Chapter 14 Going to The Clark Villa
Meanwhile, Magnus’s phone buzzed to life.
Caller ID: Mary.
His sharp gaze lingered on the chatting pair before answering, “What’s up?”
"Mr. Blackwood, about that woman who was all over you last night, I took care of her for you. She won't be bothering you anymore. And the rumors, I had Sarah handle them, so you don’t have to worry."
"Oh? And how did you ‘take care of her’?"
Magnus sounded all ears, ready for the story.
Mary mistakenly believed her actions had been satisfactory and boasted with pride, "That woman, she just sees dollar signs. I threw a cool million her way, and she agreed not to bother Mr. Blackwood anymore. Juniper, such a woman is blind to real value. There's no use stooping to her level."
Magnus's eyes turned frosty.
He curved his thin lips slightly, "Well done."
Hearing his praise, Mary bubbled with excitement, "Mr. Blackwood, tonight maybe we could—"
But her words were cut off as Magnus disconnected the call, his face expressionless.
A dark shadow flickered across his gaze.
A million dollars to leave him be.
So, that was his worth in Juniper's eyes.
Just like six years ago, he was ever so inconsequential.
...
"William, I made ham sandwiches for Jennifer, and I whipped up an extra one for you to try. You've been such a help looking after Jennifer these past few days."
William accepted the thermos with a smile, "Taking care of Jennifer was no trouble at all. But, I’m quite interested in tasting this sandwich. I’m off to the clinic now, but if you need anything, just give me a call."
"Sure."
Once William had left, Juniper moved to return to the hospital room. Reaching the corridor entrance, she was suddenly pulled by a strong hand into the passageway.
Her back slammed against the wall, pain radiating as if her bones had come unhinged!
The hand pinned her shoulder forcefully, a dominant masculine scent enveloping her.
Before Juniper could even react, a mocking, ice-cold male voice came from above—"Six years gone, and your taste in men has taken a nosedive? That guy just now, mediocre looks, run-of-the-mill job, how’s his meager salary going to support a Beaumont heiress?”
Juniper looked up to see the chiseled face of Magnus, etched with cold disdain.
Instinctively, she tried to clarify, “I didn’t, he’s not—”
"What didn't you? Didn’t take Mary's million, or he's not your boyfriend?"
Juniper's frown deepened into a puzzled expression.
"A million?"
“You didn’t tell Mary that I didn't lay a finger on you last night? Why would she waste a million to get you to leave me unless, for the money, you lied to her?”
His fingers gripped her chin, tilting it upward.
His gaze scrutinized her, much like a connoisseur appraising a trinket.
Juniper clenched her hands, a hint of red rimming her eyes as she offered a wry smile. "Yeah, I deceived her. I just wanted to find out how Mr. Blackwood's fiancée would deal with me. Sure enough, a million bucks. Quite the generous offer! She must be relieved now."
Magnus's gaze was like the fathomless sea under a storm, dark and brooding, as if ready to swallow her whole.
His dominant presence closed in inch by inch...
"A million dollars is just a drop in the bucket for X City's Beaumonts. Seems you've had a rough six years, Miss Beaumont, to stoop to deceit over a million."
Juniper forced a smile, her lips curving up in mock cheerfulness. "Indeed, these past six years have been tough for me. Scrounging for a living... Can you let me go now, Mr. Blackwood?"
As she looked up at him, her eyes were moist.
The right side of her face bore distinct red marks, like a delicate flower that had been roughly handled.
Magnus's brow furrowed slightly as he tilted her chin, examining the finger marks on her right cheek. "Did Mary do this?"
"Mr. Blackwood, now that you're engaged, it's best we keep our distance, to avoid any further misunderstandings with Miss Sinclair, who seems to enjoy picking fights with me."
The very idea of distance...
"What are you doing at the hospital?" Magnus inquired.
Was it really just to bring lunch to that doctor?
The question caught Juniper off guard, her heart skipping a beat.
She couldn't let Magnus find out about Jennifer!
Quickly averting her gaze, her thick lashes veiling the emotion in her eyes, she feigned composure, "As you can see, Mr. Blackwood, I was just dropping off lunch for my boyfriend. I'm done here, so I’ll be on my way."
She turned to flee but was abruptly grabbed by the shoulder and pinned against the wall. "Boyfriend?"
The scrutiny in the man's eyes was piercing!
A shiver ran down Juniper's spine, but she stood her ground. "Yes, boyfriend. We broke up six years ago, and now that you're engaged, it's only normal for me to have moved on. I hope Mr. Blackwood can let go of the unhappy memories and start anew."
It was a pretense meant to sway Magnus, yet it was also her genuine wish.
She hoped that Magnus could indeed forget the past and start afresh.
He had risen to prominence at Imperial Capital, and had even gotten engaged to a well-matched fiancée, a beauty no less. He shouldn't be lingering on the past.
But to Magnus, Juniper’s words seemed to float by effortlessly, without weight.
With a firm grip, he clasped her neck and pulled her violently into his embrace, looking down at her. "Juniper, what gives you the right to start over?"
Juniper’s eyes glazed over, and with a sniff, she cracked a feeble smile. "What’s wrong with starting fresh? Or is it Mary you disapprove of?"
Magnus pinned her against the corner, his handsome face lowered, radiating an intimidating aura.
Suddenly, a scornful laugh escaped his lips. “Does that doctor know about your night gig singing at the club?”
With his back to the emergency exit door, Magnus dominated the space.
Juniper, her face towards that same door, saw through its glass window her daughter Jennifer running out, calling for her. "Mommy, Mommy?"
Juniper's already tense features turned stark white.
Jennifer seemed to be heading her way.
As Magnus clenched her chin, his eyebrows knit in displeasure, “So nervous? Afraid he’ll find out?”
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