He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 21

"Ms. Thorne, I never expected you to be so vicious. You have the backing of the Thorne family, while Juniper Lane has absolutely nothing."

Lydia Thorne blew lightly on her freshly manicured nails, her tone entirely nonchalant.

"Caleb, I only call you that because you still own the auction house. But that illegitimate half-brother of yours is coming for your throat. I heard the Xavier family's patriarch is drafting the share transfer agreement tonight. I was Juniper's sponsor, yet she went behind my back in college and hooked up with Nelson Saint. Do you think I have a right to hate her? Are you absolutely sure you want to cross me for someone like her?"

Caleb Xavier instantly fell silent.

Lydia chuckled softly over the line. "I've already given you an out, Caleb. You really don't have time to waste."

If his half-brother took over, both he and his mother would be left with nothing.

He knew deep down that Juniper wouldn't do something so underhanded and that there was definitely a misunderstanding. But just as Lydia had expertly manipulated his vulnerabilities, her words gave him the perfect, self-righteous excuse he needed.

Caleb swallowed hard just as her voice cut through again. "Perhaps I should go make a deal with your half-brother instead. He'd do anything for the Xavier family's power."

"Ms. Thorne, I agree to your terms..."

As the words left his mouth, his throat felt agonizingly dry.

Juniper had just sacrificed her own interests to give him a way out, yet here he was, throwing her to the wolves.

He took a deep breath. She couldn't blame him; people who were too pure simply couldn't survive in this world for long.

Besides, she had offended Lydia Thorne and the Saint family.

*

Juniper returned home and spent the night tossing and turning, unable to sleep.

It wasn't until she received a frantic call from Mrs. Lucille, telling her that Macy Xavier was at the police station.

A cold chill ran down her spine, but she quickly tried to soothe the older woman. "Mrs. Lucille, please don't panic. I'll head over to the station right now and see what's going on. I'll call you as soon as I know anything. Maybe she's just receiving an award for doing a good deed?"

A few police officers standing nearby sighed. "The young lady was dragged into an alley by some thugs on her way home. If a passerby hadn't seen it and called us, she wouldn't have made it out tonight. Are you her guardian? Talk some sense into her. A young girl shouldn't be wandering around remote bars at night. We caught the guys, but she's still in shock. You should take her home and comfort her."

Macy was crying so hard she could barely form a coherent sentence. "I was just walking... and these guys came out of nowhere... my head hurts so much."

She sobbed brokenly, the tears spilling like a broken faucet.

One of her hands gripped Juniper's shirt tightly, her cheeks so swollen it was impossible to make out her normal features.

They had beaten her mercilessly.

Juniper gently patted her back, waiting until the violent trembling subsided before turning to the officers. "Where are the men who did this?"

"Over there in holding."

She followed the officer to the cells. The thugs were locked up, all sporting bleach-blonde hair and wearing ragged, chaotic clothes.