Chapter 44 Passing the Test of His Daughter
Juniper was trapped between the man's chest and the wall, her body trembling.
The warm breath on her ear made her feel vulnerable.
Juniper bit her lip hard to keep from crying out.
"Are you doing this to get back at Mary?" she hissed.
It was his way of retaliating for Mary's betrayal.
Magnus's large hand roamed freely.
The man looked down at her, focused on her form, and replied with a detached tone, "Does it matter if I am or if I'm not?"
"Not in here..."
Just beyond the door, Mary might overhear any noise from the outside.
Juniper was anxious, lacking Magnus's resolve – to remain composed while watching his fiancée cheat with a younger man was beyond her.
Mary and her lover were hiding behind the stairwell door while Magnus and Juniper stood just outside.
Everyone was in the main hall, making it rare for anyone to venture to the end of the corridor. Yet, occasionally, someone would step out, heading to the restroom. Juniper wasn't sure if they glanced their way and even if they recognized her and Magnus.
Fortunately, with Magnus's back to the door and Juniper in his embrace, his tall frame shielded her from view.
Even if someone took a curious peek, they might assume they were just young employees in the throes of a passionate affair – no one would interfere.
Juniper clutched his shirt nervously, her eyes darted around in fear of being discovered.
Magnus watched her calmly before making her heart skip a beat with his words, "What do you think? Who will finish first—them or us?"
Juniper went blank.
Meanwhile, inside the door.
"Okay, I've been out too long; I need to get back," Mary urged.
"Leaving already, Mary? Didn't you say Magnus is incapable? Why bother going back? Just come with me tonight. That event isn't worth your time."
"If I've been gone this long, Juniper will surely try to seduce Mr. Blackwood in my absence. If I don't keep a close eye on things, I might lose my place as Mrs. Blackwood! Come on, be good! I'll head out first, and you follow a few minutes later."
Though reluctant, the young man knew better than to make a scene.
From the corner of her eye, Juniper saw the door begin to open and panicked, "They're coming out..."
Magnus cradled her face in one hand and tilted his head down, capturing her red lips in a kiss. At the same time, his other hand flung open the door to the utility closet!
Juniper's vision dimmed as she was pulled into the closet.
She found herself pinned by Magnus against the utility closet's door, which gave in slightly, as it wasn't locked.
The dim light illuminated just enough space to catch his intense eyes and the proud line of his nose.
Mary, having heard some commotion but unsure of the cause, approached the closet door in her stilettos, her voice icy as she interrogated, “Who's in there?”
Juniper’s breath caught in her throat.
That distinctly knuckled hand suddenly moved behind her, pulling down the zipper of her dress.
“...”
Juniper’s eyes went wide as she stared at the man, biting her lower lip fiercely.
Outside, fearing the possibility of paparazzi hiding within, snapping photos of her, Mary threatened, “Come out or I'm kicking this door down!”
Still, there was no response from inside.
Mary gave the door a push, but it remained still.
Assuming it was locked, she shrugged off the earlier noise as a mistake.
Inside, Juniper clutched her dress to her chest, preventing it from falling. Just as the sound of high heels seemed to fade away... Magnus’s kiss descended on her once again.
Juniper's lip split as she bit it too hard, tasting the metallic tang of blood in her mouth.
She thought it was rage—Magnus discovering Mary's betrayal—that he was unleashing onto her.
Juniper instinctively sought to soothe him, “Miss Sinclair might have... just been confused for a moment.”
But her words only seemed to stoke the fire.
His eyes, cold and detached, bore into hers as he challenged, “Like your betrayal of me once, was that also a momentary lapse?”
Juniper sank into silence.
Unable to offer an answer.
Mary’s potential slip, her moment of folly, might still be forgivable.
But what of her own sin? Magnus had already sentenced her to a life on hold.
Later, Juniper squatted in the utility closet, taking a long moment to gather herself.
When she stepped out onto the balcony, she found the park below in a burst of fireworks celebrations.
The grand display was particularly breathtaking.
Leaning on the balcony railing, her phone rang.
The caller ID read, Michael.
“Juniper, happy birthday.”
“Thanks, Michael.”
"You... where are you? I see Magnus isn't at the event either, are you... together?"
"Oh, I'm out on the terrace, watching the fireworks. I'm not with Mr. Blackwood."
Michael breathed a sigh of relief. "Fireworks, huh? Wait there for me, I'll be right over."
The pyrotechnics shot into the night, bursting forth in a dazzling display, lighting up the entire sky with a riot of colors that kept coming, one after another.
She was upstairs, Magnus was downstairs.
The man inserted a thin stick of agarwood into his cigarette and lit it up.
His phone pinged. A new message popped up on WhatsApp.
No More School: "Sir, I've been thinking about that problem for ages and I just can't figure it out! But, could you meet my mom tomorrow?"
Following that text was a crying emoji.
With a cigarette in one hand, he typed with the other: "Meet your mom?"
"Yeah! Today is actually my mom's birthday, and she isn't well. I got to know about you from a magazine. My mom said you're her idol! She wishes to meet you for her birthday. She said it would fulfill her lifetime wish to see you!"
What a coincidence. This little girl's mom shared her birthday with Juniper.
"Happy birthday to your mom then."
"Please say yes! She really admires you!"
"Your mom... she's seriously ill?"
The girl's tone suggested not much time was left.
"Sir, please show some pity and agree to meet my mom!"
When Magnus didn't reply, she sent a series of crying emojis.
Jennifer thought that if he agreed to meet her mom, her beautiful mother would surely charm him!
"Tomorrow at 2 PM, I’ll be passing by Golden Shopping Center, but I can only spare ten minutes."
He and this little girl had some sort of serendipitous connection.
He wasn't usually into charity, but this time, he'd treat it as such.
And if this young girl's family needed financial help, he wouldn't mind making a donation.
Jennifer, on the other side, was thrilled and quickly sent a celebratory emoji, "You're so nice! My mom was right about you. A good-looking guy like you has to be a good person!"
The man's thin lips curled into a subtle smile as he pocketed his phone.
He could almost picture the young girl, so elated that she was dancing on her bed.
And indeed, that's exactly what Jennifer was doing, dancing on her bed with joy.
In fact, she had solved the numerical maze he had sent her!
Her teacher had said she was smart and suggested extracurricular classes to tap into her potential, so her mother had enrolled her.
Magnus's question was a bit challenging for her, but with some effort, she managed to solve it. She just wanted to vet the man for her mother, to see if Magnus was a real stand-up guy. So, she concocted this excuse.
Hearing that her mother was ill, Magnus immediately agreed to help. This proved that he had a heart of gold; he was a good man, someone you could trust with your life.
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