He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 28

Lumina Workshop's early operations would likely involve live-streaming sales, which meant a noisy environment was entirely out of the question.

Nelson looked up and immediately locked eyes with her. Josie darted out like a little bird, stopping right in front of Juniper and tilting her head. "It's the pretty lady."

She remembered Juniper clearly since she had broken the jade bracelet the last time they met.

Josie reached out to grab Juniper's hand, but Lydia's sharp voice rang out. "Josie, stop messing around."

The little girl practically flinched. She instantly slapped Juniper's hand away, took a step back, and burst into tears.

Looking distressed, Lydia hurried over. "Josie, what's wrong?"

Josie looked up with tear-filled eyes, cast a fearful glance at Juniper, and quickly buried her face in Lydia's legs. She looked exactly as if Juniper had just bullied her.

Nelson strode over, his gaze sweeping over Juniper with cold interrogation. "What did you do to her?"

Juniper had thought she wouldn't lose her composure seeing him again, but a single sentence from him completely shattered her defenses.

She didn't come from money, her social connections were a mess, and her career was an uphill battle. But the one thing she had always held firm to was her intrinsic kindness.

Maybe to these elites, kindness was useless.

But it was the principle she lived by. Nelson had spent years with her—how could he not know that?

Why would she ever hurt a four-year-old child?

All the color drained from her face. Then, she heard Lydia playing the gracious peacemaker. "Nelson, Juniper isn't like that. Josie probably just got scared on her own."

Josie remained buried against Lydia's skirt, her small shoulders shaking as she sobbed.

Nelson crouched down and pulled the child gently into his arms, his voice incredibly soft. "Why are you crying?"

Josie's eyes were bloodshot. She had two little braids clipped with expensive diamond barrettes resting on her shoulders.

She rubbed her plump, pale cheeks with her fingers, then pointed directly at Juniper. "I hate you."

With those words, she buried her face deeply into Nelson's chest.

Sensing the child's fear, Nelson shot Juniper a glacial look. "Are you seriously threatening a child now?"

Juniper spun on her heel and walked away, so furious she could barely breathe. "You're all psychos!"

Her words left a stunned silence in her wake.

Nelson set Josie down, gesturing for Lydia to take her, and then took off with long strides after Juniper.

Lydia gripped Josie's hand, her eyes swirling with dark emotion. She squeezed so hard that Josie whimpered.

"Mommy, it hurts..."

"Wahhh, it really hurts!"

"Shut up."

The tears instantly stopped. Josie didn't dare make another sound, hanging her head as her shoulders trembled silently.