He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 42

The voices of the men faded away; it seemed they had moved to another room.

She breathed a sigh of relief and slipped into the intricate dress. When she pulled the curtain back, she saw Nelson standing outside all alone.

The shop was tiny. Aside from the curtained changing area, the rest of the space was packed with hanging garments.

The room could hold four or five people at most, but because it was cluttered with small accessories, Nelson was forced to stand right by the door.

He leaned against the doorframe, a lit cigarette already between his fingers.

His gaze shifted over. When he saw her in the outfit, his eyes flickered with a subtle, unreadable emotion before he looked away. "I told you to put it on and you actually did. Why aren't you this obedient any other time?"

The traditional garments came in red and black. Juniper was currently wearing the red set.

Hearing his mocking tone, she angrily gripped the fabric of the curtain.

"Nelson, don't push it."

She didn't seem to know how to curse. At least, Nelson had never heard her swear.

Well, if calling him a piece of trash counted, then maybe he had.

He let out a cold scoff. "You used to say that once you made some money, you'd stay as far away from that family as possible. But Macy told me you've been wiring all your earnings back home, living like a beggar on the streets, while Brooks managed to buy a house in the city. Juniper, it's been four years and you haven't grown at all. If anything, you're worse off than before."

Juniper stood there, her slender frame completely silent.

She swallowed hard. In truth, there were a million things she wanted to say.

But where would she even begin?

She was the one drowning in this toxic mud, while outsiders stood safely on the edge, telling her to just climb out—as if climbing out would magically fix everything.

No one understood that for a girl born into her circumstances, the biggest obstacle to moving up in the world wasn't society; it was family.

They stood in suffocating silence for a full minute before Nelson impatiently looked away.

Just then, Martha Weaver walked in from outside. Seeing Nelson smoking, she scowled. "Put that out. My merchandise can't handle a fire."

He obediently crushed the cigarette. Martha immediately lit up with praise. "Oh my, this outfit looks absolutely stunning on you. If you were my model, these traditional garments would definitely go viral online."

Juniper offered a soft smile, looking down at the sea of red fabric. "It's beautiful."

As soon as she spoke, the officials returned. Seeing Juniper in the dress, they showered her with compliments. "Ms. Lane looks fantastic! Why don't we snap a promo photo for Martha? Grab that woven bamboo basket next to you. Both are cultural heritage items. It's a perfect match."

Nelson glanced over and casually picked up the bamboo flower basket, holding it out to Juniper.

Martha, wearing a similar traditional outfit but in black, covered her mouth and giggled. "In the old days, bamboo baskets were everyday items. If a man fancied a woman, he would give her a woven basket."

Nelson's hand froze for a split second before he shoved the basket directly into Juniper's arms. "Hold it."