He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 418

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Juniper stared at her earnestly for a full minute before finally sitting down beside her. "What do you think I should do?"

She was at a dead end. If she didn't leave, the truth behind the old lady's death would be buried forever. Moreover, she couldn't shake the feeling that there were other mysteries hidden within Blackwood Institute. The matron's body had never been found—what exactly had happened to her back then? Where had she seen Leo before, and why couldn't she remember? And why would Leo orchestrate such an elaborate trap to frame her? What was his endgame?

But if she left, the men Arthur sent wouldn't let her off the hook. She probably wouldn't live to see another sunrise.

She was utterly unwilling to accept it. She refused to let herself be pushed around like this forever.

Jasmine rolled over, resting her hands behind her head. The posture made her look incredibly relaxed. "I was diagnosed as a psychopath when I was fifteen. Do you know why?"

Juniper shook her head. Jasmine didn't seem crazy at all.

A faint smile touched Jasmine's lips. "Because I killed my dad. He was always beating me and my mom. Finn got beaten up a lot, too."

Those memories felt a bit distant now, yet recalling them brought an intense clarity. "He'd beat us half to death every single time. My mom loved him. Her favorite phrase was, 'Love can stop the pain,' so even after a beating, she'd still cook for him and wash his clothes. But Finn and I took longer to heal. We'd have to lie in bed for three days before we could even walk. I always felt that if I didn't fight back, I'd eventually be beaten to death by that man."

She opened her eyes, staring at the ceiling. "That night, he drank a lot again. He'd lost money gambling. He came back, took off his leather belt, and started whipping me. But mid-swing, he collapsed on the floor. Cursing and swearing, he tried to get back up. I reacted fast. I grabbed the knife from the table and shoved it straight into his throat. Oh, I was wearing gloves at the time, but Finn saw me. He was so terrified he ran outside and didn't come back all night."

"When the police questioned me, I told them he had threatened me with the knife, but because he was so drunk, he tripped and accidentally fell on it."