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531-535

Added 2025-08-13 17:02:38 +0000 UTC

Chapter 531: The Early Noble Daughter

The Bride’s Makeup Room

“Switch the wedding dress at the last minute?”

When Adam brought up this idea, Peggy’s mom and sister weren’t happy at all.

This was the dress they’d spent ages picking out—how could he just suggest swapping it like that?

But then…

Adam revealed the new wedding dress.

Since they couldn’t find the same style, Lisa had followed Adam’s advice and picked the most expensive one they could get right away.

You get what you pay for, right?

The priciest one was, of course, the best.

It was the kind of treasure the bridal shop wouldn’t even show you unless you begged—their crown jewel.

Someone who dealt with wedding shops a lot once said: “The salespeople can size up your real budget just by glancing at your underwear style.”

When Erica and her mom had gone shopping, they’d picked carefully, but the options they got to see were nowhere near this level.

Peggy’s bridesmaid dress had been bought separately.

Same style, but the quality? Way higher.

“Oh my gosh!”

As soon as the new dress was unveiled, Erica and her mom’s eyes lit up. All their grumbling and reluctance vanished in a flash, and they happily started trying it on.

Adam stepped out and headed over to the groom’s side.

“David, congrats, man!”

Adam offered his best wishes.

“Thanks!”

David, decked out in his groom suit, was beaming from ear to ear.

Hmmm…

Adam had taken a quick look earlier—Peggy’s mom showed no signs of pregnancy. So, this wasn’t some rushed shotgun wedding.

Seeing how happy they all were, it had to be true love.

The ceremony kicked off soon after.

Ted and Erica walked out first, arm in arm.

A handsome guy and a stunning girl in wedding attire—guests couldn’t stop nodding in approval.

Let’s be real: most people are pretty average-looking.

Ted and Erica? They were the kind of pair you’d only see on TV, especially for the small-town crowd.

But then…

When Adam walked out with Peggy right behind them, the place exploded.

Everyone was floored. 😳

“T-This… this…”

David’s sister Angela, sitting in the front row, stared wide-eyed, muttering under her breath: “No way. David has to have a kid with Linda—a daughter, preferably!”

Before this, Angela hadn’t cared much. Linda already had two daughters and didn’t want more, and David, being the sweet husband he was, was fine with that. Angela had even quietly supported it.

She’d thought David and Linda were moving too fast—things might fall apart later.

If that happened, David would end up a single dad, which wouldn’t be easy for him while he was trying to build his business.

Better to hold off on kids and see how things played out.

If their marriage stayed solid and David’s career took off, then they could talk about it.

But now?

Seeing Linda’s daughters—especially Peggy—looking like this?

All those “wait and see” thoughts could shove it!

They needed to have a kid! ASAP!

Even if things went south later and David ended up a single dad, so what?

She’d help her brother out—she could totally babysit!

This gorgeous, perfect girl had completely awakened Angela’s maternal instincts, despite being an old singleton herself.

“I need a daughter like that now!”

Angela’s eyes were practically burning.

The music swelled.

Linda, the bride, walked down the aisle for the second time on her father’s arm.

In the States, dads have it rough—always getting dragged out to walk their daughters down the aisle. Twice isn’t even that much; some get roped in a dozen times!

When David stepped up to take Linda’s hand from her father and they walked to the altar, standing face-to-face with sweet smiles, the priest flanked them.

Ted and Erica stood just behind them on either side.

Adam and Peggy were behind Ted and Erica.

Three pairs in fancy dresses and suits—it almost looked like three couples tying the knot!

Adam and Peggy caught each other’s eyes, feeling a weird little vibe.

The ceremony rolled on.

Adam and Peggy were mostly there as backup.

Ted and Erica, the best man and maid of honor, were the stars of the support crew—handing over the vows and rings right on cue.

This wasn’t some cheesy drama.

No sudden door-kicking from Peggy’s dad trying to win Linda back.

No random woman bursting in, screaming that David was hers.

