Chapter 66 Please Don't Use Jennifer to Get Back at Me
Juniper watched as Jennifer's small figure happily ran away.
She had played this scene over in her mind countless times, bracing herself for the emotional impact.
But when it actually happened, her chest still hurt so much she could barely breathe.
Her heart felt as though it was suffocating under a thick, airtight plastic bag. Finally, when it seemed like she could breathe again, she realized it was because a thousand tiny needles had punctured the bag, leaving her in pain and desperation.
Jennifer's small body collided with Magnus's legs.
Looking up at him with her little head raised, she asked with a wide smile, "Daddy! Did you come to save me?"
The little one wrapped her arms around his legs.
That's when Magnus finally came back to reality.
Looking down at this adorable little face, he was in disbelief.
He and Juniper had a child together.
Jennifer, confused by Magnus's complex expression, questioned, "Daddy, why aren't you saying anything? Are you too surprised to see me?"
Indeed, he was overwhelmed with a torrent of emotions—shock and joy among them.
He scrutinized the little face before him.
How had he not noticed before how much she resembled Juniper?
He looked at Jennifer and asked, "You—you're six years old?"
His voice was hoarse.
Jennifer nodded, pouting, "Yeah, I'm six! Daddy, didn't I tell you already? Why are you asking again?"
"And you said your mom named you 'Jennifer' because she missed your dad?"
"Yeah! She misses you a lot! And I miss you too!"
The first time they met, Jennifer had said she was six years old, fatherless, that her dad had passed away, and that her mom loved him dearly.
During their second encounter, Jennifer mentioned that June 6th was her mother's birthday and that both she and her mom loved strawberry ice cream.
At the time, he hadn't given it much thought.
Juniper had been hiding a huge secret!
Over the past couple of days, Robert kept dropping hints.
Everyone knew—those close to Juniper, those distant—they all were in on it.
Only he was the last to know.
Magnus suddenly laughed.
Juniper really went to great lengths to keep this from him; it must have been so hard.
"Daddy, why are your eyes red? Are you crying because you're so excited to see me?"
Magnus looked at Jennifer, and for a moment, he was speechless.
This was his and Juniper's daughter, and she was already six years old.
He took some time to regain his composure.
As always, the man lifted his hand to gently rub Jennifer's head, "You stand here for a moment. I need to talk to your mom."
"Can't I come too? Daddy, what are you going to talk to Mom about that I can't hear?"
Magnus smiled gently, his deep eyes filled with affection, "I'm going to say some sweet nothings that aren't for kids' ears."
"Oh, I get it! Then, I'll stand here and be good!"
The child seemed to understand.
But as Magnus approached Juniper, the look in his eyes changed in an instant.
Dark, cold, and grim.
Juniper knew he hated her.
Magnus looked at her with fiery eyes, "It must have been so hard keeping this from me for six years, huh?"
Tears welled up in Juniper's eyes, but a forced smile was on her face, "All this hiding, and you still found out. What's done is done, Mr. Blackwood. What will it be? Will you honor me and the child, or will you leave us behind?"
She spoke sharply to provoke Magnus.
But before she could anger Magnus, Patricia was already riled up.
"Magnus, don't listen to this lady's nonsense! That might not even be your child! I brought the kid in for a DNA test today, and Juniper is freaking out! She's clearly got something to hide! Magnus, don't let this lady deceive you! You've been apart for six years. Who knows whose bastard that is!"
"Patricia! Have you said enough?"
Michael interjected.
"She admitted it herself. She's trying to secure a position through her child! Magnus, you cannot be fooled by her! That child isn't yours!"
"Juniper, Patricia is wrong today. I will take her home and talk some sense into her."
With those words, Michael forcibly dragged Patricia away.
Patricia walked away, glancing back as she called out loudly, "Magnus, Juniper is a fraud! She's full of lies! You can't trust her!"
Nearby, Robert touched his nose and said to Ophelia, "We should get going too."
"I'm not leaving. Who knows what Magnus will do to Juniper?"
"She's the mother of his child. What can he do to her? You really stand out right now."
Ophelia twirled a strand of hair by her ear. "Stand out? I've always known I'm gorgeous."
