Chapter 664

In a few minutes, Anthony called Ruthless back into the office. "Did she take off?"

"Yeah, she did. Just left," Terry said.

Anthony let out a sigh of relief, glad she wasn't being stubborn again.

He pictured her almost fainting and started worrying if she'd be okay going back alone. What if she suddenly passed out or ran into some sketchy folks?

Thinking about it, Anthony couldn't chill. He bolted out of the office without a word and rushed downstairs.

But when he got out of the elevator, he saw Ronnie holding Juniper up, touching her forehead with concern, looking super worried.

His concern made him look way different from his usual self, like a decent guy.

Anthony thought, 'Can a player really change his ways? She must be something special to make a player change for her. Looks like they're really dating; otherwise, she wouldn't let him come to get her.'

Anthony had denied it in his head a million times, but reality slapped him in the face.

Suddenly, he felt pretty ridiculous. 'Why am I so hung up on someone else's girl? Mind your own business, dude.' He thought coldly. 'From now on, her problems are Ronnie's problems, and they got nothing to do with me.'

Anthony went back to the elevator.

At the hospital.

Juniper was getting an IV, lying there weak with her eyes closed.

She was so tired, her whole body ached like she'd been working hard for a century.

Ronnie stood by the window making a call, having taken off his jacket. In his shirt and suit, his back was straight, and his voice was low, "I can't make it today. Push the meetings to tomorrow. Figure it out."

He hung up and turned around.

Juniper had her eyes closed, with a slight smile on her lips.

Ronnie asked, "What's so funny?"

"So you do have a job. I thought all you did was chase women," Juniper said weakly.

"You still got the energy to roast me, so you can't be that bad," Ronnie smiled. "I told you before, I gotta work too, right? How else would I make money to support you and the kids?"

"You're overthinking," she muttered.

"Yeah, my mind's full of you. Isn't that overthinking?" Ronnie sat down beside her. "It's all your fault for stealing my soul. Look at you, even when you're sick, you're so beautiful. It makes my heart ache and flutter."

Juniper said, "Smooth talker. You should go to work. There are doctors and nurses here."

Ronnie shot back, "How could I leave? When you're sick, someone needs to take care of you, or it'd be so sad."

Maybe it was because Juniper was too vulnerable from being sick. Even a word of concern from Ronnie moved her.

If only it were Anthony, but he wouldn't. He didn't even notice she was sick; he didn't care.

Ronnie asked, "What's so funny again? You're acting weird."

"I'm laughing at what a player can do for a woman."

"If you still think I'm just playing with you after all this, then I'm really heartbroken." Ronnie shook his head. "Ms. Cooper, get it straight. I'm not playing with you; I'm seriously pursuing you. This is the first time in my life I'm chasing a woman. Please take it seriously and don't think I'm joking."

Juniper asked, "Isn't it the same?"

"How is it the same? I want to build something real with you and even marry you."

"Ronnie, do you know how I met Anthony?" Juniper interrupted him. "I met him to escape an arranged marriage. I will never become a tool for my family's arranged marriages. Do you get that?"

Ronnie shot back, "But what we got ain't just some arranged marriage. It's a match made in heaven. You should be grown enough to know that only a relationship built on matching family conditions can last and be stable. I'm a bad boy, but I never lie to women or promise them marriage. I'm clear-headed. I won't marry a Cinderella. The woman I marry has to match me in status and ability."

"How's that different from a business deal?"

Ronnie explained, "Of course, it's different. A good marriage is the cherry on top and evenly matched. This is called a match, not a transaction. And you and I both know we're not like regular folks. We carry the family honor and need to raise a better next generation."

Juniper wanted to say they had different views, but he wasn't entirely wrong. Women were emotional, while men were rational. As heirs to wealthy families, men had more responsibility, which made sense.

Ronnie asked, "What? Do you also think I'm right?"

"I just don't want to argue with you."

Ronnie retorted, "Come on, I know you. Even if you had a fever, you'd argue with me unless you thought I made a lot of sense and agreed with me."

Juniper ignored him.

Ronnie said, "Tired, huh? Get some rest. I'll stay by your side and won't go anywhere."

Juniper smiled bitterly.

Last time she had a fever, Anthony stayed with her all day and night. But this time, he wasn't there.

In a daze, she didn't know how long she slept.

"Anthony..." She was about to leave, and Juniper tightly grabbed his hand, begging him not to abandon her.

She opened her sore eyes, but the person in front of her was Ronnie.

Her heart sank.

"I've been by your side all day, but you call out another man's name while holding my hand. You're really breaking my heart," Ronnie said in his usual playful tone, but he was genuinely a bit hurt. After all, he had real feelings for her.

It was hard to imagine that someone as flirtatious as him could have genuine feelings. She had thought it might just be a whim, at most a liking, but now it seemed more than that.

Juniper let go of his hand.

"I didn't ask you to let go. Keep holding it; I don't mind."

"I don't want to hold it," Juniper pouted. The one she wanted to hold, she couldn't.

"You're actually rejecting me," Ronnie smiled.

Juniper asked, "What time is it?"

"Nine o'clock."

It was already dark.

Ronnie reminded, "You've slept all day. You must be hungry. Have some porridge."

"I don't want to."

Ronnie asked, "Are you giving up on yourself? That's not like you."

"Then what should I be like?"

"You should have the resilience of a cockroach," Ronnie replied.

Juniper rolled her eyes at him. "You're the cockroach."

Ronnie said, "Alright, I meant a resilient little grass, okay? Anyway, you're the most stubborn, optimistic, and strong girl I've ever met. I don't want to see you so down. You need to eat something to have the strength to argue with me."

"I don't even want to argue with you."

But Juniper thought about it, 'Am I going to be so depressed over a breakup that I won't even eat? That isn't like me. Besides, Anthony and I haven't even talked about it. It's at most a one-sided crush. I can take it or leave it and could afford to lose.'

She propped herself up and said, "What's good to eat? Bring it over."

Ronnie teased, "Listen to that tone, like you're a queen..."

"Then you're the servant."