Chapter 633: Pretending to Be a Boyfriend
Juniper couldn't even remember the last time someone took care of her; it felt like ages ago.
Lately, she hardly ever got sick while she was abroad, and Douglas? That guy was too careless to look after anyone. When she had a fever, she'd just sweat it out alone. In all the years they dated, he never took care of her like Anthony did.
Juniper felt like a kitten, totally dependent on its owner.
She'd never leaned on anyone this much before.
Anthony had this magic about him. He was super gentle, and she felt so lucky to have met him.
Anthony checked her temperature, "100°F, it's gone down a bit."
"You've been with me all day. Didn't you go to work? I'm sorry, did I mess up your schedule?" Juniper asked in a cute, obedient voice.
"But if you hadn't tried to kick me out, I wouldn't have been so sad and gotten a fever last night. If I say you're cold-blooded, you take care of me; if I say you're good, you try to kick me out. Do you know how miserable I was last night?"
Normally, she would've moved out immediately, but she couldn't bear to leave this "home" and him, so she stayed, no backbone at all.
She clutched his sleeve pitifully, "Let's make up, okay? Don't kick me out, please. I have nowhere to go."
"You can go home."
"That place isn't my home. My... my mom passed away, my dad married a terrible woman, so I ran abroad. Recently, my dad got sick and asked me to come back. I gave up a job I had applied for and brought my boyfriend of three years to see him, planning to get married, but that jerk ended up with my sister, and I became an outsider in that house."
"I'm not trying to play the pity card. I know many people have it worse, and this is nothing. Maybe you think I'm being dramatic, but I really don't feel like I belong in that house. My dad is forcing me to go on blind dates, so I ran away."
"At first, I was too clingy; that was my fault. But after spending time with you, I think you're really nice, and I've gradually become dependent on you. I don't want to leave; I want to live with you."
"It's not a long-term solution," Anthony was worried she'd develop feelings for him over time, but he couldn't possibly like her, even though he now felt a bit sorry for her.
"Every day with you is a bonus."
"You're just stalling."
"But I really love being with you. Let's just enjoy this moment, shall we?"
"Have some porridge," Anthony didn't answer her, just brought a bowl of porridge.
"Feed me."
"You're not that sick."
"But I'm really weak and dizzy right now, I don't even have the strength to lift my hand. Really, I'm very weak." Juniper's eyes, big and pleading like a sad puppy's, made him feel like it would be super cruel to refuse her.
Anthony had no choice but to pick up the spoon and feed her.
Juniper immediately perked up, "You're so nice."
Like a child with a kaleidoscope heart, her emotions flickered across her face, raw and unfiltered. This made Anthony even more reluctant to hurt her.
The porridge was so sweet. Juniper smiled faintly.
After feeding her the porridge, Anthony stood up, "Good night."
"Where are you going? Isn't this your room?" Juniper asked.
"You rest here, I'll sleep in the next room."
"But how can I take your room? Why don't you..."
"It's not appropriate." Anthony simply said.
Juniper wanted to cling to him but didn't want him thinking she was too easy, so she said, "Then I'll trouble you to sleep in the guest room. You won't leave, right?"
Anthony didn't respond.
"Right?" Juniper pressed.
"Yeah."
Only then did she feel relieved.
Maybe because he didn't sleep well last night, Anthony crashed hard and slept like a log. When he woke up, Juniper was already up and buzzing around, making breakfast.
"Good morning!" Her energy was infectious, wiping away any trace of her recent illness. She was bouncing around like she hadn't been sick at all.
Anthony smiled, thinking, 'She looks like she's fully recovered.'
"Time for breakfast. New rule today: no packing breakfast for you to take to work. You gotta eat at home."
"But I need to hurry to work."
"It's still early. Five minutes and you'll be done with breakfast." Juniper pulled his hand and led him to the dining table. "What's the difference between eating breakfast in the car and at home? You're eating the breakfast I made anyway."
Anthony had no choice but to sit down.
"To thank you for taking care of me, I got up early to make pancakes, and I made the breakfast hand pies myself. How is it?" Juniper asked.
"Not bad," Anthony said, taking a bite.
"Actually, it's because I'm kinda broke right now, so I couldn't make more."
"I'll give you money."
Anthony meant for food expenses, but Juniper immediately glared, "You want to support me? Anthony, what do you take me for?"
"No..." Anthony started to explain when Juniper squinted and smiled, "Just kidding, haha, you're so easy to fool."
"Here, have some porridge," Anthony said, realizing he'd been tricked again.
"But seriously, my credit card has been frozen by my dad for a week, so I can only work part-time at a restaurant. Don't say you'll give me money, I won't take it. I can support myself. But my dad is doing this to force me to bring a boyfriend to see him. Will you go with me?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"I'm not your boyfriend." The reason was simple.
"Not now, but maybe in the future. Could you please help me with being my boyfriend for the next three months? No, two months will do. After two months, I'll say we broke up."
"You shouldn't deceive your family like this."
"But is it right for him to force me into an arranged marriage? He treats me like a tool for marriage, and I'm not happy about it." Juniper pouted.
Her hands clutched Anthony's wrist like little claws, "Just help me out, okay? Isn't it a win-win situation that you can get rid of me sooner? Anthony, I know you're handsome and kind-hearted, you'll definitely help me, right?"
"Some things can't be done."
"Then do you want me to find another guy to play the role?" Juniper, noticing his concerned twitching eyebrow, continued to persuade him. "If I'm pushed too far, I really will do that. What if I meet a scumbag who cheats me out of my body and money? Wouldn't you feel guilty?"
"Stop threatening me." Anthony knew her intentions well; once she recovered, she started being willful again.
"I'm not threatening you, just stating the facts. I don't want to either, but my dad has pushed me to the limit. I have no other choice. Forget it, I see you won't help me. I'll find someone else," Juniper pretended to get up and leave, but Anthony grabbed her wrist.
"Just this once, never again."
"I knew you were the best!" Juniper happily hugged him.
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