Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 1357

"It will." Juniper nodded, flashing him a smile. "I've already told Harold. He's going to collect Mom and Dad's DNA."

"But the workload is massive. Even if I help him, it'll take days."

"So..." Juniper leaned in, resting her chin on his chest, her tone turning slightly petulant. "For the next few days, I'm probably going to drag you down. You'll get roasted online, and so will your parents and your grandparents..."

"They understand." Shanley wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her onto his lap. "Miranda literally just told me to make sure you don't take the trolls to heart."

"Grandma also said that no matter what happens, you are the only granddaughter-in-law she acknowledges."

"As for Grandpa and Hayden Schwartz..." Shanley's lips curved into a deeply affectionate smile. "A wife's word is law. They follow orders unconditionally."

Juniper laughed, a genuine, heartfelt sound.

Not long after, the car pulled up to the entrance of Eclara University.

Before getting out, Juniper did something rare—she initiated a goodbye kiss.

"Go back and focus on work. Don't overthink this. I might not be great at arguing, but my fists communicate just fine."

"Absolutely not," Shanley frowned, catching her hand. "If things get physical, let Flint handle it. He's built for taking a punch."

"Flint, stay in the car and wait for Juniper," Shanley ordered.

The durable Flint immediately replied, "Yes, sir!"

Juniper got out of the car, swinging her backpack over her shoulder as she walked toward the gates.

After a few steps, she suddenly glanced back.

Shanley was standing outside the car, watching her with a gaze brimming with unfiltered devotion.

It was the morning rush hour. Students were everywhere.

By standing at the gates, Shanley was publicly broadcasting a message to the world.

He didn't care if she was a monster. She could be a stray cat or a stray dog—as long as she was Juniper Payne, he would love her fiercely and forever.

The surrounding crowd saw Shanley and stared in sheer shock.

"Tucker is an absolute psycho. We can't do his assignments at all," Hattie complained, pulling a long face as she looped her arm through Juniper's. "You have to tutor us."

"There's a new dessert shop next to the campus. Let's go together after lunch," Queenie added.

They chattered around her like a flock of birds, treating her exactly the same as they had before the scandal broke.

"Okay, okay, okay!" Juniper agreed three times in a row, addressing the whole group. "We can eat, but I'm not letting you guys pay!"

"We're paying! We're paying!" the classmates scrambled to insist. "As long as you're happy, Goddess, we'd gladly eat dry bread for the rest of the month."

Juniper smiled, a warm feeling settling in her chest.

"Come on, let's head to class."

They flanked her on both sides, escorting her inside while purposefully projecting their voices:

"Don't worry, Goddess! From this day forward, the entire Computer Science department is your personal army!"

"If anyone dares to whisper a bad word about you, we'll kick them so hard into the wall they'll have to be peeled off!"