Chapter 214: If You Don't Marry Me, Who Else Do You Want to Marry
Juniper froze, staring at that reflection in the glass door.
The dude behind her stopped too.
Ronald slung an arm around her shoulder. "What's up? Let's get inside, the show's about to start."
Just as Juniper was about to go and make sure, the person behind her started moving and walked right past her without hesitation.
Dressed in a black baseball cap, mask, and dark gray hoodie, the guy exuded a laid-back, cool vibe, which was totally different from Magnus's usual icy, buttoned-up look, except for their similar build.
As he passed, she caught a whiff of agarwood.
Ever since she got Magnus that agarwood incense, he'd been all about it.
Her heart raced, and she blurted out, "Magnus!"
Ronald was stunned.
The tall figure stopped.
But after a few seconds, like he hadn't heard, he kept walking and disappeared into the elevator.
Did she just mistake him for someone else?
Ronald thought it was unlikely. If it was Magnus, with his bossy attitude, he'd have dragged Juniper away already.
Last time at the Imperial Capital airport, didn't he just snatch her up?
If Juniper called out to him, no way he'd ignore her.
Ronald and Juniper headed inside.
The concert kicked off soon.
Magnus was two rows behind them. From his spot, he could see Juniper just by looking up.
Lucas was the violinist Juniper had adored since childhood.
Magnus always knew.
When Juniper was eighteen, Lucas was touring abroad. She'd clung to Magnus, saying, "When can we go see Lucas's concert overseas?"
He held her and said, "I'll bring Lucas to play just for you soon."
Juniper's laughter filled the air, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons.
If anyone else said that, it'd be a joke. But with Magnus, it was both a joke and a promise.
Seeing her not taking him seriously, Magnus got all serious, looking into her eyes. "Why are you laughing? I mean it."
Of course, Juniper believed him. With Magnus's smarts and skills, he was destined for greatness. She was the first to see his potential. He'd never been into anyone else before.
"I believe you, Magnus. You're the best! But they say men become unfaithful when they get rich. Will you as well?"
Magnus pulled out a bank card and handed it to her.
He looked at her. "This is all I've got right now. From now on, my earnings go into this card. The password's your birthday. Buy whatever you want, just leave me some for food and smokes."
Juniper's eyes welled up, and she hugged him, crying, "But you still didn't answer me. When you get rich, this won't mean anything."
Magnus sighed but stayed patient. "Juniper, it's hard for me to fall in love, and even harder to become unfaithful. I'm scared of losing, so I won't change."
Magnus didn't break his promises.
Worried she wouldn't believe him, he added, "In two years, when you're old enough, we'll get married, okay?"
"Isn't that too soon?" Juniper asked.
Magnus's face darkened. "If you don't marry me, who else will you marry?"
Back then, Juniper was young and didn't get marriage. She just wanted to be with Magnus forever. "But even after marriage, people can change. The law can't control your heart."
Magnus laughed, annoyed.
He pinched her cheek. "Divorce? We're not even married yet, Juniper! You're something else."
"It hurts!" Juniper yelped.
Magnus smirked, "Really? Once we're married, no divorce. If you try, I'll make you regret it."
Juniper bit his neck. "Magnus, why are you so vengeful!"
"Is this your first day knowing me?" He scooped her up, looking serious. "Juniper, I won't change. After we're married, I'll make it official. All my future earnings and assets are yours, but you can't leave me."
Back then, Juniper lay in his arms, her fingers teasing his Adam's apple, deliberately provoking him, "What if I don't want you anymore?"
Magnus lowered his eyes, his expression indifferent, but his words were chilling.
He said, "If that day comes, you better pray I don't catch you. I'll kill your lover first, then break your legs, and keep you by my side forever."
Juniper hugged him with a smile. "I don't have a lover, you're my only one."
That night, as Magnus kissed her, he whispered in her ear over and over again, "Juniper, my heart belongs solely to you, and you are destined to love only me."
Juniper leaned against him, her eyebrows like a painting, and said, "Magnus, after we get married, can we wait a few years before having kids? I don't want to have children so early."
He kissed her, "Are you afraid of the pain?"
"Yeah, and I haven't had enough of just the two of us. Even if we have kids, you have to promise to spoil me more. Our relationship comes first."
She was so young, but when she talked about their future, her tone carried a maturity beyond her years.
Magnus looked at her, his heart melting, "Okay, whenever you want."
He wanted to wait until his career was more successful, so he could buy her a big house, hire a nanny, and provide her with the best of everything. By then, it wouldn't be too late to have kids. Even if they didn't have kids, it didn't matter. Magnus couldn't bear the thought of her going through the pain of childbirth. He couldn't even bear to be rough with her during sex. When they first moved in together, he didn't know how many cold showers he had taken.
At that time, he thought they had plenty of time.
But later, he went to prison.
Juniper got pregnant at eighteen, she became a single mother for six years, alone and helpless.
All the promises shattered into pieces.
He had cherished her for so long, but in the end, she suffered so much.
She matured, became strong, and never acted spoiled with him again. She never asked him those childish and silly questions about whether he would become faithful.
Magnus yearned to return to a time when Juniper clung to his neck, repeatedly asking if he would remain steadfast in his love, remain devoted to her forever, and never abandon her.
He would steadfastly assure her, time and again, that he would not love another woman, that he would cherish her forever, and that he would never leave her.
But now, Juniper would never ask again.
In the back seat, Magnus slightly raised his eyes and looked at her in the dim light.
They watched Lucas's performance together.
But they were separated by two rows of seats.
She watched the stage, and he watched her.
Lucas's violin performance was exquisite, but Juniper was distracted the entire time.
The performance she had looked forward to for so long, she finally got to see it after so many years.
But why wasn't Magnus the one sitting next to her?
When Ronald looked at her, she was already in tears.
He probably guessed it, and silently handed her a tissue, softly saying, "Wipe your tears, or your makeup is smudged."
"Thanks." Juniper took the tissue, and in the grand and passionate climax of the violin, her vision was completely blurred by tears.
As the concert was about to end, Ronald's phone rang.
"It's a call from a client. I'll step out to take it," he said.
"Okay."
After Ronald left, the seat next to Juniper was empty.
With no obstruction, Magnus could see Juniper's face clearly.
She was crying.
Did Ronald bully her?
It's so rude to leave a concert early to take a phone call, especially before it's even over.
When he went out with Juniper, he always turned off his phone.
He planned to settle the score with Ronald. In the past, when Juniper was with him, when did he ever let her grill meat herself?
Ronald, who couldn't even grill meat, was not suitable for Juniper.
The more Magnus thought about it, the angrier he got. He stood up and left the venue.
The concert was about to end when the alarm suddenly blared.
Thick smoke began to fill the surroundings, making Juniper cough.
"What's going on?"
"Is there a fire?"
"Evacuate quickly!"
"Don't push! If you keep pushing, there will be a stampede!" the surrounding audience said.
Juniper was sitting in her seat. Just as she stood up to leave, she suddenly felt a pain in her waist.
Her face turned pale. "What are you doing?"
A handkerchief covered Juniper's mouth and nose.
In an instant, Juniper's vision went black, and she lost consciousness.
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