"I didn't think that far ahead!"

Seeing the highly defensive "boy" keeping his distance, Jimmie's voice was hoarse. "I just want to solve the agony I'm in right now."

"The agony of thinking about you every single day. Morning, night, at work, in bed. You're constantly on my mind."

"If I didn't say it out loud, I was going to lose my mind."

"I don't even know why I feel this way." He stood up, taking a slow step toward her. "Maybe I'm sick. Maybe I'm crazy. But I can't control my heart or my thoughts. There's nothing I can do."

"So I convinced myself to accept you."

"Stay back!"

Hearing his confession, a part of her was deeply moved, but her brain remained painfully rational.

She absolutely could not expose her true identity as a woman. She still had to return

to Stellara Country and assist with the administration.

She and Jimmie could never have a future together.

Since that was the case, some lines were better left uncrossed from the very beginning.

He stopped in his tracks.

"I think you're confused." She scratched her head, her mind a tangled mess. "You're

a great guy, but you're really not my type."

"What is your type?"

"Tall, handsome, filthy rich, with an eight-pack..." she answered without skipping a beat.

He didn't say a word, just stared at her quietly. His eyes clearly said:

Why don't you just say my name?

Uh.

She froze, suddenly realizing she had practically just described him down to the letter.

"No, I mean..."

She stumbled over her words trying to backtrack. "Regardless, it's impossible for us to be together. I could never do that to Silas and Theia, or to Juniper."

"What if they all agree?" he pressed.

"Like that would ever happen!" she frowned. "Let's just leave it at this. We shouldn't see each other anymore. Give it some time, and you'll go back to normal."

With that, she spun around and sprinted for the door, nearly getting lost because she was so unfamiliar with the house layout.

He stood frozen in place, the light in his eyes dimming inch by inch.

Her reason for rejecting him was fear of disappointing his parents and Juniper?

He had already prepared his parents. As for Juniper...

He would find the right time to come clean.

Then, he would see Luella's reaction. If she still rejected him, he would let it go.

Truthfully, he had never planned on falling in love or getting married in this lifetime anyway.

"Ahhhhh!"

Back in her car, she aggressively

her fists against the

wheel, messing up her short

hair until it looked like heel

a bird's nest.

Was she dreaming?

Did he really just say he liked her?

What should she do?

What was she supposed to do?!

She claimed she liked men, and he literally switched teams for her.

This was some deeply twisted mutual attraction.

Was there actually someone out there more unhinged than she was?

No, no.

She had to finalize the contract as quickly as possible and get the hell out of Eclara City.

Three days later.

The partnership negotiations between Stellara Country and Schwartz Group were wrapping up.

Once she got the contract, she could finally leave.

That evening, she got a call from Juniper. "The contract is at Cloudscape Community. Come pick it up."

Luella had been rushing them relentlessly. Shanley had pushed his

team non-stop, finally gegjel

finalized by nightfall. .net>

"On my way, on my way."

bet

Without waiting for Juniper to finish, she hung up grabbed her things,

Fand sped toward Clousnet

Community.

"Alright."

Juniper put down her phone. Before she could even process it, the front door opened, and Jimmie walked in.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" Juniper asked in surprise.

"Luella is coming over. Do you want me to have her wait until you leave?"

In Juniper's mind, those two were still mortal enemies.

"She's coming too?"

Jimmie narrowed his eyes, answering nonchalantly, "What a coincidence."