The Day Silence Spoke novel Chapter 233

Caught between her children and her own survival, Yolanda’s mind, in a moment of crisis, became unnervingly clear. She could still escape. If she ran now, she could make it out alive. If she stayed, they would all die here together, and there would be no one left to avenge them.

But the thought of watching her own children burn to death required a heart of stone. Yolanda took a deep breath, inhaling a mouthful of thick smoke that sent her into a violent coughing fit. She clenched her fists, her eyes flashing with a grim resolve, and turned to run.

“Mommy!”

“Mommy, save Esther… it hurts so much!”

Yolanda froze at the doorway, her body rigid. She turned back mechanically. Through the swirling smoke, she saw her two children, their faces streaked with tears, crying out for her, their small voices desperately appealing to the motherly love in her heart.

Yolanda gripped the doorframe, the searing heat blistering her hand, but she didn't feel a thing. “Mommy…”

“Mommy, are you leaving us…?”

Their voices grew faint, nearly drowned out by the roar of the flames.

Yolanda was torn between her selfishness and her love, a brutal internal battle. She was just one step away from freedom, one step from survival. But if she went back, she would never get out.

In that moment of absolute despair, she glanced down and saw something absurd lying on the ground by the door: two keys. They were like a beam of light from heaven, making the choice for her, vanquishing all rational thought. Without another moment of hesitation, Yolanda bent down, snatched the keys, and ran back into the inferno.

Meanwhile, Wallace was at his office, signing the last of the paperwork to transfer the shares into his name.

The fire on the mountain raged, the pillar of smoke visible for miles. People on the roads below paused to stare.

Latisha could only nod. By all accounts, she should have been happy, but she wasn’t. His behavior was too abnormal.

He reached out and stroked her cheek. “Good. As long as you’re happy.” He offered a small, unreadable smile.

Just then, his phone rang. He didn’t answer it immediately. Instead, he asked Latisha, “What do you want for dinner?”

Her eyes darted to the phone buzzing in his breast pocket. After a pause, she signed, *Anything is fine.*

“Alright, we’ll eat at home then,” Clifford said with another smile. Only then did he calmly take out his phone. Before he could speak, Renata’s anxious voice came through the receiver. “Clifford, where are you?”