Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Joe replied quickly: “Thank you.” Just then, Owen and Elsie came down the stairs. Owen spoke in a low voice to her, “Don’t go to the hospital for now; it’ll look bad.” He’d spent another chunk of money to temporarily pacify that family, but there was no telling if it would be enough next time. Unless Elsie got her medical license, she really couldn’t keep using patients to practice.
Elsie pouted. “But what about my internship, Owen? Am I supposed to delay graduation now?”
Owen reassured her. “Just treat it as a break. Focus on getting things settled with Paul. Once you’re part of the Powell family, their resources will be yours to use-graduating will be a breeze.”
Hearing that, Elsie brightened again. Owen sighed with relief. “Thank God Yunice still holds some leverage with Mr. Jackson, otherwise, I wouldn’t have had a way to cover for you.”
The thought of marrying into the Powell family and rising above the entire Saunders clan made Elsie so giddy she clung to Owen’s arm and beamed, “You’re the best, Owen. I wouldn’t have known what to do without your help.”
Owen looked at her fondly. “You were smart enough to act when it mattered. If you hadn’t taken that step with Paul, he wouldn’t have committed so soon.”
They walked through the living room without even noticing Yunice standing silently in the tea room. She lowered her gaze and quietly set her glass down. Owen’s words were like a dull blade, slicing through her chest. When she and Paul had been caught, Owen hadn’t said anything like this. Her father had just passed, and she had only been seventeen.
At a Powell family banquet, Paul had shown up dressed to the nines-only for someone to spot the love bites on his neck. Everyone had laughed and joked about how passionate the young couple was; they’d called them a perfect match, full of youthful fire. It was only natural for things to happen. Jackson had smiled and called Yunice a good girl, but his gaze had shifted-like he thought she’d deliberately seduced Paul and exposed their affair. After that, the Powell family’s attitude toward her changed, and so did the Saunders family’s. Owen had made her kneel for three days at her father’s grave, demanding she repent for her shameful behavior. She could still see the disgust and fury on his face. But how, when the same thing happened with Elsie, he acted like a different man-full of praise.
“You were smart enough to act when it mattered. How could I have raised such a filthy sister! You’ve shamed me completely!” The same voice, the same mouth-yet such drastically different words. They echoed back and forth in Yunice’s mind, shredding the part of her heart she thought had already gone numb. Even after everything, it still hurt. She was angry at their bias; angry at the injustice of it all.
Yunice clenched the glass in her hand until her nails lost color from the pressure. Only after forcing herself to calm down did she return to her room-where she picked up that pink cashmere scarf…
Yunice thought, “The next time I go to the Powell mansion, I will have to return the scarf.”
Elsie was prone to jealousy, and the way she had looked at this scarf earlier, it was as if she wanted to set it on fire. I had to be careful not to give Elsie the opportunity to damage it as she folded the scarf. Yunice noticed a fish at the end that reminded her of the fish in Jackson’s yard.
It was common knowledge that Jackson loved fish. The ones in his pond were specially bred Platinum Arowana, worth millions each. If the scarf had a fish embroidered on it, could it really belong to Mr. Jackson?
After some thought, Yunice still couldn’t decide where to put the scarf. It was too big and too conspicuous. I had no privacy in the Saunders mansion, and Giana often rummaged through my things…
With that in mind, Yunice simply wrapped the scarf around her neck again. Keeping it with me was the safest option. Her cell phone buzzed against her lower back. Yunice hopped off the stool and checked her phone, turning her back to the surveillance camera.
Another message from Joe: “Ms. Saunders, can you come to the hospital? I’m begging you!”
Bale had been a doctor for too long; why was he always telling things halfway? He didn’t explain what was wrong or what he wanted me to do; he just asked me to go to the hospital.
After a moment’s hesitation, Yunice decided to go. I had nothing else to do, and Bale had helped me before. This could be a way of returning the favor. Gathering her things and adjusting her scarf, Yunice left the Saunders mansion and hailed a cab.
“Silverburgh Hospital,” she said as she got in.
The driver grunted in acknowledgement, locked the doors, and began to drive. Yunice noticed something odd-the driver hadn’t turned on the meter. She looked at him suspiciously and reminded him, “Sir, you forgot to start the meter.”
The driver let out an “Oh” and fumbled with the device. Yunice frowned. “Are you new to this job?”
The driver turned his head and grinned. “Yeah, just started a few days ago. Still getting the hang of it. Please stay seated.”
Only then did Yunice release her grip on the door handle. Half an hour later, the cab pulled up near the hospital.
Yunice paid the driver a hundred-dollar bill and got out.
“Ugh!”
The moment her feet hit the ground, a bag was thrown over her head. Before she could make a sound, a hand was clamped over her mouth, and she was shoved into another car!
