He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 305

Forrest's eyes shone with greed. "Where were you planning to borrow the money? Are these people reliable?"

The man on the phone licked his dry lips. A dagger was pressed firmly against his throat, and he had no idea who was holding it. His entire body trembled in sheer terror. "There's a place, but they're dangerous. If you borrow a million, you have to pay back 1.2 million within six months, or else... I was going to take the cash and move to another city. They probably wouldn't find me."

To Forrest, this call felt like divine intervention. He took a deep breath. "Send me the address. I'll go check it out."

The man sent the address as instructed.

The dagger at his throat glinted menacingly, and his legs shook so violently he could barely stand.

Once the message went through, he immediately started begging. "I did exactly what you asked! Please don't kill me!"

Juniper had only intended to scare him; she hadn't expected him to be such a coward.

She sheathed the dagger, and the man scrambled away, stumbling over his own feet in his haste to escape.

He knew Forrest was being set up, but he had absolutely no intention of warning him. After all, he and the other guys had just been plotting to take Forrest down anyway.

Juniper pulled her hat down low. The area was a slum, riddled with foul-smelling gutters and narrow, claustrophobic alleys. She had scouted the location beforehand, knowing the man would pass through here, which was why she had rushed over.

With the dagger securely tucked away, she walked out of the alleyway, only to freeze. Nelson Saint's car was parked right there.

Nelson had watched her entire operation play out. He rested his hands lightly on the steering wheel, his tone deadpan. "Do you realize you're breaking the law?"

Threatening someone with a deadly weapon—regardless of what the threat entailed—was a crime.

If that man had called the cops, she would be in handcuffs right now.

Juniper didn't want to talk to him. She kept walking.

Nelson let the car roll slowly, trailing beside her. "First time I've ever seen you pull something like this. Juniper, what exactly are you trying to do?"

Why threaten a total stranger? What had that man done to offend her?

Why did she have to do it herself? What if something had gone wrong?

She was acting more reckless by the day.

Nelson took a deep breath and lightly tapped the horn. "Get in. I've already had my men put the fear of God into him. He won't breathe a word about what just happened."

Juniper ignored him and picked up her pace.

Nelson suddenly waved his phone. "I recorded you threatening him with that knife. Tell me, if I hand this over to the police, do you think you'd end up behind bars?"

He pulled the car over, his tone casual. "Want to grab a bowl of noodles?"

He reached to grab an umbrella from the side compartment, but her voice stopped him. "No thanks. I don't have time to reminisce with you."

The words stung Nelson, sending a sharp ache radiating through his chest.

He yanked the car door open, slammed it shut, and then locked the doors from the outside, trapping Juniper inside.

He knew that the second he stepped away, she would open the door and walk off.

After all, sharing the same space as him was clearly unbearable for her now.

He walked to the storefront and ordered two bowls of noodles.

It was a clear broth tomato and chicken noodle soup. The shop used mountain-grown pink tomatoes that had a soft, velvety texture Juniper had always loved.

The owner seemed to remember him, largely because her daughter used to have a massive crush on him. She couldn't help but speak up. "Oh, it's you! Nelson, you're back?"

Seeing a familiar face softened Nelson's eyes slightly, and he gave a curt "Yeah."

The owner sighed as she ladled the broth. "My daughter used to chase after you back then. One look at you and I told her to give it up. I said with your looks, there was no way she could catch you. Later on, she came home gossiping, saying some girl at your school was completely obsessed with you, but she ended up getting bullied by everyone. People were saying horrible things about her."