Chapter 206: Dad, Please Ask Mom Not to Leave
When Juniper came to the Imperial Capital from Southern City, she didn't bring much, just a suitcase.
It was easy to pack.
Jenny ran over and asked, "Mom, aren't you taking me to Southern City? I want to go to Southern City too."
Juniper squatted down and hugged her, saying, "But you have to go to school in the Imperial Capital. When you have a break, I'll come to take you to Southern City, okay?"
"What about Dad? Can I take Dad to Southern City to visit you?" Jenny asked.
Although Dad was an adult, Jenny always felt that Dad needed Mom more than she did!
Juniper looked at her and pinched Jenny's cheek, "Sure, if Dad wants to go."
However, Magnus was unlikely to want to go.
She couldn't give him what he wanted.
For Magnus, if he couldn't have her, meeting again would only be a pointless tug-of-war, a connection without a future.
Juniper understood this all too well. They both knew the unspoken truth.
"Jenny, when you're in school, you'll stay with Dad. During the holidays, Mom will come to play with you, okay?" Juniper said.
Jenny nodded but was very puzzled, "Mom, why don't you stay in the Imperial Capital? Isn't it tiring to keep flying back and forth?"
Juniper had two reasons for returning this time: to see Christopher and to start her new job at Windsor Group, having accepted his offer.
"Mom is going to Southern City to earn money so we can buy lots of milk tea for you, okay?" Juniper said.
Jenny looked at Juniper with her clear, innocent eyes and pouted, "Mom, don't you like the Imperial Capital?"
Juniper was taken aback by the question.
The Imperial Capital held too many memories for her. She was born and raised here, and most importantly, this place was where all her moments with Magnus were—both the beautiful and the tragic ones.
Though Juniper didn’t like the Imperial Capital, everything she cherished was tied to it.
Once, she had hoped to save enough money to take Jenny and Lyra away from the Imperial Capital. But then, Lyra passed away.
The wish ultimately fell through.
The person who loved her the most had died in this city. If she had the ability back then and saved enough money sooner, she might have been able to take Lyra away before it was too late.
To this day, Juniper felt deep guilt for not protecting those she loved. It was her own inadequacy that had failed to safeguard them.
At eighteen, facing Alexander's threats in that courtroom, Juniper was nothing but a pawn. She was utterly helpless to protect Magnus, forced to betray him while Alexander shattered their world.
Later, at twenty-four, Juniper was still useless, unable to protect the mother who loved her the most.
She couldn't protect anyone, including Jenny.
Juniper hugged Jenny, her voice slightly hoarse, "Jenny, I am leaving you temporarily to become stronger. When I become stronger, I can protect you."
She didn't want to repeat the same mistakes.
"You're all I have left, Jenny. I can't lose you too. Please, just give me a little time to grow, okay?" Juniper said gently.
Jenny reached out her little hand and touched Juniper's face, "Mom, is it because you think Dad is very strong that you want me to stay with him?"
Juniper nodded, "Yes, Dad is very strong. He has enough ability to protect you and provide for all your needs. Jenny, if you miss Mom, just let me know and I'll come to see you."
Jenny extended her chubby little pinky, "Mom, pinky promise."
Juniper hooked her pinky and stamped it with her thumb.
"You can't go back on your word now!" Jenny gave Juniper a big kiss on the cheek.
Standing outside the door, Magnus's eyes were dark.
When Juniper was packing, Jenny ran out and immediately saw Magnus.
Jenny was about to exclaim, "Dad..."
Magnus quickly covered Jenny's mouth and carried her to the next room.
He closed the door behind them, then went to the bed and sat on the edge.
Jenny stood in front of him, her little hands on his knees.
Jenny tilted her little face and stared at him, "Dad, You don't want Mom to go, do you?"
"No."
Jenny was a clever little girl. With a serious expression on her cute face, she pointedly said, "You're lying. You don't want Mom to leave any more than I do. Mom will come back to see me because she loves me the most, so she won't abandon me. But whether she'll come back for you, I don't know."
Children often spoke without filters, and Jenny’s blunt words felt like a thorn piercing Magnus’s heart.
It was hard to describe the pain, but it was piercing.
He glared coldly at Jenny, "Are you satisfied now?"
Jenny frowned, "Who's satisfied? Dad, don't misunderstand me."
Magnus was silent.
Jenny continued to chatter, "Dad, if you go and beg Mom to stay now, maybe she'll stay because of me."
Magnus's handsome face darkened, and he glared at Jenny, "How should I do that?"
Jenny smiled, "Hold her leg and beg her not to leave. Every time I do that, she squats down and hugs me."
Magnus snorted coldly, "Do you think I can do that?"
What a bad idea it was!
Jenny shrank her little neck and pouted, "If you don't want to beg, then don't do it. Why be so fierce! Don't regret it!"
After saying that, Jenny turned to leave.
Magnus grabbed her back, "Where are you going?"
"If you won't beg, then I'll beg her to stay a few more days. I still want to go to the zoo with Mom this Saturday!"
"You're not allowed to go!" Magnus commanded.
Jenny frowned, "Why?! You can have your dignity, but I don't care about mine!"
It was not about dignity.
In the past, Magnus wouldn’t have needed to beg. If Juniper had suggested staying a few more days, he would have agreed without hesitation. If Juniper truly wanted to leave, he would have gone to the airport to stop her, just as he had done before.
Magnus had many ways to keep her, but after learning about Juniper’s condition, he couldn’t bring himself to be so shameless.
Magnus spoke slowly and firmly, "I won't beg, and you are not allowed to cry and make a fuss, understand?"
Jenny shook her head. "No."
"I'll take you to the zoo on Saturday," Magnus promised.
Jenny's eyes lit up, "Really?"
Magnus's face turned cold, and he said sternly, "Promise me first."
"Okay!" Jenny agreed after a moment of hesitation. "But why can’t Mom stay?"
"If Juniper stays in the Imperial Capital, she will be reminded of some very bad things, like your grandma's death," Magnus explained.
Actually, it wasn't staying in the Imperial Capital that would remind her of Lyra's death, but facing him.
But Magnus couldn't explain that to Jenny. She was still young and didn't need to know about these things.
Jenny was puzzled, "Will Mom feel very sad when she thinks of Grandma's death?"
Magnus responded in a low voice, "She'll be so heartbroken that it could make her sick. So, let her go for now. Even if she goes to Southern City, she'll come to see you during your breaks. You haven’t lost her."
If he forcibly kept Juniper by his side, he feared her condition would worsen.
He had psychological issues, so he understood how hard it was to endure mental illness.
Juniper had almost suffocated in his arms before, so he didn't dare to force her to stay again.
Jenny looked at Magnus sympathetically, "I haven't lost Mom, but you have lost your wife. Dad, if you're sad and want to cry, you can lean on my shoulder. Mom won't see, and I won't tell her."
With that, Jenny raised her little hand, patted Magnus's head, and sighed.
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