The wedding went off without a hitch.

Next up: wedding photos!

There were all kinds of group shots.

After the newlyweds got their pics, the six of them—bride, groom, best man, maid of honor, Adam, and Peggy—posed for a few together.

Those shots would get printed and tucked into the wedding album.

Or, like Adam’s sister Teddy, turned into framed photos to plaster all over the house, showing off those happy moments.

“Peggy, I’m your Aunt Angela—let’s take a pic together!”

David’s sister Angela swooped in after the main photos were done, all warm and friendly.

“Sure.”

Peggy glanced at her and nodded.

Angela was over the moon, dragging Peggy into a ton of shots—so many that even David couldn’t take it anymore.

“Alright, that’s enough,” he said, stepping in.

“Fine…”

Angela reluctantly backed off, then pulled David aside and whispered: “Look, Linda’s not getting any younger. You guys need to hurry up and have a kid. The Grossman family can’t just die out, you know!”

This total 180 threw David off.

But after Angela explained why—pointing out Peggy, the icy little beauty not far off—he started picturing a daughter with Linda who looked like her. Suddenly, he was sold.

Middle age hits different—it’s not like when you’re young and all about “one love forever.”

“I’ll talk to Linda,” David said, softening.

“Awesome!”

Angela was thrilled. “Don’t wait too long. Tell Linda—sure, Erica and Peggy are great, but they’re not your kids with her. They’ll call you Uncle David, not Dad.”

“Yeah…”

David nodded.

“I’ve even got a name picked out! You love Jane Austen’s Emma, right? Call her Emma—Emma Grossman!”

Angela was on a roll, hyping him up.

“Emma Grossman?”

David repeated it, a big grin spreading across his face. He was hooked.

“I love it!”

Still, Angela wasn’t done. She quietly urged him to “go all out tonight” and skip the precautions—super private sisterly advice.

David cut her off, saying he got it, then went off to find Linda.

No matter how excited he was, he had to talk it over with his wife first—respect comes first.

In the Garden

“Boss, look over here!”

“Peggy, put your hand on his neck—yep, like that!”

“Boss, your hand! Don’t be so casual—tighten up a bit!”

Lisa was in her side-hustle mode now, setting up a tripod for the video camera while snapping portrait shots of Adam and Peggy with the camera around her neck.

Chapter 532: Wedding Shenanigans

Next up was the wedding reception.

After the newlyweds kicked things off with their first dance, everyone started pairing up to join in. Naturally, Adam was with Peggy.

Under the slow rhythm of the music, the crowd swayed and danced. Adam, with his sharp ears, caught the newlyweds, David and Linda, whispering to each other while embracing, even as he danced with Peggy.

"David’s talking to Linda about having kids," Adam whispered into Peggy’s ear, syncing her in on the gossip.

"Having kids?" Peggy couldn’t help but glance over, noticing her mom Linda’s hesitant expression.

"Yup," Adam chuckled. "David wants a little bundle of love with Linda—hoping for someone as pretty and cute as you. But Linda’s unsure. She said she wants to ask for your opinion first."

"Hmph," Peggy replied coolly. "I don’t mind, but I just hope this time she doesn’t let the new kid steal all her attention again. If she ends up neglecting David and their relationship falls apart, I’m worried the kid might not handle it well psychologically."

"Actually, you don’t need to worry too much about that," Adam said, lowering his head to rest his forehead against Peggy’s, meeting her eyes with a smile. "You learn from your mistakes, right? Your mom will balance her attention between the kid and her husband this time. Plus, David doesn’t seem like the type to get jealous of his own child. So, your future half-sibling probably won’t end up carrying the same baggage you did."

"Heh," Peggy laughed, her cool demeanor melting as she teased, "You’re right! Even if Mom hasn’t learned her lesson and David does get jealous, and my future half-sibling ends up taking the blame, at least they’ll have you—the expert—to comfort them.

You’ve come a long way, you know. Your persuasion skills have leveled up so much—no trace of the awkwardness you had when you tried to talk me down back then. I’m sure you’ll nail it if it comes to that!"

