Chapter 620

Nighttime.

The Cooper family mansion.

"I ain't going on no blind date!" Juniper Cooper shot back.

"You don't even know who it is, and you're already saying no. He's Mr. Eilish..." her dad, Aaron Cooper, started but got cut off by Juniper.

"I don't care if he's some big shot or a total nutcase, I'm not doing it."

"Juniper, the guy I picked for you is top-notch. Stop obsessing over Douglas Phillips."

Juniper felt a pang.

"So you're pushing me into this blind date 'cause you're scared I'll mess up his wedding to Saffron Cooper? Chill, I hope they live happily ever after," Juniper sneered.

"Juniper, why are you being so difficult? I'm your dad; would I ever hurt you?" Aaron said, frustrated.

"You wouldn't hurt me, just use me as a pawn for some family deal, right?" Juniper shot back. "But let me tell you, no way. I'd rather marry a broke guy or a beggar than someone I don't love just for the Cooper family."

"Juniper, Juniper..."

Juniper stormed upstairs.

Around ten, a maid came in.

"Ms. Cooper, you skipped dinner. How about some porridge?"

Juniper, standing in front of the mirror, was rocking a super sexy tight leather dress and heavy makeup, turning her delicate features into something sultry, like a nightclub regular.

"Ms. Cooper, where are you going dressed like that?"

"Obviously to a bar, not a wedding. Has my dad left?" Juniper replied.

"Mr. Cooper just left. Ms. Cooper, it's not safe for you to go to a bar. Mr. Cooper will be furious if he finds out."

"I don't care." Juniper threw on a fluffy coat and grabbed a sparkly red purse. "I'm outta here."

"Ms. Cooper... Ms. Cooper..."

Juniper didn't bother with her driver; she used a ride-hailing app to get a car. Soon, she was at the city's hottest bar.

Around midnight, the place was buzzing, packed with people dancing like crazy, men and women letting loose.

Guys kept hitting on Juniper, but she turned them all down.

Her bestie Jessica swayed to the music, "Why are you eyeing these guys like you're on a mission?"

"None of your business. How about that one?" Juniper shot back.

"Muscle dude, not my type," Jessica shook her head.

"What's wrong with muscle dudes? They make you feel safe. How about that one?"

"He looks like a sugar baby," Jessica shook her head again.

"That one should be okay, right?"

"He looks like a player, even worse than Douglas. And Douglas is a total scumbag. Let's not even go there. I'll have a drink with you," Jessica downed a beer in one gulp.

"Why are you checking out these guys?"

"Looking for a boyfriend."

"A boyfriend? In a place like this? That's sketchy."

"Even if it's sketchy, it's better than a family-arranged marriage."

"I don't think so. Your family's loaded. The guy they set you up with must be super rich, way richer than these dudes."

"So what if they're rich? I've seen so many rich kids who are just freeloaders. They're even worse than regular guys!" Juniper sneered.

Tonight, she had to take a guy home. Even if he wasn't boyfriend material, she needed a one-night stand to get her dad off her back about this marriage alliance.

Juniper made up her mind, scanned the room, and zeroed in on a target, "That one looks good."

Jessica followed her gaze to a tall, handsome dude in business attire, standing alone and brushing off women left and right. He looked pretty top-notch.

"He seems alright," Jessica nodded.

"He's the one," Juniper downed her drink and strutted over.

"Juniper, you're nuts," Jessica couldn't stop her in time.

Juniper walked up to him, placing her hand on his shoulder. "Hey, handsome, buy me a drink?"

The guy looked even more handsome up close, with a spark of interest in his eyes, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure."

"Alright, let's have a strong one." The guy's hand slid to her waist, whispering suggestive words in her ear.

Even though Juniper had been abroad for years, she was still kinda conservative, never been this close to a guy other than Douglas. She felt uneasy, even resistant.

But thinking of her goal for the night, she forced herself to endure. As long as she didn't have to marry, she didn't care what happened.

After a drink, Juniper felt increasingly dizzy and wobbly.

The guy supported her, "Shall we go somewhere else?"

"Where to?"

"A hotel."

Juniper instinctively wanted to refuse but held back, "Alright."

"Let's go."

Soon, she felt herself being taken to a hotel in a daze.

The guy laid her on the bed, started kissing her neck.

Juniper's mind was foggy, but a wave of nausea surged up. She clenched her fingers, trying to endure.

Images flashed before her eyes: Douglas and Saffron caught in the act, his panicked face, "Juniper, I don't love you anymore. I've fallen for Saffron. I'm sorry."

Her boyfriend of several years, the only warmth in her life, suddenly didn't love her anymore and had fallen for her half-sister. How ironic, how absurd.

She thought, 'Indulge yourself, Juniper. No one loves you, no one cherishes you. You can hook up with anyone.'

But as the guy's hand moved up, a wave of nausea hit her heart.

Juniper's eyes suddenly opened, a tear sliding down her cheek.

No! She wasn't worth degrading herself for those scumbags.

Not worth it!

"No, let go of me..." Juniper suddenly regained some clarity and started to push him away.

"Baby, are you playing hard to get?" The guy's handsome face turned sinister.

"No, I'm not. I don't want this. Let me go!"

"We're already here. You think I'll let you go?" The guy grabbed her hands, pinning them above her head, his eyes gleaming like a wolf's. "You came onto me first tonight."

"I drank too much. I regret it. I don't want this anymore..."

"Don't want it? You got me all worked up, booked a room, and now you say you don't want it? Are you messing with me? No way I'm letting you go. Don't worry, I'm really good. I'll make you feel great."

"I don't want this... Help, help..." Juniper screamed, "Bastard, get off me."

"Haha, scream all you want. They'll just think you're enjoying it... haha..." The guy continued kissing her neck.

Juniper's eyes filled with tears. She was scared, panicked, and regretful. Her first time couldn't be with someone like this.

No!

Someone, please save her!