The Day Silence Spoke novel Chapter 64

Her bold proclamations, her dreams, her hopes for the future—they all seemed like a joke now.

Nikita knocked on the door. “Dad.”

Hadrian looked up at her, his exhaustion and disappointment unconcealed. “You should be in your room. What do you want?”

“I can agree to a strategic marriage,” Nikita said.

Hadrian stared, looking at her in disbelief as if he’d misheard. “What did you say?”

Nikita paused, her voice slightly hoarse. “It’s the only way to resolve the Stafford family’s current crisis and save our stock prices.”

Hadrian’s mouth opened and closed, his expression shifting rapidly. Before, when he had pushed her to marry, it was because he wanted a stable and secure future for her. She had fought him, talking about her ambitions, the meaning of life, her dreams of adventure.

Now, she was proposing it herself. While it was unexpected, it wasn't what Hadrian wanted. He had never intended to trade his daughter’s happiness for profit.

“When are you going to stop this foolishness? Go back to your room!”

But Nikita didn’t move. “I’m not being foolish. This is the fastest way out of this mess. Dad, please agree to it!”

Hadrian slammed his hand on the desk, shooting to his feet. “How many times do I have to tell you? Get out! I, Hadrian Stafford, am not so desperate that I have to sell my own daughter!”

Before, a marriage alliance would have been between equals. Now, it would be a negotiation, a transaction. How could Nikita possibly be happy in a marriage like that?

Nikita looked at her father’s furious face, but instead of her usual defiance, she felt a dull ache in her chest. She realized now that she had misunderstood him all this time.

Her dream of flying had finally been dragged back to solid ground by reality. The wings she’d been so eager to spread had been broken in the storm.

Nikita backed out of the study and returned to her room.

A knock came from the front door. Not the doorbell, a knock. Latisha froze, listening intently.

It came again.

She stood up and went to the door. When she saw the man standing outside, her first instinct was to slam it shut.

But he was too fast, his hand catching the doorframe. “Don’t be alarmed, Latisha. Polly sent me to pick you up.”

The man was beautiful. Yes, beautiful was the right word, though he was unmistakably male. Latisha couldn’t quite describe his features; it was as if his face were a masterpiece, each part perfectly placed. He had a classical, almost ethereal beauty.

He wore a dark red silk suit and his long hair was tied back. He stood before her with a smile on his lips, but it was a smile that didn't reach his eyes.

He was Renata’s husband—Santino Pearce.