"Awkward?" Adam raised an eyebrow. "You sure you’re talking about me? I seem to remember a certain someone being moved to tears by my words back then."

"Hmph!" Peggy shot him a side-eye. "If it weren’t for Sheldon being there, ready to hand me a hot drink because we were so alike, and seeing you rambling on, looking all anxious, I might’ve been slightly touched. But you really think you made me cry? I just felt like crying on my own, that’s all."

"Whatever, you still cried," Adam said, shrugging with a smug "doesn’t matter how tough you are, you still got hit by the monkey with the golden staff" kind of look.

"Speaking of that," Peggy said, ignoring Adam’s endless victory loop, her smile teasing. "I remember you grinning like a creep back then. Was it really like they said—you already had your eye on me? I was only ten, you know!"

"No way," Adam quickly dropped the smile, rushing to explain. "I was just happy to see you turn things around, not wasting your genius intellect anymore. I thought, ‘Hey, maybe humanity’s future will take a huge leap forward because of you,’ and I contributed to that! I couldn’t help but grin.

You were ten, for crying out loud—cute at best. And ‘cute’ is for kids, okay?

How could I have had my eye on you? Who’s spreading these lies? That’s too much!

Think about it—if I really had ulterior motives, you were living next door to me for six or seven years after college. Why wouldn’t I have reached out?"

He was absolutely not taking the blame for this.

He wasn’t some creep!

"Maybe it was all part of a long game?" Peggy teased, playing along. "You did send me your book, didn’t you? Wasn’t that to make me think highly of you? Maybe even turn me into one of your fans. And you really expect me to believe you were grinning like that for the sake of humanity’s future?"

"…" Adam’s mouth twitched, speechless.

He couldn’t exactly say, "Well, it’s because you acknowledged our friendship, and the system rewarded me with 6 wisdom points, so I was over the moon."

With Peggy’s smarts, pulling the "for humanity’s future" card again would be pointless.

But he couldn’t tell the truth.

Sigh.

Looks like he’d have to take the fall for this one.

"Heh," Peggy laughed even harder, clearly enjoying Adam’s defeated expression.

The wedding reception eventually reached its final highlight: the bride’s bouquet toss, a moment everyone loved.

Linda, the bride, held her bouquet, glancing at the group of single women gathered for the toss. She subtly noted where her daughters, Peggy and Erica, were standing, memorizing their positions.

Then, she turned around, raised the bouquet over her head, and tossed it—deliberately away from Peggy and Erica.

In Western tradition, whoever catches the bride’s bouquet is said to be the next lucky bride.

Clearly, Linda wasn’t hoping for either of her daughters to catch it and become the next bride—especially Peggy, who had only just come of age.

A girl caught the bouquet and immediately started jumping with joy, clutching it tightly.

"What about us?" some playful young guys started to heckle, demanding to join in on the fun.

If tossing the bouquet was a blessing for single women, then surely there had to be a blessing for single men, right?

When Adam finally understood what kind of "blessing" they were talking about, his mouth twitched, and he silently vowed to himself: No way am I joining this. Not in a million years.

You’ve got to be kidding.

The groom taking off the bride’s stockings and tossing them to single guys?

Eugh.

That’s way too much!

Especially with his and Peggy’s relationship in the mix.

If it ended up in his hands…

Talk about awkward!

Thankfully, this borderline inappropriate activity was just something a few rowdy guys came up with—a regional thing, not widely accepted.

At least, Adam had been to several weddings and had never seen this "tradition" before.

David, being a decent guy, flat-out refused to entertain such nonsense, especially since it reminded Adam of some of the gross wedding pranks he’d seen in his past life.

The wedding wrapped up.

Originally, David and Linda were supposed to head straight off for their honeymoon, flying somewhere far away.

But since they’d known each other for a while and had already traveled the world together—basically their honeymoon—David, who was in the middle of starting a business, didn’t have time for another trip.

