Silent Daughter 1: Taken Read Free Page A

unpretentious and hard-working, a smart man living in a world of fools. We share a mutual respect for each other.
    But this young bunch of spoiled little brats is of no use to me. I don't care for socializing with them, and I am sure there are more interesting people at this event that Will could introduce me to.
    I am only pretending to listen, nodding here and there while my eyes discretely wander off to our surroundings. It is unusually warm and the weather is just as picture perfect as most of today's attendees’ getups. Naturally, the garden is filling up with more people wanting to enjoy the late afternoon’s sun, but I don't recognize a single one of them.
    I am just about to turn my head back to the group when I see her.
    A surreal fairy-like beauty who stands alone, secluded from any group.
    She is standing at the other end of the terrace, holding on to her glass of champagne for dear life as she absentmindedly stares out into the garden. Young, early twenties. She is wearing a chiffon dress that ends just above her slim knees. Just like every woman here, she opted for a light pastel color, but hers is gray, giving her a less flowery look than the other girls at this event. Her long and dark brown hair falls over her fragile shoulders in lusty waves and is only kept in place by a slim, silver hairband. Her pale skin almost blinds me as the sunlight hits it, and that face... that fucking face.
    Fuck.
    I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something about her. Something very... wrong. Deliciously wrong. 
    I don't understand how it is that she is standing over there by herself with no one even perceiving her existence but me. A surreal, delicate fairy with that captivating beauty.
    My cock is twitching as all the wrong thoughts race through my head...
    My gaze stayed on her for too long and Will, of all people, notices. He leans forward, stretching next to me to see what or who is stealing my attention for so long. Soon, all the other faces in our group follow him as well.
    I take my eyes off of her and turn back to the group, trying not to give even the slightest clue about what had kept me so occupied.
    I hear Pete's fiancée sighing next to him.
    "Is she being awkward again?" she whispers.
    "Who?" Will asks innocentl y — and too loudly. Sandria rolls her eyes at him, suggesting that most people in our circle were not supposed to be aware of their exchange.
    "Elizabeth," the blonde, Lucia, says. "Our little sister."
    I gulp at that revelation but try not to let it show too much.
    "Oh, I don't think I have met her?" Will adds.
    "That's her over there," Sandria says, nodding towards the brunette beauty. "She is a bit... special. She doesn't socialize well. You don't need to talk to her.”
    "Sandria...," Pete hisses. "Don't you think we should introduce her?"
    Sandria casts him an annoyed look, but nods. "Yes, darling."
    "And she's just standing there, all by herself," Will adds. "We really should call her over. Family shouldn't be left by themselves."
    The two sisters exchange a look, but eventually Sandria frees herself from Pete's arm and scurries over to the dark-haired beauty, who had just turned her narrow back to us.
    My eyes follow her as she reaches the girl and taps her on the shoulder, her motion distant like that of a stranger. She says something to her, but I don't see the girl respond anything. Instead, she just nods and follows her sister as they return to our little group.

Chapter 3

    LEONARD
     
    "Elizabeth, my father-in-law to be, Mr. William Bishop," Sandria introduces. "William, my younger sister, Elizabeth."
    "A pleasure to meet you, young lady," Will exclaims as he reaches out to shake her hand. "It's so good to finally meet all of my daughter-in-law's family."
    She doesn't speak but gives a slight nod as she shakes his hand. Now that she is standing close to her sisters, I notice a faint resemblance between them. All three of them display the same delicate nose and full lips, topped