He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 349

Alistair offered a faint smile. "Setting aside Lydia's actual character, she's undeniably one of the most prominent socialites of our generation. Her cruelty is entirely reserved for you and the people around you. To her peers, she's the golden standard. She attends every major gala, so it's not exactly shocking that men are drawn to her. Plus, she's beautiful, isn't she? Why do you think Margot Harrington adores her so much? It's not just because Lydia spent a few years living with the Harringtons when she was young. It's because the future heir of the Harrington family has a quiet crush on her. Unfortunately for him, Lydia married Nelson, so nothing ever came of it."

Juniper nodded. She had to admit, Lydia's devotion to Nelson was intense.

Out of all the powerful men at her feet, she had deliberately chosen the one with the most explosive temper.

Juniper withdrew her gaze, her mind churning as she plotted her next move. The wind off the river suddenly intensified. Despite it being July, the sudden drop in temperature carried a sharp chill.

Alistair took off his suit jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "Think about whether you want to ally with me. Let me know when you've decided."

Juniper gripped the edge of the jacket and gave a small nod.

Someone approached and asked Alistair for a quick chat. From their demeanor, they appeared to be fellow medical professionals.

Juniper didn't follow him, opting instead to step into the adjacent corridor.

A light drizzle began to fall outside. She sneezed, and just as she pulled the jacket tighter around herself, a strong arm clamped securely around her waist from behind.

She didn't even need to turn around to know exactly who it was. She offered a small, futile struggle.

Nelson dragged her forcefully toward a nearby elevator. The suit jacket slipped from her shoulders and hit the floor.

"Nelson!"

She twisted, trying to retrieve it, but he callously kicked it out of reach.

Juniper was so furious her temples throbbed.

The moment the elevator doors slid shut, he pinned her aggressively against the wall, his lips crashing down on hers.

Her scalp tingled with anxiety. The cruise ship was packed with guests. The elevator could stop at any floor, at any second, and someone would undoubtedly walk in.

He had been lurking in the shadows below, watching the two of them chat. He had no idea what they were discussing, but Juniper had looked entirely relaxed—a rare sight around him.

Nelson despised that face. It looked far too much like Cillian's. It forced him to recall everything that had happened, and merely thinking about it made his chest ache with a sickening, acidic burn.

He slammed her against the door, kissing her with manic desperation.

Juniper instinctively raised her hands to push him away, but the second her palms met his shoulders, he seized her wrists and forcefully wrapped them around his neck.

Her phone began to ring incessantly. Nelson seemed to know exactly who was calling. He reached into her pocket, pulled out the phone, powered it down, and carelessly tossed it aside.

The room devolved into a chaotic mess. Nelson suddenly realized that this time, unlike her previous attempts to disassociate, she wasn't keeping her eyes squeezed shut. She was looking at him.

She was actually looking at him...

The sheer realization sent a burning heat crashing through his veins. Right on cue, the fireworks began to detonate outside, illuminating the room through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows.