Don't Mess with the Girl with Candy novel Chapter 1597

Juniper hadn't slept a wink in nearly twenty hours.

"You're the one who worked the hardest," the doctor said with profound admiration. "If it weren't for you, we might not have been able to save her."

Dr. Nocturne truly lived up to the legend.

"You're too kind."

Juniper offered a faint, tired smile and glanced toward the room. "She's stable now. Bring the baby to her."

With her final instructions given.

Juniper walked toward the exit, catching sight of a man standing not too far away.

He was wearing a camel cashmere trench coat, with a matching coat draped casually over his arm.

He stood perfectly poised beneath the glow of the streetlamp, the dim light tracing the sharp, commanding lines of his figure.

Even cloaked in the shadows of the night, his presence was so striking it was impossible to look away.

Shanley had his back to her, but as if sensing something, he turned abruptly the moment she stepped outside.

Their eyes met, and he quickly closed the distance, opening the coat in his hands and wrapping Juniper entirely in his embrace.

"Didn't you say you'd text me before you came out so I could come get you?"

Shanley looked down at her exhausted face, his heart aching for her.

"I don't need you walking toward me every single time." Juniper tilted her head back, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth, a light laugh escaping her lips. "I can walk toward you, too."

"Juniper."

Shanley's brow twitched slightly, his eyes darkening as his voice turned husky. "Is that your sweet way of confessing your love?"

"Why wouldn't it be?"

Juniper slipped her hands into the pockets of his coat, resting her chin against his chest, smiling like a mischievous fox. "I'm so tired. I can't walk another step. Carry me!"

"Mhm."

Without a moment's hesitation, Shanley swept her up into his arms, carrying her steadily toward the parking lot.

Juniper nestled quietly against his chest, the exhaustion quickly pulling her under.

Just as she was drifting off.

She heard Shanley's deep voice. "Juniper, do you like kids?"

Whether it would be the darling daughter he dreamed of was entirely up to chance.

"If that's the case, then we won't have any." Shanley pulled her a little tighter against his chest. He swallowed hard, his voice dropping low.

Watching Celine suffer that massive hemorrhage today had terrified him to his core.

If Juniper hadn't been there, she might not have survived.

He couldn't stand the thought of Juniper ever being in that kind of uncontrollable danger.

Between a child and her, he would undoubtedly choose her every single time.

"If you like kids, we can always adopt one later on."

Shanley kept walking, his strides measured and steady. "Or we can just play with Warren's little guy. I'm sure Celine wouldn't mind if he had an extra set of parents."

"How does that sound?"

Shanley finished speaking and looked down, only to realize the girl in his arms had already fallen fast asleep.

"Little sleepyhead."

He let out a soft sigh, gently placing her in the backseat of the car, his fingers lightly brushing her cheek. "Forget it. Birth control isn't always foolproof anyway. If I have to, I'll just get a vasectomy."