So, after everyone else left, it was just Adam, Peggy, and the other best man and maid of honor, along with the newlyweds.

They gathered together and had a good chat.

During the conversation, Peggy主动 brought up that she didn’t mind if Linda had more kids in the future, telling her mom not to worry.

Erica, on the other hand, was blunt. "Have kids or don’t, I don’t care. I barely existed to you back then anyway. What’s a few more siblings to me now?"

Linda felt both guilty and relieved.

At this stage in her life, experiencing such intense love again—she was head over heels for David.

When David expressed his desire to have a beautiful, cute love child with her, just like Peggy, how could she refuse?

But, well, having a second child meant she had to check with her "eldest," Peggy.

After all, for the first eighteen years of her life, Linda’s entire focus had been on Peggy.

Eugh.

In that moment, Linda completely forgot about her actual eldest daughter, Erica…

Chapter 533: The Daily Life of a Tool Person

The wedding’s over.

After Peggy and Erica generously said they didn’t care if their mom Linda got pregnant again, the chit-chat got way more chill.

And then… it got shorter and weirder.

Adam and the others, being total pros at reading the room, noticed the newlyweds dropping all their mental baggage. The couple started inching closer despite everyone still being there, so the gang took the hint and peaced out with some serious tact.

The newlyweds didn’t even pretend to stop them—they were thrilled. A quick goodbye, and they bolted.

That’s how straightforward it was.

“Adam, can I hitch a ride back with you guys?”

Ted rubbed his hands together. “I’ve been swamped for days, and the project team’s blowing up my phone. I need to get back ASAP. Planes take too long with all the waiting and security checks.”

“Uh, probably not the best idea,” Adam said, trying to talk him down. “Your mom’s got a weak heart, your dad… well, your family’s got a history of heart issues. You’re at risk too, man. No need to rush—just take the plane.”

He remembered how Ted’s mom had been heartbroken over Neighbor Wang’s sudden death. Ted’s mom might not know whose kid Ted really is, but Adam had done the genetic math and figured it out.

Emmm.

Ted’s odds of keeling over out of nowhere? Way higher than average.

“Come on!” Ted waved it off. “That’s so dramatic. I’m in a hurry, plus I’m dying to know how you drove from New York to here in just an hour and a half!”

“You don’t wanna know,” Lisa piped up, unable to hold back. “I’m never getting in that car again—swear I’d rather die. I booked a flight back, boss. Cool with you?”

“Sure,” Adam nodded. “But hurry up. I’ve been to two weddings in a row, and my med career’s taking a hit. I’m heading straight to the hospital after this, so get back soon to keep Peggy company.”

“On it!” Lisa’s heart skipped a beat, and she quickly promised.

She knew her boss’s baller vibes too well. If she slacked, he’d hire another assistant in a heartbeat to keep Peggy covered. Sure, it’d lighten her load, but it’d also cut into her perks, bonuses, and job security.

Peggy spends most of her time geeking out on science, super low-key. Lisa’s gig? Easy as pie and pays insanely well—she’d never spill how much, though. If word got out, a million better candidates would swoop in.

No way was she risking that!

“Boss, you know what? Forget the plane. I’ll ride with you guys,” Lisa said, all serious. “Driving fast freaked me out the first time, but I’ll get used to it. Like you always say, the human body’s crazy adaptable, right? I can handle it.”

“Don’t push yourself,” Adam warned.

“Nah, I’m good,” Lisa said, puffing out her chest with confidence.

But to Adam, she looked like she was marching to her doom.

“Alright, fine,” he said, picking up on her little game and not stopping her.

Tool people gotta have some hustle to keep serving the boss, right? Worst case, she’d puke again when they got back. Puke enough, and you get used to it. 🤷‍♂️

“What about me, Adam?” Ted chimed in.

“Come along then,” Adam said, seeing Ted’s eager vibe. He knew Ted was secretly a thrill-seeker like Barney, so he didn’t bother holding him back. If Ted’s heart gave out, well, it’d save Adam a trip to the hospital for a case study.

