He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 360

Juniper's ears had been destroyed precisely because of his obsession with pride.

Right now, Walter lay with his eyes squeezed shut, every muscle in his body pulled taut, as if he were entirely deaf to the outside world, trapped in the prison of his own despair.

The specialists meticulously analyzed his vitals and injected several rounds of medication.

Walter continued to tremble. His eyes snapped open, wildly scanning the room until they locked onto Juniper. His bloodshot eyes stared at her with terrifying intensity.

A specialist frowned, looking confused. "Ms. Lane, it seems your father has something he wants to say to you."

Juniper bypassed the doctors and stepped up to the bed. "Dad?"

Summoning every ounce of his remaining strength, Walter lunged and clamped his hand around her wrist. His grip was bone-crushing. He clearly wanted to speak, but just holding her hand had drained his life force. His mouth opened and closed as he let out a series of hollow gasps, before violently coughing up another mouthful of blood.

The specialists immediately ordered Juniper out of the room. They needed to perform emergency resuscitation and get him on a ventilator.

Juniper sat in the hallway, pressing her hands against her forehead, the bones in her wrists protruding tightly.

Two hours later, the specialists emerged one by one.

"His condition had been improving, but it took a catastrophic dive today. Ms. Lane, your father seems to have a severe psychological block. I suggest you visit more frequently and talk to him."

Juniper opened her mouth to speak but found no words. She desperately wanted to storm into that room, grab Walter by the collar, and scream at him, "Is your pride really that important?! More important than your own life?! Why can't you just let it go?! So what if people laugh at you? It's not like it's going to kill you!"

But she was terrified. She was terrified that saying such things would be the final, fatal blow to the man who was still legally her father.

She was terrified of repeating the nightmare with her mother—how Beatrice had died right after Juniper had spoken her mind.

A suffocating weight settled on her chest, and she slowly slumped back into the chair.

She hadn't visited the hospital much lately, split between managing the auction house and setting up her new studio.

Every memory she had of Walter was laced with humiliation and grievance.

She remembered a time Walter had won some money playing cards. Wanting to look like a big shot, he handed out five-dollar bills to all the neighborhood kids.

The kids cheered, and their parents praised Walter's generosity. But when it was Juniper's turn, Walter deliberately tossed the money onto the dirt. "Money, money, money! That's all you know! Going to school costs me a fortune. Raising a daughter is just throwing cash down a bottomless pit."

The surrounding adults roared with laughter. "Oh, you know how girls are! They always cost more than boys."

"Walter, you're a good dad. You really spoil them!"

Surrounded by their praise, Walter's face had glowed with absolute satisfaction.

While they laughed, Juniper knelt in the dirt and picked up the bill.

Her eyes were red, but seeing everyone laughing, she felt her own hurt was just petty and ungrateful. She clutched the money and ran off to hide and cry. She didn't even know why she was crying back then. She was too young to understand; she just knew she felt a crushing, burning shame.