Chapter 719 Hurtful Words
"I..." Juniper's heart was pounding, and guilt was eating her up.
She thought, 'How the hell does he always know exactly what's going on? Am I really that predictable? God, I'm such a mess.'
"Cat got your tongue? You crashed at Anthony's place, didn't you?" Ronnie's sneer cut deep.
"It's not what you think. I was wasted last night, so he... nothing happened," Juniper stammered.
Ronnie scoffed, "First night of your trip and you're already in his bed. How can you be sure nothing happened? Juniper, does it feel good sleeping in someone else's boyfriend's bed? How are you any different from the woman who wrecked your family and caused your mom's death? Don't you hate her? Yet here you are, turning into her."
"Please, don't say that," Juniper begged, her voice shaky.
"You don't want me to say it, but you're doing it. Isn't that even more shameful? Don't blame me for being harsh; what you're doing is a thousand times worse. I'm so disappointed in you."
Tears were already pooling in Juniper's eyes. She felt so ashamed she wanted to disappear.
Ronnie kept going, "You call me unfaithful, but at least I have some morals. You're criticizing me now, but do you even have the right? Do you know how low your actions are? I despise you. I can't control you. Do whatever you want! You'll regret it!"
He slammed the phone down.
Juniper's nose stung, and she was on the verge of tears.
Anthony, standing nearby, noticed her sadness and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "What's wrong?"
"Don't touch me!" Juniper snapped.
"What happened?" Anthony asked, even more worried. "Did you have a fight?"
"It's none of your business." Juniper took a deep breath, holding back her tears, not wanting to break down in front of him.
Thinking about how she felt sweet and happy when Anthony cared for her just now, she felt utterly ashamed.
Her mood suddenly plummeted from the clouds to hell.
"If you have anything to say, you can tell me." As Anthony took a step closer, Juniper anxiously stepped back two steps and said, "Mr. Eilish, that's my personal business, not something you should be concerned about."
This tone clearly indicated she wanted to draw a line between them.
Anthony knew what she was bothered by again.
He wanted to tell her immediately that he and Hera were not dating, and that it was all a lie. But what about her? Was she with Ronnie?
Anthony wasn't sure.
Even though she kept saying she liked him when she was drunk, the facts that she kissed Ronnie, held hands with him, and had dinner and washed dishes at his house were undeniable.
Could it be that she liked both of them?
Anthony absolutely couldn't accept that. True love was single-minded; if it could be divided between two people, it didn't deserve to be called love. It was an insult to love!
He didn't want to believe she was that kind of woman.
Anthony asked, "Is Ronnie your boyfriend? Are you two dating?"
Juniper thought, 'What does he mean by asking that? Is he doubting me?'
Juniper retorted, "Didn't you already know?"
"Are you sure?" Anthony stared into her eyes, trying to see the truth.
But Juniper couldn't handle his intense stare and looked away. "Do you think I don't know who I'm dating or who my boyfriend is? Do you think I'm an idiot?"
She was getting defensive, her words sharp.
Anthony said, "That's not what I meant. If he's really your boyfriend, then look me in the eye and tell me. Why dodge it?"
Juniper smirked a bit, "Am I dodging? I'm not. I just think that as your employee, I don't owe you an explanation."
Anthony pressed, "Are we just a simple boss-employee relationship? Are you sure?"
That question hit a nerve.
Juniper felt a bit flustered, her face heating up. "What else would we be?"
"Would a boss-employee relationship be like this?"
"Like what?" Juniper shot back, her voice rising. "I was drunk last night and only crashed in your room. Nothing else happened."
"Think again. Did nothing else happen last night?"
Juniper had tried to remember earlier, but it was all a blur. Now, Anthony's intense gaze triggered some memories, and bits and pieces started coming back.
She remembered clinging to him like a koala, touching him, kissing him, hugging him, and even saying she wanted to keep him.
Juniper's face turned pale. She wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
"Looks like you remembered."
"I don't remember anything." She quickly denied it, her lips trembling.
"Don't remember? Then let me remind you. At the elevator, you hugged me and said you..."
"Enough!" Juniper cut him off, panicking. "I act crazy when I'm drunk, okay? I lose all sense and hug a guy..."
"Any guy?" Anthony was clearly hurt.
"Of course not. The guy has to be at least decent-looking." Juniper tried to sound nonchalant.
"Really? At that moment, didn't you think you had a boyfriend?" Anthony couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy. How could he be just any random guy?
Juniper retorted, "When I'm drunk, I can't think that much. Otherwise, I wouldn't have done that to you... Mr. Eilish, I'm really sorry about last night. It was my bad. Just forget about it."
Anthony thought, 'Kissed me, touched me, and now she wants to just forget it? Is she that heartless?'
Anthony felt like he was someone who had been played with and then tossed aside.
Their roles seemed to have flipped.
Even though he didn't believe her words matched her feelings, anyone would be hurt hearing such things.
From last night until just now, he had been in a great mood because Juniper said she liked him. But now, it felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him, leaving him feeling cold and empty.
"I can't forget," Anthony said bluntly.
Juniper trembled, thinking, 'What does he mean by that? He can't forget? Then what am I supposed to do? Ronnie was right; I'm just digging my own grave.'
Juniper forced herself to be cold. "Whether you can forget or not is not my problem, but I have already forgotten. To me, we're just a boss and his employee on a business trip. Don't mess around and affect work."
"You're more rational than I am," Anthony said, a bit sarcastically. He thought, 'Her words are always so hurtful. I also have feelings, you know? Who wouldn't get mad hearing this?'
He couldn't help but ask, "Can you say hurtful things so easily?"
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