He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 154

If she dared to hit back, she wouldn't make it out of this hotel alive tonight.

Forget the Thorne family—anyone in this room would gladly step up to defend Lydia.

A flash of triumphant malice flickered in Lydia's eyes, though her face was the picture of deep remorse. "I'm so sorry, I acted far too rashly."

This wasn't Juniper's first rodeo; whenever Lydia was involved, her tactics were always this sickeningly manipulative.

More importantly, Juniper wasn't even sure if Josie's fall was her fault—she had merely pulled her hand away in a panic.

If she hadn't caused it, that meant the child had fallen on purpose.

But how could a four-year-old girl be capable of such calculated malice?

She didn't believe it, and no one in this room would ever believe it either.

Juniper was completely cornered, unable to defend herself.

Lydia let out a heavy sigh, offering a polite nod to the surrounding guests before apologizing to Juniper again, the vicious amusement in her eyes visible only to Juniper.

Lydia stepped closer, her voice dropping to a toxic whisper. "Haven't you figured it out yet? You don't belong here. Not a single person in this room accepts you. Lower-class trash belongs in the gutter. Stop dreaming of climbing the social ladder."

The moment the words left her mouth, a warm, elegant voice rang out nearby. "Juniper?"

The crowd turned to see Mrs. Thorne approaching.

Mrs. Thorne looked remarkably youthful, radiating the effortless grace of high society.

Standing outside that restaurant in the cold, she had overheard Mrs. Thorne warning Lydia: "Juniper might be a good student, but don't get too close to her. When someone from the bottom is suddenly thrust into our world, their entire moral compass flips upside down. Poverty breeds deceit, while wealth fosters grace. Never make friends with the poor, do you understand?"

Lydia had maintained her innocent, naive facade. "I know, I know! I just wanted to see what you were going to say to her. Don't worry, I won't even look at her at school."

Mrs. Thorne had let out a sigh of relief. "Maybe I'm generalizing, but it's always better to be safe. And regarding Nelson... if you really like him, you need to tighten the leash. That boy is far too wild; if you take your eyes off him, he'll stray."

Juniper had stood in the shadows, listening in silence as her nervous insecurity slowly hardened into cold realization.

She finally understood why she always felt so deeply unsettled around them. She wasn't overthinking it—these people had never viewed her as an equal. They assumed she was constantly scheming for a handout, wielding their aristocratic arrogance like a blade meant to slash away her remaining dignity.

From that day on, Juniper vowed to stay as far away from them as possible. She worked grueling part-time jobs, deciding that since she was in college, she would never take another dime from the Thorne family.

Their money came at the cost of her spine.