.
A woman's voice, laced with scorn, pierced the air, "So you seduced Master Blackwood? Fairly attractive, yes, but disposable like a used napkin—such women are all too common."
Struggling to sit up, Juniper clutched a pillow to cover herself and asked, "Who are you?"
Perched on the leather couch, toying with her freshly manicured nails, the woman gave Juniper a fleeting glance, "Oh, I'm Master Blackwood's fiancée, Mary."
The night before, gossip hounds snapped Magnus entering the hotel with this woman.
Come morning, the scandal was the talk of the town.
Mary, publicly known as Magnus's betrothed, found herself disgraced. After investigating, she zeroed in on this hotel and unleashed her fury on Juniper.
It baffled her; Magnus had always been standoffish, shrugging off even her slightest touch. Why on earth would he touch this woman?
Mary rose, her high heels tapping as she approached and looked down upon Juniper.
"Name your price. How much to make you disappear?"
After bundling up, Juniper cleared the air, "Nothing happened between me and Magnus last night, you can relax, Miss Sinclair. I'm not the clingy type."
"Oh, you expect me to believe that?" The woman reached for Juniper's collar.
Juniper stepped back and protested, "What are you doing?"
"What, do you think I'm blind? With all those red marks on your neck, don't tell me all you did was cuddle and chat innocently in bed!"
Mary was growing impatient, seeing Juniper as someone feigning virtue with bigger ambitions lurking.
"I've said what I needed to. If you don't trust my word, Miss Sinclair, there's nothing I can do."
As for her past with Magnus, it couldn't have been clearer that whatever they once had, it was over six years ago.
Mary's condescending tone fell flat, like a punch into cotton.
Once Juniper had left, Mary called her agent, Sarah, without delay.
"Sarah, dig up some dirt on that woman who was all over Mr. Blackwood last night, Juniper."
"Just some wildcat, and you're making a fuss?" Sarah replied.
What baffled Mary was Juniper's pretense of high morals. "I offered her money and she acted all high and mighty. Just find her account and transfer a million into it. If she doesn't take my money, then she must be playing innocent to win over Mr. Blackwood's favor. Pity, does she really think he'd bother to see her again?"
"Of course not, Mr. Blackwood's got too much on his plate to waste time on a fling. I'll handle it, and you just stop worrying. She's no threat to you."
After hanging up, Mary couldn't shake the feeling that Juniper looked familiar.
She racked her brain but couldn't place where she'd seen her.
Nevertheless, Mary thought, Juniper better stay out of Mr. Blackwood's way—otherwise, she's asking for trouble!
...
The night was unsettling.
Upon returning home, Juniper took a shower, scrubbing fiercely at the spots where David had touched her the night prior.
She scrubbed her skin raw before feeling a bit of relief.
Having crossed Magnus in the Imperial Capital, and now ruffling the feathers of X City's local tough, David... who knows what trouble lay ahead.
If this was her retribution, she'd accept it, but she just hoped that her little Jennifer wouldn't be dragged down with her.
Having just changed into fresh clothes, her cell phone started ringing.
The number, an all too familiar yet distant landline, stalled Juniper for a moment.
As she answered, she was met with the expected scolding, "What in the world are you doing? How could you hit David on the head! I'm about to run for re-election as governor of X City, and I need the full backing of the Clark family. At this critical moment, how could you antagonize them?"
The voice on the phone was grating.
Juniper closed her eyes briefly, "Dad, aren't you going to ask why I hit David?"
"I don't care what your reason is, attacking the Clark family's son is just wrong! Luckily, they're big enough people to let it go. Juniper, get yourself back to X City immediately and apologize to them!"
Apologize?
Why should she apologize?
The frustration she’d held back all night exploded after such unreasonable berating from Alexander Beaumont. Juniper replied coolly, "Return to X City? Dad, have you forgotten how you were the one who kicked me out of X City in the first place? And now you want me to go back and apologize to David? Even if David were to... to force himself on me, would I still have to apologize?"
Alexander Beaumont faltered, then composed himself as if nothing had happened, "Juniper, you've misunderstood. David’s affection for you simply got the better of him. Unexpectedly, he went to our family this morning to ask for your hand in marriage again, insisting it had to be you. Juniper, you should consider yourself lucky that David has set his sights on you. Come home quickly. Oh, and do not bring that child with you. I'm afraid that seeing her might jeopardize the marriage!"
Juniper's hands trembled with anger, "Well, let someone else enjoy that ‘blessing.' I certainly can't! And stop calling her that! I will not marry David. If you desire to connect with the Ye family that badly, go marry into it yourself!"
With that, Juniper cut off the call.
Six years ago, she'd thwarted the arranged marriage with David, and in a fit of anger, Alexander Beaumont had cast her out.
In all that time, her own father hadn't spared her a second thought, only to call after six years to demand she apologize to the man who had tormented her.
Even worse, to send her back into the lion's den.
Sometimes she wondered if Alexander Beaumont really was her biological father. How could he be so heartless towards her?
She didn't have the luxury to dwell on her resentment towards Alexander Beaumont, or to wallow in sorrow.
Little Jenny was still in the hospital, waiting for her. She dabbed away her tears, prepared Jenny's favorite dish of pork ribs and potatoes, and took it to the hospital.
...
St. Luke's Hospital, inpatient ward.
In the room, Magnus sat beside the bed on a chair, peeling an apple for his foster father, Joseph.
Joseph sighed, “Magnus, I’m getting on in years, and who knows how much time I have left. You've made something of yourself and you're not getting any younger. It’s time to settle down.”
“Dad, I've already got the best cardiologist lined up for your surgery. After that, you’ll feel better," Magnus assured him.
Joseph cracked a smile, "Don't change the subject. There’s something I’ve been afraid to ask you."
"What is it?"
Joseph thought for a moment and then went ahead, “Have you kept in touch with Miss Beaumont over the past six years?”
Magnus's hand, holding the knife, paused.
The apple peel snapped.
Handing the apple to Joseph, his voice was cool, ”Dad, you've long since stopped being the Beaumont’s chauffeur. There’s no need to refer to her as 'Miss' anymore."
"It's just a habit," Joseph said wistfully. "Juniper, she's a good girl, kind-hearted. She was always nice to us staff. You know how Governor Alexander was; he pressured her. Magnus, I know you haven’t moved on..."
“Dad, you’ve got surgery tomorrow. Get some rest. I’m going to step out for a smoke. Call me if you need anything.”
Joseph's advice was cut short as Magnus interrupted him.
Joseph watched Magnus walk away, sighing helplessly.
The kid was still the same, pensive, and kept everything bottled up inside.
...
Magnus leaned against the corridor wall, smoking a cigarette.
The door was ajar. As he finished his cigarette, he pinched out the glowing ember.
A sting of pain furrowed his brow.
He couldn’t recall when he started using such pain to jolt himself awake, or perhaps, as a form of punishment.
Whenever thoughts of Juniper surfaced, whenever he felt a softness for her... Last night, he finally relented, and couldn't bring himself to push her out of the car.
His long strides were about to carry him back to the room when he lifted his eyes and saw—
Juniper, carrying an insulated food container, chatting and laughing with a male doctor.
After their conversation, she handed the container to him.
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