Back at the Saunders mansion, it was business as usual. It wasn’t until dinner that Owen realized Yunice wasn’t home. He put down his tableware in a huff.
Lily reassured him, “Yunice probably has her own friends. Maybe she lost track of time while she was having fun.”
Owen scowled. “I hope they’re not some shady characters, or I’ll break their legs.” Then he turned to Elsie. “Did you finish discussing it with Paul?”
Elsie blushed and nodded. “We agreed to go to the City Hall tomorrow.”
Owen smiled approvingly. “You’re always so reliable. Unlike Yunice, who never did anything to my satisfaction.”
That night, no one noticed that Yunice hadn’t come home. The next morning, Elsie dressed carefully and went downstairs. Lily stood at the foot of the stairs, her eyes filled with admiration. In her heart, Elsie was her greatest masterpiece.
“Mom,” Elsie said shyly.
Lily’s eyes reddened as she adjusted Elsie’s white blouse collar, her voice choked with emotion. “The thought of you going to another family… I can’t bear it.”
Owen teased, “Mom, Elsie will have a good life with the Powells. It’s a happy occasion.”
Elsie looked around and asked, “Where’s Yunice? Is she upset that I’m getting married?”
Only then did the others realize that someone was missing. But Owen quickly shrugged it off. “It’s better if she doesn’t come. Less chance of her causing trouble. I’ll make sure your marriage to Paul goes smoothly.”
Elsie smiled sweetly and nodded.
At the City Hall, Paul absentmindedly flipped through the household register in his hands. This was Owen’s idea to steal the register and marry Elsie without the Powell family’s consent. By the time his father and grandfather found out, it would be too late for them to object.
Paul hadn’t slept all night. He didn’t know why he was so restless. Marrying Elsie had always been my ultimate “goal,” hadn’t it?
While he was lost in thought, Elsie and the others approached. Elsie twisted her fingers shyly and stole glances at Paul.
Owen chuckled at his sister’s innocence and patted Paul on the back. “I’m entrusting Elsie to you. If I find out you’ve mistreated her, I won’t let you off the hook!”
Lily beamed. “Go on, it’s your turn now.”
Elsie happily pulled Paul’s hand as they stood in line for the marriage license. Paul’s gaze, however, drifted past the three people behind them: Yunice wasn’t there. Aside from Oscar, who was still out of the country, Yunice was the only one of the Saunders family missing. Why hadn’t she come? Did she still have feelings for me? Was that why she couldn’t bear to see me and Elsie married? Paul’s thoughts spun around before he turned his attention back to Elsie.
For today’s official photo, Elsie had applied light makeup and looked especially pure and beautiful. Paul still felt his heart flutter when he looked at her. He calmed himself. There was no point in dwelling on the past with Yunice. After all, he could never marry her.
Soon it was their turn. Hand in hand, they smiled and handed over their household registries and IDs. But the clerk pushed the documents back and said matter-of-factly, “The groom isn’t twenty-two yet. I can’t process this.”
“What?” Elsie and Paul exclaimed in unison.
The clerk raised an eyebrow. “The groom has to be at least twenty-two, and the bride has to be at least twenty. Don’t you know the basics?”
Elsie panicked. “But he’ll be twenty-two in six months! Can’t you make an exception?”
The clerk was firm. “Not even one day short.”
Elsie refused to give up. “Please, Miss, can’t you bend the rules just this once?”
“This isn’t my personal business. What do you expect me to do?” The clerk rolled her eyes and motioned for them to step aside so the next couple could proceed.
The rejection filled Elsie with unease. She tugged pitifully at Paul’s sleeve. “Paul, say something…”
Unlike her, Paul wasn’t too upset. He chuckled. “It’s all right. We’ll just wait six months. It’s not like I’m going anywhere.”
“But…” Seeing how casually Paul took it, Elsie became even more anxious. Her voice trembled. “Don’t you… really want to marry me?”
Paul found this amusing. “If I didn’t, why would I have stolen the household register?”
Elsie’s eyes welled up. “I gave myself to you… Are you saying you don’t want to take responsibility now!”
Paul sighed and tried to calm her down. “It’s not that I don’t want to. The law won’t let me.”
Paul fell silent. I had to admit, when the clerk had turned me down, a part of me had felt… relieved. I love Elsie, but I’m still young. I’m not ready to be tied down by marriage.
When Elsie saw his hesitation, she knew she’d hit the mark. She complained, “You didn’t talk like that when we made love…”
Paul was taken aback by her persistence. Without thinking, he replied, “Wasn’t it you who slept with me?”
Elsie’s face flushed. “Th-That’s not the point! Anyway, I’m the one at a disadvantage here. Shouldn’t you compensate me?”