Chapter 170: The Cost of Silence-3
And with that, Eleonor walked away-Lee following closely behind-leaving Damien standing in the wake of her certainty, with nothing left to do but wait.
The city rolled past the tinted windows in a blur of muted color and motion.
Inside the vehicle, the air was calm-deliberately so.
Dahlia sat composed in the back seat, posture relaxed, gaze fixed ahead as if nothing at all
had been disrupted. Kim occupied the front passenger seat, focused on the road, her attention steady and forward.
Beside Dahlia, Maya sat still.
Too still.
Her phone rested in her hands, fingers wrapped a little too tightly. The screen remained dark, but she didn’t need to turn it on to know what waited there.
Missed calls. More than one.
She swallowed, her thumb hovering just above the glass, uncertainty flickering across her
face.
Had she gone too far?
A faint crease formed between her brows as she shifted in her seat, the earlier resolve now at odds with a creeping sense of guilt. Ignoring Damien’s call hadn’t been easy-it hadn’t been impulsive either-but with distance stretching between them, the silence felt heavier than she’d expected.
She exhaled slowly, forcing herself to breathe.
Beside her, Dahlia noticed.
She didn’t look over right away. She didn’t need to.
“Second thoughts?” Dahlia asked gently, her voice calm but perceptive.
Maya hesitated, then nodded once. “He’s probably worried,” she said quietly. “And mad.”
Dahlia finally turned, a knowing smile curving at the corner of her lips.
“Oh, absolutely,” she said lightly, but with certainty. A soft chuckle followed.
Chapter 170 The Cost of Silence 3
“A little consequence builds character-especially for men like him.”
Maya lowered her gaze to her phone again, fingers loosening slightly.
+25 Points
“Aunt Dahlia… maybe I went too far?” she asked softly, uncertainty threading through her
voice.
Dahlia reached over, resting a warm hand over hers. Her smile was gentle but firm.
“Sweetheart,” she said, “this is how tough love works. Damien’s actions hurt you. Creating space between you two isn’t pulling away-it’s giving yourself room to feel, to process, and giving him the chance to understand what he did. It’s a multi-stage process.”
She let her words settle for a moment before continuing, calm and deliberate.
“First, he’ll be angry. Frustrated. On edge, unsure-but pride and denial will make him think he’s still in control. As the silence stretches, he’ll realize he’s not. Panic, intimidation, frustration will follow. Slowly, pride clears, and realization hits. Remorse, guilt… maybe even fear. Only then does he begin to truly understand.”
Dahlia squeezed Maya’s hand lightly.
“So don’t be hard on yourself. Let’s enjoy our day-while my son sits somewhere, dealing with
his mistakes.”
She let out a soft, amused snort, shaking her head. “Trust me, I know him. He’s exactly like his father.”
Then, with a playful, sheepish grin, she added, “Too much pride, too much ego… they forget they can’t always win.”
Outside, the vehicle slipped into traffic, the estate fading behind them.
The silence between them stretched-not accidental, but chosen.
Maya exhaled, letting herself settle into the space she’d carved, doubt nibbling at the edges.
Behind them, in a house too quiet for control, Damien was beginning to feel the cost of
absence.
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.