Seeing her vanity, Robert chuckled.
"What are you laughing at?"
"I mean, you're glowing like a light bulb."
Without further ado, Robert pulled her away.
The onlookers had all dispersed, leaving only Juniper and Magnus standing face to face.
"You should be clear that you have no standing here," he stated.
Juniper forced a smile. "So, Mr. Blackwood, are you thinking of leaving the child behind, or don't you care about Jennifer at all? Since it doesn't matter to you, then I'll just take Jennifer home with me, back to how things used to be..."
As she spoke, Juniper turned to take Jennifer and leave.
She immediately regretted it.
She realized she couldn't bear to leave Jennifer behind.
Magnus grabbed her wrist in a firm grasp, his dark eyes staring at her coldly. "What can you offer Jennifer? Why was Patricia able to take her today?"
His questioning was incisive.
Juniper's face instantly lost all color.
"The first time I saw Jennifer was in the hospital. She told me her mom had gone to make money, and she was left alone in the hospital. What if she had met a kidnapper instead of me, Juniper? Do you think you're capable of dealing with the consequences?"
Every word Magnus uttered struck at the heart.
Juniper swallowed hard, her eyes pleading as she looked at Magnus. "I know I can't compete with you nor dispute custody, but I have one condition."
"Speak."
"Jennifer can go with you, but I must have visitation rights."
"Legally, you do have the right to visitation. But you should know, it depends on my goodwill," he said, with a chilling look in his eyes.
Juniper had anticipated this outcome, yet it was the worst scenario she could imagine.
With a choked voice, she said, "I've raised Jennifer for six years. She's used to me. If she's suddenly taken away, she'll throw a fit."
"She's young. She'll adapt sooner or later. I'll hire the best nanny and childcare experts to look after her comprehensively. You don't need to worry about that."
As he finished speaking, the man approached Jennifer.
Juniper grabbed his hand, clutching it tightly.
Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded with him, "Magnus, I'm begging you, it's my fault. If you hate me, take it out on me. Please, don't use Jennifer to get back at me."
"I'm Jennifer's biological father, yet I was the last to know of her existence. Juniper, it's not just about me getting back at you, but you also took revenge on me."
He pried her fingers loose, one by one.
Leaving her no chance to hold him back.
The man strode over to the child, bent down, and scooped her up: "Let's go, Daddy is taking you home."
Jennifer froze. Perched in Magnus's arms, she asked confusedly, "But mom?"
"Mommy has some things to take care of right now and won't be able to join us just yet."
Really?
Jennifer turned her head to look at Juniper not too far away.
Her mother stood there, a solitary figure with red eyes watching them leave, her gaze brimming with intense reluctance.
Mom looks so sad.
Joseph opened the back door of the Maybach, and Magnus and Jennifer got into the car.
The door closed.
The Maybach's engine roared to life.
Juniper dashed after them.
Jennifer pressed up against the car window and sensed that something was wrong.
Suddenly, she declared, "If mom's not going, I'm not going! I want to get out! I don't want to go to Dad's house!"
Magnus stayed put in the back seat.
His gaze was cold and emotionless.
As little Jennifer fumbled with the car door, trying to get out, he grabbed her and pulled her back.
He instructed Joseph, "Lock the doors."
Click.
The doors were locked and couldn't be opened anymore.
The black Maybach merged into the flow of traffic.
Jennifer wrestled free from Magnus, leaned against the car window, and pounded her tiny fists against the glass.
"I want to get out! Daddy, stop the car! Open the door! I don't want to go to Daddy's house! I want my mommy! Open the door, please!"
The driver, Joseph, glanced in the rearview mirror.
"Magnus, Juniper is still chasing us. Should we stop?"
But the man in the back seat remained silent.
Juniper ran desperately, her tears streaming down, half blown away by the wind.
"Jennifer! Jennifer!"
Inside the car, little Jennifer cried breathlessly.
"I don't want to go to Daddy's house anymore... I want my mommy! Daddy, I'm done with you! I hate you!"
Joseph, a married man, couldn't help but interject, "Magnus, I think we should pull over. Even if you want to take Jennifer with you, at least explain things clearly to the child. If you forcibly take her like this, what if she ends up hating you?"
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