An hour and a half later…

New Jersey.

Under the staff apartments at Preston University.

“Blegh!”

The second Adam parked, Ted flung the door open, stumbled out, and hugged a tree on the lawn, puking his guts out.

Lisa, who’d been feeling smug about toughing it out for a few seconds, saw him and bolted too, hurling right alongside.

“You guys are way too fragile,” Adam teased. “Hit the gym or something, or I’m not taking you next time. Oh, and get someone to clean that up.”

Noticing Peggy’s frown, he grabbed her hand and headed upstairs.

Lisa and Ted straightened up, locked eyes, and instantly bent over to puke again.

If GIFs existed here, this’d be a legendary “instant regret” moment. 😂

It took them a while to stop barfing.

Lisa called someone to deal with the mess—she’s a top-tier tool person, no way she’s touching that.

“Where you going?” she snapped as Ted wiped his mouth and started toward the building.

“To find Adam,” Ted said, confused. “We’re heading back to New York together, right?”

“Nope, you’re on your own,” Lisa said, waving him off. “Boss isn’t leaving anytime soon.”

“Huh?” Ted blinked. “Didn’t he say he was rushing back to the hospital?”

“Are you clueless or just pretending?” Lisa smirked. “Young couple, alone—one’s a scientist, one’s a doctor. Their time’s precious. Don’t waste it. You’re in New Jersey now—just grab a cab back to New York.”

“Sorry,” Ted mumbled, blushing hard.

The romance king just got schooled in his own game.

He hesitated, pointed upstairs, and gave Lisa an awkward grin. “Alright, I’m off then. Tell Adam and them for me?”

“No need,” Lisa said, shaking her head. “They’re not picking up calls or texts right now—I wouldn’t dare interrupt. And trust me, the boss knows you’re gone.”

“…” Ted’s mouth twitched.

Why did this feel so familiar?

Oh, right! Earlier, when Linda found out her daughter didn’t mind her making a “love crystal” with David, she’d flaunted her PDA too, smashing third wheels left and right.

Schooled again, Ted slunk off to grab a cab outside campus.

Lisa went upstairs, chatted with the on-duty female bodyguards for a bit, then pressed her ear to Peggy’s apartment door. Her face lit up with a smug “yep, all according to plan” look.

She checked the time, headed to her own place across the hall, and set an alarm for three hours.

Tossing off her clothes, she strolled to the bathroom, filling the tub with hot water and a fancy bath bomb. Then she grabbed a bottle of high-end red wine from the cabinet, poured half a glass, and snagged some snacks.

She dipped into the tub, tested the water, and sank in with a blissful sigh.

This is the “tragic” life of a tool person, huh? 🛁🍷

Three hours later…

She stepped out just as Adam was leaving.

“Boss, your buddy Ted took a cab back,” she mentioned.

“Oh,” Adam said with a nod, barely registering it.

His brain was all about grinding to make up for lost med school time—like that last-minute panic before summer homework was due in a past life.

Ted who? He couldn’t care less.

Chapter 534: Juno’s Call

At the medical center.

Emergency room.

“Dr. Duncan, you’re back!”

As soon as Adam walked in, the sharpest nurse greeted him with a smile. “How was the wedding? Attending two weddings in a row must’ve been exhausting. Why didn’t you take some time to rest?”

“I’m fine,” Adam said with a grin. “I’m not tired. Any interesting cases today?” 😊

“Nope,” the nurse replied, still smiling. “Dr. Yang assisted Dr. Burke with a congenital heart surgery, Dr. Stevenson delivered a baby, and everyone else is just doing the usual. Nothing special…”

Adam nodded as he listened.

He’d been away for a day, so he needed to catch up on what was happening at the medical center.

And this nurse clearly knew him well—she was organized and focused on exactly what he wanted to hear.

“Dr. Duncan!”

Just then, the emergency room doors burst open. The paramedics spotted Adam and called out to him immediately.

“What’s the situation?”

