He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 27

The next morning, Juniper woke up early to a text from Caleb Xavier inviting her to look at a potential property.

The location for Lumina Workshop still hadn't been finalized.

She quickly ate some oatmeal and asked for the address. "I'll be there in half an hour."

The location pin pointed to a bed-and-breakfast. It was surprisingly central, and setting up shop there meant she could occasionally use it as a living space while working. Was this Caleb's thoughtful arrangement?

She took a cab to the neighborhood entrance and spotted Caleb's assistant waiting.

The assistant handed her a bottle of water and a set of keys. "The boss is inside waiting. He's on a call right now, but you can head straight in, Ms. Lane."

Juniper glanced past him and saw Caleb's usual luxury car parked a short distance away.

The windows were rolled up tightly, making it impossible to see if anyone was inside.

She nodded, offering the assistant a polite smile. "Thank you."

She quickly headed toward the property.

The assistant turned and walked back to the car, climbing into the driver's seat. Caleb was sitting in the back.

Caleb had been so overwhelmed with the auction house's hostile takeover that he completely missed the news about Corbin getting hospitalized, nor had Lydia bothered to inform him.

This property was the location he and Corbin had agreed upon. As long as Juniper drank that bottle of water...

Caleb blinked, agony written across his face. A drop of sweat rolled down his forehead. He had done what he promised.

He pinched the bridge of his nose, the guilt finally clawing at him. He sighed heavily. "Let's go."

He couldn't bear to see Juniper's destruction, nor could he face the inevitable disappointment in her eyes.

The law of the jungle ruled their world, and to them, Juniper was just a sheep.

So, she couldn't blame him.

No matter how vicious the wolves fought each other, their attitude toward the sheep was always the same.

The interior of the property was perfect, and she was willing to sign a lease. But right now, her priority was dealing with Yvonne and arranging a meeting with Arthur Saint.

She walked out of the building, checking her phone and mentally drafting how to approach the powerful patriarch.

As she stepped onto the street, she froze. Standing just a few yards away were Nelson, Lydia, and Josie.

Lydia was holding Josie's hand.

Josie was skipping excitedly and tripped, but Nelson caught her instantly, his reflexes lightning-fast.

Next to them, a middle-aged man was eagerly pitching to them. "Mr. Saint, I assure you, our teachers are incredibly dedicated. Each holds over a dozen top-tier certifications. Plus, the location is unbeatable—it's very close to your corporate headquarters, making it easy for you to visit Josie whenever you like."

Juniper stood perfectly still, her grip tightening on the water bottle as she followed the man's gesture.

A preschool.

There was a high-end preschool less than two hundred feet away. She hadn't noticed it on her way in. Why would Caleb recommend a property right next to a preschool? The noise would be unmanageable.