Chapter 217: Reunion
Juniper's heart was pounding like crazy. "Is he super tall?"
"Seems like it. He was lying there, so I didn't really notice. You had fainted, and I was just trying to get you to the hospital." Ronald was driving, sneaking glances at her through the rearview mirror. "Do you know him? Or are you thinking..."
Juniper nodded, "Yeah, I think it might be Magnus."
"Why don't you just ask him?"
Juniper held her phone, hesitating for a few seconds.
She was always torn, hoping it was him, but also hoping it was not.
Juniper asked, "Was the guy who saved me badly hurt?"
Ronald thought for a moment and said, "He looked pretty messed up. The fire department had just rushed in, and I told them there was someone else inside, so I didn't check further. But he shouldn't be in life-threatening danger."
She took a deep breath and finally dialed Magnus's number.
In the hospital room, Magnus saw the caller ID flash, his eyes twitching involuntarily.
The phone rang for what felt like forever.
Paul was getting anxious. If he didn't answer, Juniper might hang up.
Magnus finally picked up, saying calmly, "Hello?"
Juniper heard his voice and her grip on the phone tightened.
For a moment, she couldn't speak.
She had only been away from New York for a week.
But hearing Magnus's voice felt like a lifetime ago.
Even through the phone, her heart trembled at the reunion after a long separation.
Until the low voice on the other end called her name, "Juniper?"
"Is it cool to talk now?" Juniper asked.
"Yeah."
He was always available whenever she called.
Juniper asked gently, "Where are you now?"
If he wasn't the one who saved her, she didn't want him to know she had just survived a fire and a shooting.
There was no need to freak him out since she was okay.
Magnus didn't answer directly but asked, "Do you want to see me?"
Juniper was stunned.
She was the one asking him questions; how did it turn around to him asking her?
She was dazed for a few seconds, and Magnus said, "Well, I won't make it hard for you. Even if you want to see me now, I don't have time to go to Southern City."
Magnus was silent.
Juniper bit her lip, "So, you're in Imperial Capital?"
"Yeah, I'm in Imperial Capital. I plan to take Jenny to the zoo tomorrow." He answered smoothly, without a hint of hesitation.
He was lying there, half-dead. If Juniper really came, he wouldn't know how to face her.
They loved each other for so long, but in the end they didn't know how to get along. Ronald was luckier than him, even if Ronald didn't date Juniper, he still had the role of a brother.
Magnus had never envied anyone so much.
Juniper swallowed, her voice unconsciously falling into melancholy, "Well, have fun. Bye."
She was about to hang up but didn't rush.
After a few seconds, Magnus suddenly spoke, "Yeah, when Jenny's on break, I'll have Paul send her to you."
"Got it, we'll be in touch then." Juniper lost interest and wanted to hang up.
His voice was normal; it was good he wasn't hurt.
This time, Juniper really hung up.
Magnus listened to the busy tone for a long time before slowly putting down the phone.
After Juniper hung up, she was enveloped in silence.
Ronald glanced at her through the mirror and tentatively asked, "It wasn't him?"
"Yeah, he's in Imperial Capital."
"Feeling let down?" Ronald asked.
Juniper forced a smile, "Honestly, it's better if it wasn't him. Otherwise, I'd owe him again. We've got too much baggage already, adding this would just make it even messier."
Ronald, being an outsider, could see all the emotions in Juniper's eyes.
No matter how much she tried to convince herself, there was still a hint of disappointment lingering in her eyes.
Ronald said, "You two have been tangled up for so long. It's because you can't clear things up that you're still involved. I don't think he's your perfect match, but whether you can clear things up depends on you. Quinn, do you sometimes hold onto a glimmer of hope, fearing that if you really clear things up, it will be the end for you two?"
Juniper lowered her eyes, a mocking smile on her lips. "Ronald, did you study psychology?"
"Even though I don't have much experience in love, I know that falling in love requires effort from both partners, but ending a relationship only takes one person's decision. The fact that you two are still tangled up means neither of you has truly let go. If you had, why would you call him?" Ronald added.
"But being stuck like this is worse than breaking up. Others can reconcile after a breakup, but we just keep dragging on, avoiding the insurmountable gaps. In Imperial Capital, we seemed fine, but the past grievances can't be overcome or forgotten. There is no point in repeating the same mistakes," Juniper said.
Ronald smiled, "You just gave him a chance, but he didn't take it."
Juniper sniffed, laughing lightly, "Just as well. I'm fine. If he really came to Southern City, my unresolved feelings for him would be a real problem."
Thinking about it, she realized she had been quite irresponsible.
If she couldn't give him anything, yet kept him entangled for a lifetime, that would be too selfish.
Between them, there was Lyra's death and his three years in prison, so reconciliation was as difficult as letting go.
"Ronald."
"Yeah?"
"Next time I can't help it, remember to throw some cold water on me." She said this seriously, making Ronald laugh.
Ronald said deliberately, "Since you said so, if he really comes to Southern City, I'll chase him away?"
Juniper didn't respond.
Ronald might have been teasing her, but only she knew she was serious.
If she couldn't love him without reservations, she'd refrain from engaging with him. That was her final act of kindness toward Magnus.
At Santa Maria Hospital in the Imperial Capital, Sinclair had been in the ICU for a week, and Michael visited him every day at 5 PM.
The ICU had fixed visiting hours and was not open at other times.
Sometimes, Michael would wait outside the ICU all day.
But today, he was late due to traffic.
Patricia, wearing sterile clothes, went in early.
She looked at the monitor showing Sinclair's gradually stabilizing blood pressure and heart rate, and sat by the bed, saying, "Sinclair, I'm here to see you. How have you been feeling lately?"
Sinclair, wearing an oxygen mask, lay unconscious on the bed. Although there was a heartbeat, there was no sign of waking up.
Patricia smiled, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Just keep sleeping. It's best if you never wake up. That way, Michael will take care of you forever. If you wake up, Michael might abandon you. So, you mustn't wake up."
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