He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 37

That passing joke had faded into the wind, and Mrs. Saint couldn't even remember how she had playfully scolded him afterward.

But she had never forgotten the words Nelson had said.

And because she remembered, she warned him now. "Nelson, leave her alone. I think Juniper is much better suited to being your sister."

It wasn't that Mrs. Saint looked down on Juniper's background. She just understood Nelson's personality too well.

Nelson was excessively proud, and deep down, Juniper was incredibly proud too.

One was a pride forged from absolute privilege and elite status.

The other was a defensive pride forced to grow among thorns and hardship.

Pride like that grew sharp edges that left everyone bruised and bleeding.

Whether it was Nelson or Juniper, they were exactly the same.

They were never meant to be together.

"When did you see me mess with her? The city is full of brilliant socialites. Why would I fixate on some country girl? Do I look like a masochist?"

He hung up the phone abruptly.

Staring at her screen, Mrs. Saint felt as though the sheer fury radiating from Nelson could burn straight through the phone.

Nelson tossed his phone onto the passenger seat. After driving on the highway for hours through the night without a wink of sleep, his eyes were bloodshot.

His fingers gripped the steering wheel as he forced himself back into a state of utter indifference, looking as though he hadn't just lost his temper at all.

His phone rang again. This time it was his grandfather, Arthur. "Are you in Oakley?"

"Yeah."

"Perfect timing. There's a cultural tourism project opening up out there in partnership with the local government. The bidding starts next month. Since you and your grandmother spent some time there, my contacts gave me an early look at the dossier. Are you interested?"

Nelson pulled the car over, closing his eyes to ease the sting. "What's the estimated capital?"

"Three hundred million dollars."

His fingers tapped lightly against the steering wheel as he instantly grasped the strategy. "Are they aiming to promote intangible cultural heritage?"

Arthur smiled in approval. The boy was sharp. Over the past few years, there had been a massive push to protect fading traditions. Oakley had a large minority population with several cultural practices on the verge of dying out. Merging tourism with these traditions would offer visitors an immersive experience.

"Exactly. So scout the area while you're there. You know that region better than anyone else in the company."

Nelson leaned back and didn't argue. If it was a project Arthur found intriguing, its long-term potential was practically guaranteed.

After hanging up, he stared quietly out the windshield.

He sat parked for ten full minutes before messaging his assistant to fly out, then found a place to turn the car around.

Juniper was still in Oakley. Macy insisted on running home to grab some clothes for her mother, Mrs. Lucille, and dragged Juniper along.

"Juniper, I know you don't want to see your family. You can just wait for me by the main road."

Just walking the familiar path toward the town center made Juniper physically nauseous.

She was about to nod when a very familiar car drove past them.

It was Nelson's car. Juniper froze in her tracks.

Nelson acted as though he hadn't seen them at all. Keeping his hands perfectly still on the steering wheel, he withdrew his gaze and stepped hard on the gas.

Luxury cars of that caliber were incredibly rare in this rural town, and Macy eagerly stood on her tiptoes to stare at it.

"That wasn't Nelson the curse, was it? Is he seriously stalking us?"

Macy's heart raced with unease, her hands clenching at her sides.

Did Nelson actually want to get back together with Juniper?