The Day Silence Spoke novel Chapter 26

Nikita stood frozen, choking on a rage she couldn't release.

"Latisha, come here," Clifford said suddenly.

Nikita whipped her head around and glared at Latisha. "Don't you dare go to him."

Latisha stood trapped between them, lost and helpless. Seeing the ice in Clifford’s eyes, she slowly started to move toward him.

But Nikita grabbed her arm, stopping her. "It’s already come to this. Why would you go back to him? Make him choose, right here, in front of everyone. Either he divorces you, or he breaks it off with that woman. Have some damn self-respect!"

Latisha bit her lip and looked at Clifford. His face was a stoic mask, but his eyes were locked on her, demanding obedience.

Killian’s patience finally snapped. "Nikita, can you just stop it?" he hissed. "This is their business. What does it have to do with you?"

"Latisha is my friend, so her business is my business! I'm seeing this through. They need to get a divorce, today—"

"That's enough!"

“Smack.”

The sharp sound of a slap echoed through the office, plunging the room into dead silence.

Killian had put all his strength into it. A bright red handprint was already forming on Nikita’s cheek. She stared at him in disbelief, while his own eyes blazed with a mixture of fury, guilt, and something unreadable.

Latisha looked on in shock. A moment later, she pulled her arm free from Nikita’s grasp.

Nikita fell silent, watching as Latisha walked away from her.

Latisha walked toward the door, stopping in front of Clifford. She looked up at him, then at Yesenia, who was clinging to his arm as if her life depended on it.

A bitter smile touched Latisha's lips. They were a perfect match. She was the one who didn't belong.

Without another glance, she walked past them both and out the door.

Killian dragged Nikita away as well. As they passed Clifford, Nikita sneered, "Clifford, I hope you don't live to regret this."

"Miss, this is the last stop."

Latisha snapped out of her daze. She nodded her thanks to the driver and stepped off the bus.

She found herself in an older district, with buildings no more than eight or nine stories high. People hurried past under umbrellas, caught up in their own busy lives.

Her hair was dotted with raindrops. After walking for a while, she stopped in front of a small diner. It was only a little after four in the afternoon, so the place was quiet. The owner saw her standing outside, looking lost and disheveled, and motioned for her to come in.

Latisha gestured that she was fine, but the owner must have thought she didn't have any money.

"Come on in," he said kindly. "It's on the house."

He placed a steaming bowl of hearty beef stew in front of her. She looked up at his kind, gentle smile, and her lips trembled. Finally, the tears she'd been holding back began to fall.

A complete stranger could offer her more warmth than the person who was supposed to be her closest family, the one who had stabbed her in the heart again and again.