He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 14

It was Eleanor Saint, Nelson's grandmother.

Years ago, Nelson was banished to Oakley to accompany his grandmother while she recovered from an illness in the countryside.

Eleanor despised the city and claimed the rural air did wonders for her health, so Nelson's grandfather had packed him up and shipped him off with her.

Juniper adored Eleanor. The older woman possessed an innate elegance and always wore a warm smile.

In her youth, she had seen Eleanor as the perfect role model for a loving parent—unlike her own parents, who were constantly hypercritical.

She had envied Nelson, and secretly, she had been jealous of him too.

But since parting ways in Oakley, she hadn't seen the dowager once.

Leaning on her cane, Eleanor flashed that familiar, comforting smile. "Juniper, come here. Let me look at you."

A lump formed in Juniper's throat, tears threatening to spill.

During her darkest days, she had desperately tried to reach out to Eleanor, convinced the kind woman would help her. Instead, she was told that the dowager had coldly rejected her pleas.

Keeping her head down, Juniper remained silent.

Eleanor took the initiative, walking over and gently taking her hand. "Look how beautiful you've become. I always knew you'd grow up to be stunning. It's a shame... I tried calling your family over the years, but I heard you all moved away, and no one knew where. My sweet girl, why are you so thin?"

Her family hadn't moved. Someone had intentionally lied to her.

Yvonne wanted her erased from Capital City. If Nelson's mother found out she was meeting with Eleanor, there would be hell to pay.

Gently pulling her hand back, Juniper glanced at the artwork.

Given Eleanor's wealth, there was no reason for her to be consigning items at an auction house.

"Ma'am, is this the piece you wish to consign?"

She used a formal title, refusing to call her 'Grandma' like she used to.

A flash of disappointment crossed Eleanor's eyes. Sighing, she gave Juniper's back a comforting pat. "I happened to see your name on the auction house's public directory, so I thought I'd try my luck. The painting can stay here, but humor an old woman and join me for lunch, won't you?"

Technically, Eleanor was a client. It was part of her job to entertain them.

Juniper opened her mouth to speak, noticing a few imposing bodyguards standing behind the older woman. They had clearly escorted her.

But Yvonne had already seen her, and her expression instantly soured.

Catching sight of Eleanor, however, Yvonne masked her disdain, immediately returning to her composed self.

Standing beside her, Lydia played the part of the perfect, doting companion. "Yvonne, Nelson and I picked out the bracelet together. Do you love it?"

A stunning emerald bracelet now encircled Yvonne's wrist.

Lydia treated her like a mother-in-law, an intimacy reserved for someone officially bound to the Saint family.

Yvonne nodded warmly. "You two are too sweet. Let's have Nelson over for dinner tonight. It's been too long since we all sat down together."

Lydia affectionately hooked her arm through Yvonne's. "Since Nelson got back, he's turned into a total workaholic. If it weren't for little Josie, I doubt anyone could pull him away from his desk."

Yvonne smiled faintly. "At least someone knows how to keep him in line."

Lydia finally seemed to notice Juniper's presence. Her smile dimmed noticeably. "Grandma. Juniper."

Eleanor's health usually kept her confined indoors, so Lydia hadn't expected to run into her here, let alone with Juniper.