Chapter 698

Juniper was totally wasted, stumbling around like a newborn deer.

Ronnie grabbed her from behind. "Whoa there, slow your roll. You're hammered."

"I'm not hammered," Juniper slurred, waving her hand like she was swatting a fly. "I'm totally fine. Annoying. More drinks! I can down another bottle. Cheers!"

Ronnie just shook his head, letting her be. Even drunk, Juniper was stubborn as a mule, and he was helpless against it.

Juniper suddenly tripped.

Anthony, who'd been keeping an eye on her, instinctively reached out to catch her.

But Ronnie was quicker, like he was guarding a treasure. He yanked Juniper into his arms, blocking Anthony.

Anthony's hand hung in the air, and his heart sank with disappointment.

Hera saw it all, and it tore her up inside.

She scolded herself, 'Why do I love him when he never even looks at me? Did I fall for the wrong guy? Should I just give up? No way, not happening!'

Juniper mumbled, "I wanna keep drinking."

"I'll take you home," Ronnie said softly, "You need to sleep."

"I'm not sleeping. I wanna keep drinking. If I drink, I won't feel so crappy..." Juniper muttered.

'Is she upset because of me?' Anthony felt a pang in his chest but tried not to get his hopes up.

"Get in the car. Mr. Eilish, Ms. Lawson, we'll catch up another time." Ronnie got Juniper into the car first.

Anthony watched the car drive off.

"Let's head back too," Hera said, trying to grab Anthony's hand, but he pulled away.

Hera's eyes dimmed.

Only around Juniper did Anthony never pull away.

He was acting too.

Did love turn everyone into bad actors?

Hera laughed bitterly.

Juniper yelled, "I wanna get out! I wanna keep drinking! Let me out!"

"Juniper, chill out," Ronnie tried to calm her, but she was like a wild rabbit, flailing and squirming, not staying still for a second.

Her voice was so loud, people outside might think Ronnie was kidnapping her.

Juniper screamed, "Let me out! You're so annoying!"

"Nope. Quiet down," Ronnie said firmly.

"I hate you!" Juniper suddenly glared and yanked Ronnie's hair.

"Ouch! Let go! Damn it, do you think you're pulling weeds? Let go of my hair! My scalp's on fire!" Ronnie yelped, trying to save his poor hair.

Then Juniper bit his ear.

"Shit!" Ronnie howled, cursing. "My ear!"

"I'll bite you to death, you jerk, for not letting me drink," Juniper turned from a wild rabbit into a mad little dog.

Ronnie wanted to cry, thinking, 'Damn it, she's never touching booze again! Never!'

Finally, Ronnie managed to drag her home.

He was beat. His face, neck, and ears were all marked up from her bites, like he'd been through a war.

How could anyone be this fierce? Scary as hell.

"More drinks... drink..." Juniper was still mumbling.

"Sleep!" Ronnie wrapped her up in a blanket.

Juniper, who'd been shouting, suddenly whimpered, "It hurts..."

"Where does it hurt?" Ronnie's heart skipped a beat, worried she might've gotten hurt.

"My heart hurts... right here, it hurts so bad I can barely breathe." Juniper clutched her chest, tears streaming down. "Why do you torture me like this... Anthony... I like you so much... really like you... I can't quit... can you not like someone else? Can you not be with Hera? Is it my fault? I know I have a bad temper, but I'm trying to change, I really am... Anthony..."

Ronnie froze, feeling a pang of heartache.

Juniper kept calling Anthony's name, each mention like a knife to Ronnie's heart.

Ronnie had tried so hard, but she still couldn't see him. Her heart was all about Anthony.

Ronnie wanted to scream, to ask what was wrong with him and to say he was willing to change, but deep down, he knew it was a foolish thought.

Love had no logic. His flaw was that he wasn't Anthony.

And he never would be.

His nature was to charge ahead without thinking. He believed that one day Juniper would love him. But now, doubt was creeping in.

Feelings weren't like other things. Effort didn't always pay off. Often, it was just a one-sided struggle.

He felt like a fool.

Maybe he should just leave, disappear from her life completely. She'd be surprised for a couple of days, then go back to normal, forgetting all about him.

She might even be relieved to be rid of his presence.

Ronnie clenched his fists, wanting to just walk away.

Ronnie thought, 'Juniper, if I disappear, will you miss me?'

The sunlight pierced Juniper's eyelids, making them ache.

She opened her sore eyes, almost blinded by the light.

Juniper thought, 'Why does my whole body feel like it's been run over?'

She struggled to sit up, realizing she was in pajamas.

She was home?

Some hazy memories flashed through her mind. She'd underestimated the red wine, drank way too much, and blacked out. Ronnie must've brought her back.

Juniper thought, 'So he changed my clothes! Wait, he changed them? Doesn't that mean he saw everything?'

The room door faced the sofa where a pair of long legs were stretched out!

Bastard!

Juniper jumped up and kicked him in the stomach.

"Damn it! Ouch! Who the hell..." Ronnie opened his eyes. Seeing it was Juniper, he swallowed back the curse, "What are you freaking out about so early in the morning?"

"You shameless jerk, scumbag, bastard!" Juniper grabbed a pillow and started whacking him.

Ronnie, still groggy, tried to block. "Why are you hitting me? Are you out of your mind?"

Juniper demanded, "Did you change my clothes?"

"Yeah!"

"You took off my clothes and didn't wear any yourself. You pervert! Shameless!" Juniper yelled angrily.

Ronnie shot back, "I'm shameless? How am I shameless? You puked all over me and yourself last night. Should I have let you sleep in vomit?"

"That's just an excuse. You wanted to take advantage of me."

Ronnie retorted, "I'm not into drunk people! In the middle of the night, I had to change your clothes and clean the floor. Was it easy for me? I've lived almost thirty years and never served anyone like this. And you still hit me. Do you have any conscience?"