Chapter 666

Honestly, after all the drama, Juniper kinda trusted that Ronnie wouldn't pull any shady moves, but that didn't mean she was cool with being alone with him in a room. I mean, guys and girls are different, and she was still pretty old-school.

Ronnie smirked, "Juniper, it's the 21st century. You don't still think you can get knocked up just by being in the same room, do you?"

Juniper shot back, "Do you think I'm that clueless? If people start talking, my rep's toast. They might think there's something going on between us."

"Isn't there something going on between us?" Ronnie's grin got a bit cheeky.

"Cut the crap. There's nothing." Juniper snapped, "I still wanna get married someday. Don't mess it up for me. Who'd wanna marry me if there's a scandal with a player like you?"

Ronnie looked pretty smug. "Perfect. Then you can marry me. I want you."

"I don't want you." Juniper shot him down.

"Doesn't matter. I want you." Ronnie's handsome face had that annoying, cocky grin.

Juniper asked, "Are you like sticky candy?"

"Nope, I'm stickier than candy. I like you that much. Alright, you're sick, so zip it and save your energy. Go to sleep." Ronnie turned off the light.

With the light off, Juniper couldn't say anything even if she wanted to.

She thought Ronnie was such a jerk.

After sleeping all day, Juniper found it hard to crash again. She lay there in the dark, staring at the ceiling, and sighed in frustration.

"If you can't sleep, wanna chat?" Ronnie asked.

Juniper instantly pretended to sleep, shutting her eyes tight.

She could hear him chuckling in the dark.

Juniper thought, 'What's so funny? So annoying. But, it's this annoying guy who brought me to the hospital and took care of me while I'm sick.'

Juniper was a softie and couldn't help but think that even though Ronnie wasn't boyfriend material, he might make a good friend, a loyal one.

Anthony was a good guy too, just not into her.

Thinking about having to face him every day in the future made Juniper feel super awkward and unsure of what to do.

If only she hadn't stubbornly gone to work for him in the first place, but she wasn't the type to give up easily. She was the kind of person who wouldn't quit until the very end.

"Just sleep properly. Don't overthink, or you'll get insomnia." Ronnie's voice suddenly came from the darkness.

Juniper thought, 'How does he know I'm thinking? And why does he have to control even my thoughts? So bossy.'

She stayed silent.

Ronnie couldn't sleep either. It was his first time sharing a room with a girl without hooking up, and he didn't have any dirty thoughts. He just wanted to be with her, to protect her.

Ronnie thought, 'So weird. Is this really me? I'm not like this. Is this how a guy changes when he likes a girl, valuing every moment spent with her more than just physical stuff? Even doing nothing, just being quietly together feels nice and chill. This feeling is new but not bad.'

The night was super quiet.

Juniper slept deeply again, having a bunch of chaotic dreams. The scenes kept changing, but Anthony was in every dream.

On the edge of a cliff, Anthony held her tightly with one hand, while Ronnie held on from the other side, refusing to let go.

She was gonna be torn in half by them.

"Anthony... don't..." Juniper woke up calling his name, her eyes opening to a white ceiling.

She wasn't really torn apart, was she?

It took a while to realize it was just a dream. Thankfully, it was a false alarm.

She was covered in sweat, exhausted, but felt much lighter.

"If you call his name again, I'll toss you out the window," Ronnie grumbled, standing by the bed, looking all annoyed.

Juniper shot back, "Can I control my dreams?"

"Yeah, you can. Just think about me before you crash, and you'll dream about me," Ronnie said, all confident.

Juniper rolled her eyes, "Why would I think about you? I don't want nightmares."

"Who said it'd be a nightmare? It'd be a beautiful dream, full of romance."

"Jerk," Juniper muttered, propping up her sweaty body.

Ronnie asked, "How you feeling?"

"Much better, just a bit sticky. I'm gonna take a shower and then head to work."

"You wanna end up back here tonight?"

"I'm fine. I've got a strong constitution," Juniper said, trying to get up, but Ronnie held her down.

"Don't tell me you're in a rush to see him."

Juniper felt a pang in her heart and said calmly, "No, I've given up on him."

"Really?"

She bit her lip. "I've been wishful thinking long enough. I don't want to humiliate myself anymore."

She was persistent, but when there was no result, she knew it was time to turn back. And she had principles; no matter how much she liked someone, she wouldn't ruin someone else's relationship or be a despised third party.

Ronnie said, "Good that you've figured it out. From now on, you're mine."

"Just because I've given up on Anthony doesn't mean I'll like you. Those are two different things." Juniper felt she had to make it clear to avoid giving him false hope. Looking into Ronnie's eyes, she said seriously, "I don't like you and never will. You're not my type."

Ronnie asked, "Then what type do you like?"

"Definitely not a smooth-talking playboy like you."

"So you like hypocrites? I'm just more straightforward and honest than other guys."

Juniper asked, "Are you saying you like to find women?"

"As a single guy, it's not illegal to be with a hundred women, and it's all consensual. I never force them or lie about being in love. It's mutual benefit, and I never treat them badly."

"Regardless, you're unreliable to me. I won't choose you. Ronnie, give up and don't waste your time."

"Honestly, if I just wanted to sleep with you, I'd give up. But I've made it clear that I like you. How can I give up so easily if I really like someone? That wouldn't be true liking."

Juniper shook her head. "You're mistaken. It's just your desire to conquer and your pride, not liking. I'm not as good as you think. I have a bad temper, get angry easily, and am also stubborn and ungrateful."

"You don't need to tell me, I know all about your bad temper. But I still like your personality, because it's interesting."

Juniper smiled. "You still say it's not your desire to conquer. You're just after something new."

"No matter what I say now, you won't believe me. Let's leave it to time and see how long I can persist. Maybe one day I'll suddenly stop liking you and give up, but until then, I'll keep going." Ronnie suddenly leaned in, his hands on either side of her, looking at her intently. "Let's bet, you will become my woman."

Juniper's heart skipped a beat, but she knew it wasn't because she was moved, but it was fear. She felt like she was falling into a pit and couldn't get out.

"Forget it. I don't want to argue with you. If you want to be persistent, that's your business. I've made myself clear that I won't like you. Don't regret it."

"I'd regret it if I gave up now." Ronnie smiled and pinched her cheek.

"Don't touch me." Juniper slapped his hand away. How could she like someone who was so unreliable and always touching her?