He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 78

Lydia reached out and tugged on Nelson's arm. He probably hadn't even realized how dark his expression was.

Or rather, it wasn't dark—it was like a cornered beast.

A beast that was still trying to lock onto its prey, to toy with its prey.

Lydia's tone was gentle. "Nelson, don't always be so mean to Juniper."

Her arrival instantly dissolved the unhinged aura radiating from him, shifting him back into his usual careless posture.

"Before you lecture me, why don't you look at how ungrateful she is."

Lydia maintained her graceful, understanding facade. "Juniper, if you have somewhere to be, go ahead. Nelson and I are heading to St. Jude's Academy to pick up Josie, so we won't keep you."

These two psychos. Juniper absolutely did not want to deal with them.

Thank God. She immediately started to leave, but Lydia's voice rang out again. "By the way, my mom has been meaning to see you."

Nelson asked her, "Why does your mom want to see her?"

"You know how she is. Ever since she sponsored Juniper, she's felt this lingering sense of responsibility and has always wanted to meet up, but never found the chance. Lately, she's been bringing it up again. Running into Juniper here is perfect; I can set something up and fulfill my mom's wish."

She spoke softly, her eyes full of warmth. "Juniper, you have my number. Just text me when you're free, alright?"

The underground garage was empty, amplifying the echoes.

The three of them stood there in what felt like a standoff.

Juniper hid her hands behind her back, quietly curling her fingers. She did have Lydia's number. Lydia had added her halfway through the year Nelson was studying abroad.

Before that, she had never been able to hold a conversation with a wealthy heiress like Lydia.

The first thing Lydia had ever texted her was:

[Nelson went way too far this time. How could he use another girl as an experiment for dating? Juniper, I've already scolded him for it. Please don't be mad at him, okay?]

By then, Juniper was past the phase of frantically searching for him. She was numb.

But she still wanted news of him. She had clutched her phone, practically begging Lydia.

Nelson resting his hand on Lydia's stomach to soothe her cramps.

All the tender, gentle sides of Nelson were displayed on Lydia's feed.

Juniper would torture herself by looking at them, over and over again.

If social media apps tracked profile views, she was definitely Lydia's most frequent visitor.

This Nelson, who Juniper couldn't attain and couldn't let go of even at the cost of her dignity, had wholeheartedly loved Lydia all these years.

She questioned herself a hundred times a day—what had she done wrong for him to abandon her?

She even wondered if she was too boring in bed.

She asked herself that humiliating question repeatedly.

She loved Nelson. She loved him enough to trample her own dignity into the dirt. She would do anything just to see him one more time.

In her early twenties, Juniper would have even risked her life for him.