Adam rushed over.

The nurse, quick on her feet, grabbed a surgical gown and followed, expertly helping him put it on.

“Michael Kenny, 17 years old. He suddenly collapsed at school. Vital signs are stable. He’s a wrestler.”

The paramedic explained.

“This sounds like an internal medicine case. Call for an internal medicine doctor,” Adam said, a bit disappointed, but he still pushed the patient into the treatment room.

“Call the school and get his medical records. Start an IV, check his blood sugar, complete blood count, electrolytes, and add a toxicology screen.”

When a teenager suddenly collapses, the odds of it being drug-related or self-inflicted are pretty high. 🤦‍♂️

“Blood pressure’s low, 70/60, and it’s still dropping,” the nurse checking his vitals warned. “Blood sugar’s normal.”

“Ventricular contraction,” Adam said after examining the patient, his tone serious. “Looks like a heart issue.”

“Doctor, premature beats,” the nurse pointed out. “Blood pressure’s dropping fast, 60/45.”

“Arrhythmia,” Adam said. “Prepare for a central venous catheter.”

The nurse quickly brought over the equipment.

Adam started inserting the catheter—a critical step to stabilize blood pressure during emergencies.

“The blood test results are in. No drugs, but his electrolyte levels are a mess,” the nurse said, walking in with the report after Adam finished stabilizing the patient’s blood pressure.

“What’s his potassium level?” Adam asked.

“2.0,” the nurse replied.

“Start a piggyback IV with 20 milliequivalents,” Adam instructed.

Beep. Beep.

The monitor started alarming.

“Tachycardia, heart rate 240, and it’s climbing fast,” the nurse warned.

“Push 6 milligrams of adenosine IV, stat,” Adam said, checking the patient’s pupils. “No response, no dilation. Get the defibrillator ready, sync it—we need to bring his heart rate down now, or he’s done.”

The nurse grabbed the defibrillator, prepped it, and handed it to Adam.

“100 joules, clear!” Adam shouted, pressing the paddles to the patient’s chest.

“Pulse is weak,” the nurse reported.

“Up to 200, clear!” Adam increased the energy.

“Still no pulse. He’s not gonna make it,” the nurse warned.

“Get me a pacemaker. I need to speed up pacing,” Adam ordered.

“Doctor, there’s no screen here. Are you going to do this by feel?” the nurse hesitated.

“I’d love to use a screen, but he doesn’t have time,” Adam said firmly. “Pacemaker!”

“Yes, Doctor.”

The nurse quickly handed him the pacemaker.

Adam carefully inserted it through the catheter into the heart. “Set it to 300. Okay, now, lower it slowly… slower.”

“Sinus rhythm normal,” the nurse monitoring the screen said, looking at Adam with admiration.

Ding! +0.01!

The system notification chimed in.

“It’s sudden coronary heart disease!” Adam said, his mood lifting. “Keep an eye on him, and let me know when he wakes up.”

“A 17-year-old with heart disease? That’s rare,” the nurse remarked. “Thanks to Dr. Duncan, or he’d be dead.”

The heart is like the battery of an electric scooter—when it’s new, it usually works fine unless it’s defective from the start (like with congenital heart disease).

But over time, as it gets used, it starts to wear out.

And if you don’t take care of it, the process speeds up.

Adam smiled and left the room.

Coronary heart disease, as long as it’s not too severe, just needs proper care—no surgery required.

Besides, the lifespan points were already in the bag.

Adam wasn’t too disappointed.

Half an hour later, the nurse called him back. The patient was awake.

As the doctor who saved him, Adam needed to assess his condition and decide if he could be discharged.

“What are you doing?”

When Adam walked in, Michael—the patient who’d nearly died—was doing high-knee exercises.

“I feel much better. I need to do some training,” Michael said.

“No, you can’t do that. You just had sudden coronary heart disease and almost died,” Adam warned. “Literally almost died.”

“I’m fine,” Michael said, pausing and lowering his head. “When can I get discharged?”

