He Gave Me Hearing, Then Taught Me What Silence Really Means novel Chapter 8

Over the past two years, Juniper had actually earned a very decent salary. She shared an apartment with Yara and aggressively kept her monthly expenses under a few hundred dollars. She ruthlessly saved every remaining penny until she finally handed the Thorne Family a lump sum of nearly fifty thousand dollars, sending whatever was left back to her parents.

She had lived on absolute pennies to make it happen.

The moment she finally paid off the Thorne Family's debt, she had exhaled a breath she felt she had been holding for years. It felt as if her spine, bent under the crushing weight of obligation for so long, could finally straighten.

Otherwise, she would forever remain utterly defenseless in Lydia's presence.

One was the destitute charity case; the other was the untouchable heiress of the family who sponsored her.

They were worlds apart.

"This inexplicable pride of yours is only going to make your life miserable. Besides, just because you paid off a debt doesn't erase the reality of who we are, does it? Just like those four broken shards in your hand. You only get to pick them up because I threw them away. If I wanted them, you could bash your head against the floor begging, and I still wouldn't give them to you."

Caleb realized Juniper was shutting down and quickly stepped in to redirect the conversation. "Ms. Thorne, if you ever need anything else in the future, please don't hesitate to reach out. Since the delivery is finalized, I'll be taking Juniper back to the office now. She was running a fever last night and needs to rest."

Lydia smiled pleasantly, acting as if she hadn't just delivered a calculated, venomous insult. "Of course. Juniper, do make sure you get some rest. Take care of yourself."

Juniper nodded, her face ghostly pale.

It wasn't until she followed Caleb out the front doors that the suffocating pressure bearing down on her chest finally began to lift.

The exterior of the property was an expansive, manicured estate that required a ten-minute walk just to navigate.

Their car was parked outside the main iron gates.

Caleb couldn't hold it in any longer. "Do you have bad blood with Nelson, or is it with Lydia? Whoever it is, neither of them seems to like you very much. From now on, you're off the Thorne Family accounts."

"Understood."

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