He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 191

Juniper was sitting inside. Hearing the commotion, she ran outside almost instinctively.

Seeing the fresh injuries on Alistair's face and his shattered glasses on the ground, she turned to look at Nelson.

Nelson pressed his lips into a tight line, a dark, hostile energy rolling off him in waves.

But faced with the absolute disgust in Juniper's eyes, he couldn't force a single word past his lips.

He even instinctively hid the hand he had used to strike behind his back.

Juniper moved to support Alistair. "Are you okay?"

Alistair shook his head. "Thankfully, the food didn't spill."

Seeing her brush right past him to tend to Alistair, Nelson reached out frantically. "Juniper..."

Juniper bent down to pick up the broken glasses, her tone completely flat. "Nelson, I don't want to see you."

Nelson felt a metallic taste in the back of his throat. He knew he needed to hold back; acting out now would only deepen her revulsion.

But he couldn't stand it. The fleeting look of provocation in Alistair's eyes made his blood boil.

He raised his fist again, but Juniper immediately stepped in front of Alistair, forcing him to freeze awkwardly in place.

Unable to swallow his pride, he scoffed. "Is Dr. Vaughn really that fragile? Hiding behind a woman for protection."

The moment the words left his mouth, a sharp slap struck his cheek.

It was Juniper.

Nelson's head snapped to the side. It wasn't the first time he had been slapped, but this time felt incredibly unbearable.

He touched his cheek. "You hit me, for him?"

There was a hint of disbelief in his eyes, which quickly melted into deep, agonizing pain.

Juniper refused to meet his gaze, turning back to Alistair instead. "Let's go inside first."

Alistair maintained his gentle demeanor, nodding as he stepped into the house.

Nelson stood frozen in place. A sharp pain surged in his chest, but he despised showing weakness in front of anyone—especially Juniper.

He pressed his lips together, desperately searching for something to say, something that would give him the upper hand against Alistair.

He stared at Alistair's retreating back. "Do you know she's just using you as a stand-in?"

Alistair paused, then replied in a mild tone. "Mr. Saint, if that were true, Juniper would tell me herself. I wouldn't maliciously speculate about her the way you do."

Those three years of their relationship were so hidden that no one knew they existed.

When Juniper had tried to bring it to light, her only reward was being diagnosed as clinically insane.

Nelson pulled his hand back. If he didn't leave right now, he felt like he was going to pass out.

He took a step back, all the color draining from his face.

He fled as if running for his life, terrified to look into Juniper's eyes for fear of confirming that there was truly nothing left in them.

He walked outside without stopping, while the door radiating warm light slammed shut behind him.

It took Nelson a long time to steady himself and resist the urge to look back.

He got back into his car. Quinn Fletcher was still waiting in the front seat and quickly handed him some pills.

"Boss."

Nelson didn't take them. He just stared blankly out the window. "What did she mean by that?"

He sounded like he was whispering to himself, yet his tone carried a trace of deep resentment. "Tell me, what did she mean?"