“We need to wait for your parents,” Adam said. “You have anorexia, don’t you?”

“No, I don’t!” Michael denied immediately.

“You’re a wrestler. Weight class control is strict,” Adam continued, ignoring the denial. “If you don’t meet the weight, you can’t compete, so dieting is common. But over time, it can lead to anorexia.”

“I’m fine…” Michael tried to argue, but when he met Adam’s gaze, he couldn’t lie anymore. He looked at Adam pleadingly. “I need to get discharged. I have a match next week that could determine my future. I have to compete.”

“Sorry,” Adam said, shaking his head. “With your condition and extreme dieting, if you compete in a high-intensity match, you could die on the spot. You’re not an adult yet—this decision is up to your parents.”

Michael was clearly an athletic scholarship hopeful, trying to get into college through wrestling.

Adam understood his desperation to compete, even at the risk of his life.

But this wasn’t a decision Michael or Adam could make.

From what Adam knew, being a wrestler wasn’t easy.

Professional wrestlers usually live and train together, following strict rules.

No smoking, no drinking.

Not even… well, you know.

Nope, not in any way. 😅

And they have to diet—usually just vegetables, fruits, and dairy.

Plus, they get thrown around all the time.

Unless you have no other options or truly love it, it’s hard to stick with it.

Michael’s talk about his future made it clear—he wasn’t doing this out of passion. He had no other choice.

Wrestling was his only talent.

When Michael’s parents arrived, Adam explained the situation and told them to discuss and decide carefully.

He stepped out with his phone.

It was Juno calling.

Adam was a bit surprised.

Not because Juno was calling him—they talked almost every night, sharing what happened during the day, discussing cases, and exchanging medical insights.

But usually, they were both busy and night owls, so calls happened before bed, around midnight.

It was a bit early for that now.

And usually, he called her.

It was more convenient that way.

After all, Adam’s schedule was far less predictable than Juno’s.

If she called him randomly, she might catch him at awkward moments.

Though Juno kept saying she didn’t mind if Adam was working out while talking to her.

But Adam minded!

Yeah, nice try.

Chapter 535: I Treated You Like a Brother

The phone connects.

“Juno.”

“Adam, is the wedding over?”

On the other end, Juno asks with a cheerful grin, “Back in New York yet?”

“Yeah, it’s done.”

Adam chuckles, “I’ve been back for a while. Just saved a life at the hospital, actually.”

“Congrats!”

Juno knows how crazy Adam is about saving lives and immediately celebrates with him.

“Heh.”

Adam’s in a good mood. “So why’re you calling now?”

“Well, next Thursday’s Thanksgiving, right?”

Juno laughs, “Only four days away, and it’s just a one-day holiday. I figured you’re not heading back to Texas, huh?”

“Nope, not going back.”

Adam shakes his head. “A one-day break isn’t worth the hassle of traveling.”

“Knew it.”

Juno giggles, “So here’s an idea: on Thanksgiving, Karen and I come over. You invite Peggy, maybe call a few friends, and we all celebrate together. How’s that sound?”

“Sounds great!”

Adam nods without hesitation. “I’ll have to check with Chandler and Monica, though. Most others will probably head back to their families. Lily’s going to Matthew’s hometown for the first time this year—it’s a big deal for them. But if Chandler and Monica are in, Phoebe might tag along too. You know she doesn’t have family…”

“I know.”

Juno cuts in, “I already asked for you. Monica and Chandler are on board. Phoebe’s still up in the air—her call. We’ll leave the Thanksgiving feast and setup to Monica and Karen. You just sort things out with Peggy, and we’re good.”

“Uh…”

Adam freezes.

Wait, you’ve already happily planned this out and still asked if I’m going back to Texas…?

“What’s up? Wanna spend Thanksgiving alone with Peggy?”

Juno teases over the phone, “Getting all clingy already? Really?”

“Oh, come on!”

Adam quickly fires back, “No way.”

“Good to know.”

