Chapter 415 Answer Me, Will You Marry Me? (1)
The atmosphere froze for a moment.
Ava's nails had left two shallow, bleeding scratches across Magnus's pale face.
Terrified by what she'd done, Ava stammered in panic, "I didn't hurt you, I really didn't hurt you... Go away, all of you just go away!"
Though clearly unhinged, Ava was obviously afraid of her. She kept insisting she hadn't harmed her, yet seemed terrified that she'd come for revenge. If the "grudge" Ava mentioned had nothing to do with Lyra... then what vengeance was she talking about?
Growing more suspicious, Juniper found herself asking, "Do you know me from before?"
Ava clutched her head, sobbing as she pleaded, "I'll give you back the necklace, just stop coming after me, please? I know I was wrong, but don't blame my son—he had nothing to do with it..."
"The necklace?"
Juniper stepped closer, trying to get answers.
Magnus's jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, though his expression remained unreadable.
He pulled Juniper back, his voice low and firm, "Wait outside. She's unstable—she might lash out again. Keep your distance."
Juniper studied his face intently, asking nothing, simply nodding. "Alright, I'll wait for you outside."
But once she left the room, Juniper didn't return. Instead, she went straight to the car.
If Ava hadn't mistaken her for someone else, what did she mean about returning a necklace? And Magnus was clearly hiding something.
She suddenly remembered that business trip to Skyville at year's end, when Magnus had flown out to be with her. The caregiver had called about accidentally breaking Ava's necklace, and Magnus's expression had been strangely complex, as if something troubling had happened.
When she'd asked what was wrong, he'd brushed it off. She'd assumed it concerned his birth mother and hadn't pressed further.
But now, connecting these fragments... could that necklace be related to her? Could it be the purple jade necklace she'd worn as a child when she was taken?
Had Ava been the one who'd taken her?
The thought drained all color from Juniper's face as she sat in the car.
On the drive back to Royal View, both were lost in thought.
Magnus broke the silence first, "I'm sorry the first formal meeting between you and my mother went so badly. I apologize for her behavior."
Juniper wasn't one to hold grudges. "She's been mentally unstable for years—it's natural she'd react badly to strangers. But your face... does it hurt?"
She looked up at the two scratches on his right cheek. Ava might be unhinged, but she'd struck hard.
They'd already entered Royal View's gates. Magnus parked but didn't immediately get out, turning to study her. "Worried about me?"
Juniper reached over to touch his face, teasing, "Such a handsome face—it would be a shame if it scarred."
Magnus caught her fingers, lips curving slightly. "Would you stop loving me if I had scars?"
Juniper met his gaze, her playful smile giving way to something more serious. "I'd still love you even with scars. But..." Her voice carried a new weight. "Is there something you need to tell me?"
If he was going to hide things from her again like he had in Solara, Juniper wasn't going to indulge him anymore.
Magnus stared at her for a long moment, then seemed to remember something. He leaned forward to embrace her, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, "I'm sorry."
Juniper's heart skipped, thinking he was about to confess something important.
He kissed her ear, his voice husky, "Last night while you were sleeping, when I was applying your medicine... I lost control again."
Juniper's ears burned red as she glared at him. "That's what you needed to tell me?"
Magnus's eyes were dark but calm, his expression perfectly normal, even playful, "What else did you want me to confess? The details of how I lost control?"
Juniper pressed her lips together, momentarily speechless.
Magnus took her hand, finally growing serious. "You married me, not Ava. If you don't like her, I won't bring you to see her again. Today was frightening, and that's her fault—and mine for not thinking it through."
"She didn't frighten me. I'm just curious about what she meant about returning a necklace..."
Her phone rang before she could finish. The caller ID showed Christopher's Mansion.
Juniper stared at the display, hesitating.
Magnus prompted her, "Probably Christopher calling about New Year's Eve. Why aren't you answering?"
Juniper abandoned her previous line of questioning.
After the call, she didn't pursue the matter further. When Magnus didn't want to talk, even torture wouldn't make him speak.
Suppressing her emotions, Juniper said deliberately, "Dad wants me back in Southern City the day before New Year's Eve. He wants to take me to pay respects to my birth mother. He specifically mentioned that unmarried people shouldn't bring partners home."
The day before New Year's Eve meant tomorrow.
Magnus didn't object, even agreeing, "I'll drive you to the airport tomorrow. You should spend the holiday with Christopher and Jenny in Southern City."
What about him? Would he stay to spend New Year's Eve with Ava? Or was he afraid that if she remained in Imperial Capital, she might discover something through Ava?
That night, both were preoccupied. Even during their most intimate moments, Juniper found her mind wandering.
Magnus deliberately intensified his movements.
Juniper winced slightly, the sharp sensation pulling her scattered thoughts back to the present.
She stared into his eyes, reminding him, "You promised you wouldn't hide anything from me anymore."
Magnus only kissed her, his voice muffled as he gave a noncommittal response, kissing her until she was dizzy and breathless.
Finally, he pinned her hands to the pillow, claiming her completely with an almost conquering intensity.
He gazed down at the flush spreading across her face, his tone almost demanding, "No matter what happened in the past, you'll still marry me, won't you?"
Though phrased as a question, his tone suggested that if she dared say no, she'd be trapped in this bed all night.
Juniper's delicate collarbones rose and fell dramatically with her labored breathing.
The relentless rhythm left her gasping, dependent on him for air, like a mermaid stranded on shore, caught in the tide's pull.
She could barely form words, her fingers leaving scratches across his broad, lean back.
Yet he was ruthlessly persistent, demanding an answer in her ear, "Juniper, answer me—will you marry me or not?"
Juniper bit down hard on his shoulder, leaving two rows of deep, blood-filled teeth marks.
For the rest of the night, no matter what he did, she remained stubbornly silent, as if nursing some private grievance.
The next morning, Magnus personally drove her to the airport and watched her enter the departure lounge.
Twenty minutes later, Juniper emerged from the lounge, hailed a taxi at the airport entrance, and headed straight for the nursing home where Ava was staying.
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