He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 125

Juniper knew that Eleanor choosing Alistair meant he had passed rigorous vetting. Even Yara Jenkins had mentioned how impressive he was, proving he was truly a man she could entrust her life to.

If she continued to let herself be dragged into Nelson's orbit, she would end up completely destroyed.

If she actually married Alistair, perhaps both the Saint and Thorne families would finally let her go.

She wasn't sure if her thoughts were too naive; right now, she just desperately wanted to break free from this nightmare.

So, despite disliking Alistair's texting attitude, she nodded at Eleanor's reminder.

"Eleanor, I will seriously consider it."

She had dinner with Eleanor that evening. Due to her leg injury, they just sat and chatted on the indoor sofa instead of going out.

Eleanor needed quiet rest and always went upstairs to sleep at eight o'clock sharp.

Once she retired, Juniper was the only one left downstairs.

The entire house felt warm and inviting. Here with Eleanor, she didn't have to walk on eggshells.

Eleanor never made her feel oppressed or looked down upon.

But Nelson did. Lydia did.

In front of them, Juniper felt as though she had reverted to that unloved country girl with mud on her shoes.

She swallowed hard and opened her social media app.

The online backlash against her was still gaining momentum with no signs of stopping.

The studio group chat was buzzing with reports. A few more windows had been smashed, and the neighbors in the complex were filing complaints, demanding the studio relocate. Even the security guards Caleb Xavier had dispatched were useless against the crazed mob.

Juniper apologized in the group chat.

"I'm so sorry for dragging all of you into this."

Juno Yates was the first to respond.

"It's fine, we're waiting for the tables to turn."

She was so certain that the truth would eventually come out.

Juniper hated herself for habitually clicking on it. She pulled up Lydia's contact, intending to delete her once and for all.

But at that exact moment, a message from Lydia popped up.

[You're looking at it, aren't you? You've always spied on my life like a rat hiding in the dark. No one likes being watched. The fact that you willingly became my test subject proves how utterly worthless you think you are. You were always cheap, which is exactly why Nelson played with you. My first time with Nelson was incredibly gentle. I guess he got all his practice on you.]

Reading those words, Juniper immediately clamped a hand over her mouth, her stomach churning violently.

She braced herself against the wall and stumbled to the bathroom, unable to hold back her nausea as she threw up.

"Ugh..."

She turned on the faucet to rinse her mouth, her eyes stinging as she stared at her reflection in the mirror.

Her stomach felt like it was filled with shattered glass, tearing her apart from the inside out.

She didn't want to look in the mirror anymore; she didn't want to see how pathetic she had become, or wonder how much longer she would be trapped in this nightmare.

She washed up in silence, mechanically brushing every single tooth, as if the repetitive motion could stop her from overthinking.