Juno smirks, “Otherwise, it’d be like you’ve got a new girl and forgot the old ones~”

“…”

Adam’s lip twitches.

Why does Juno feel… off today? She’s throwing shade left and right.

“What? Don’t like that?”

Juno chuckles lightly, dragging her words, “You didn’t even ask what Heather’s up to.”

“Ahem.”

Adam coughs, feeling a twinge of guilt. “So, uh… what’s Heather’s plan?”

“I was gonna invite her along originally.”

Juno sighs, “But she’s too sweet on someone and thought it’d be awkward. Ugh, girls like her—so big-hearted, always quietly giving—end up losing out the most.”

“Heh.”

Adam forces a laugh. “I’ll call her later and invite her to join us for Thanksgiving.”

“Is that okay?”

Juno smirks, “What about Peggy? How’re you gonna introduce them?”

“…”

Adam’s lip twitches again. Okay, Juno’s definitely messing with him now.

The thought of Peggy meeting Heather? Yeah, that’s a headache waiting to happen.

“Hehe.”

On the other end, Juno seems to picture his face and giggles like crazy.

“Juno!”

Adam snaps, exasperated.

Her love for stirring the pot deserves a serious eye-roll.

“Feeling the pressure now, huh?”

Juno keeps laughing, “We all know you’re into Peggy. At our get-togethers, even Heather chats about her all the time. She’s cool with it, but the rest of us? We’re just sticking up for her.”

“You guys talk about Peggy together?”

Adam gives a wry smile, “What do you even say?”

“Everything.”

Juno smirks playfully, “Mostly wondering what magic Peggy’s got to turn a player like Adam Duncan into a lovesick puppy. Tsk tsk!”

“Quit exaggerating.”

Adam pushes back, “Who’s a lovesick puppy? You ever seen a guy with this many female friends acting like that?”

They’re best buddies, after all.

Constant late-night chats.

Juno’s always asking about Adam’s day-to-day.

Whether it’s Kate showing up begging him to sort out a case overnight,

or that Halloween night when Marvel’s SHIELD deputy director faced off with DC’s Aquaman’s mom,

or even when Lily sent him to Robin’s place to patch up Robin’s guilty conscience—

Juno knows it all.

She’s dying to dig into the juicy details, but Adam never bites.

Bro talk is bro talk—bragging’s fine.

But spilling deep, personal stuff? That’s a line he won’t cross.

He’s not a creep!

“Peggy’s different, though, isn’t she?”

Juno cuts to the chase, “She’s got something Heather and the others can’t touch, right?”

“You’re blowing this way out of proportion…”

Adam groans.

“Isn’t it true?”

Juno drawls, “You and Heather were so tight back then. That time at the cabin? We could hear how much you adored her from the next room.”

“That’s… different.”

Adam’s face flushes.

Juno laughs, “You saying Peggy’s got a better figure than Heather?”

“Of course not.”

Adam shakes his head.

Heather’s the real deal—top-tier.

Her looks are killer, and that insane figure? She’s still number one among Adam’s female friends, hands down.

Peggy’s got that pure, icy beauty vibe going for her—beats Heather on face alone.

But overall?

Eh, Peggy’s the innocent type.

No comparison…

“There’s your problem.”

Juno grins, “If it’s not looks, it’s gotta be something inside. Otherwise, why’d you drop everything for Peggy—buying her a house, hiring six bodyguards, a personal assistant, even walking the red carpet as her wedding date? Tsk tsk!

Name one other friend you’ve done any of that for.

Trust me, Heather’s way better to you than Peggy ever was.

So why does Heather—gorgeous, sweet, and there first—still lose out to Peggy in your heart?

They’re all your ‘female friends,’ so why’s the gap so huge?”

“It’s not like that!”

Adam protests, “I offered you bodyguards too, and you said no!”

Silence on the other end.

“What? Speechless now?”

Adam smirks triumphantly.

Juno finally speaks, slow and deliberate, “Am I one of your good friends too?”

“…”

Adam’s lip twitches again.