Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
She’d do anything for Elsie. She’d forgotten, in that moment, that the person she was treating like an enemy was her child.
But Yunice had no time for sentiment. The gas concentration was rising fast; her time was running out.
She stared Lily down. “And don’t underestimate the resolve of someone with nothing left to lose.”
“I’ll protect Madam Melina no matter what. None of you can keep your mouths shut-then you might as well shut them forever.”
Yunice moved as if she were about to spark the lighter. Everyone screamed and ducked, ready to beg her for mercy if that’s what it would take.
“No one will say a word about any of this!”
Yunice finally looked at him. “Then swear all of you will take this secret to the grave-because if anyone talks, Elsie will never die in peace.”
The moment the words left her mouth, everyone’s face changed. They thought Yunice had gone too far-too cruel.
They all truly cared about Elsie; swearing something like that felt like inviting a curse.
But Owen was thinking further ahead. He took the lead and swore, “Fine. If any of us breaks this promise, then… then Elsie won’t die a peaceful death.”
He naively believed no one would ever purposely reveal Yunice’s secret. So, to him, making a vow like that didn’t seem like a big deal. The moment he forced out the last word, Yunice finally threw him the key.
Owen rushed to unlock the door. Paul and Lily quickly grabbed Elsie and hurried out.
Yunice was the last to leave the study. On the staircase, from inhaling too much gas, Lily and Elsie clung weakly to the railing, barely able to stand.
Paul, breathing hard-having just escaped death-sneered as he aimed a jab at Yunice. “So, in the end, you got scared too. I don’t think you ever had the guts to kill anyone.”
Yunice smiled and said, “I’m legally insane. I can kill without punishment. Three years ago, I didn’t stab Elsie to death. Tell me-three years later, do you think I’d hesitate to stab you?”
Paul’s face darkened. “Your mental illness certificate is fake. One look at it and they’ll know.”
Yunice replied, “Then let’s wait until after you’re dead and your dad can investigate.”
Paul stared her down, for a second genuinely tempted to tackle her. She used to keep her head low around him, obedient and submissive. Who gave her the nerve to act so arrogant now? He rolled up his sleeves, eyes flashing with a heavy, silent threat. “Then let’s see who kills who first.”
Lily leaned against the stairs, eyes cold as she watched-like she was hoping Yunice would finally be taught a lesson.
Now that the gas had dispersed enough to not blow them all sky-high, Yunice’s threat no longer held power.
“Stop it!” Owen had just come back with outside help. He rushed in and forced the two apart.
Paul wasn’t ready to let it go. “She almost killed us in there! And you’re still letting her off easy?”
Owen kept his voice steady. “Yunice does deserve a reckoning. But I don’t want anyone else getting hurt.”
He glanced warily at Yunice. Her psychiatric file had been forged by him. If she really harmed Paul, that forged report would come back to haunt him.
Owen had never imagined the fake record he created would one day turn into the very chain shackling him.
She strutted down the stairs, unbothered, while everyone else glared at her like they wanted to tear her apart.
But everyone knew-fighting a mentally ill person, no matter who won or lost, only left them looking like fools. Because someone declared legally insane wasn’t responsible for their actions.
Only when she stood face-to-face with Owen again did Yunice finally speak. “I know an oath won’t really shut your mouths, but I swear-if anything happens to Madam Melina, Elsie won’t die peacefully.”
Elsie went pale. Lily snapped, “There are plenty of people who know what happened. Why are you only going after Elsie?”
Yunice smiled. “Because you all care about her. For her sake, I know you’ll go to any length to keep everyone else quiet.”
No one could argue with that. They just glared at her with eyes full of hatred.
Yunice kept that composed, calculated smile on her face, even though inside, it stung like a ton of bricks. These were the people she used to be closest to-now they all wanted her dead. And still, she couldn’t utter a single word of grievance. She could only stand here, banished to the other side.
She added, “Even if Madam Melina learns about Lauren, all I’m facing is a moral dilemma. But for you all? It’s Elsie’s life. So before you run your mouths, think hard about which matters more.”
Elsie’s hands trembled with rage. She’d finally gotten her hands on something to use against Yunice; she’d planned to use Madam Melina’s life as leverage-to make Yunice bend to her will. But now, that mental illness certificate had turned into Yunice’s shield.
But the road was long. Her mouth still worked. Did Yunice really think a threat would be enough to stop me?
When Yunice walked out of the Saunders mansion, not a single person tried to stop her.
It wasn’t until she was halfway down the street that Owen ran after her. “Your wedding with Wyatt is almost here. Oscar already got the message-he’ll be back soon. So behave yourself until then. Don’t go running off. You won’t be able to get away with anything once he’s here.”
Yunice ignored him and walked straight out the gate. She could feel eyes burning into her back. Spinning around without warning, she caught sight of two heads ducking behind a wall.
Suspicious. Especially the greedy, conniving Drake family.
Yunice turned away again.
Silencing the Saunders family wasn’t enough. Oaths and threats might work temporarily-but they were just psychological weapons. In the end, they wouldn’t hold forever.
, New Trouble
Fortunately, the Drake couple didn’t notice her-Yunice’s clothes were far too plain for people like them, who had no interest in anyone poor and powerless.
After Yunice left, the Drakes still lingered near the Saunders estate.
Inside the living room, Owen stared at the wrecked room and drew in a long, heavy breath. In the end, he warned everyone, “For Elsie’s safety, no one is to mention Lauren again. We’re not going to provoke the Drakes or Melina-pretend none of this ever happened.”
Eyes red, Elsie said softly, “Owen…it’s all my fault. I dragged everyone into this…”
Owen replied, “There’s no such thing as dragging anyone down. Yunny’s family. We should’ve kept her secret safe.”
“…What?” Elsie bit her lip, stunned that Owen was still standing by Yunice.
Owen looked toward his destroyed study and said coldly, “Oscar’s due back any day now. Once he returns, he’ll deal with her.”
Elsie frowned. She wasn’t sure if Oscar’s return was a good thing or a bad one. Oscar was the eldest of the Saunders siblings. When Elsie married into the family, Oscar had just left to join a research program. The project was rigorous and highly confidential-he wouldn’t be allowed home for five years. All Elsie knew was that Oscar was stern and inflexible. Given that he’d spent more time with Yunice than anyone else, would his return make things harder for her?
Just then, Paul got a phone call-he had to leave. Elsie walked him out, only to find a red Mercedes G-Class parked outside the Saunders estate.
Taylor leaned against the door, one hand hooked on the handle. She swung her long legs down from the car, her red lips and tailored coat glowing against her dark curls-a radiant, commanding presence.
Elsie clung to Paul’s arm and whispered, “Paul…is Ms. Taylor here to seduce you?”
Paul’s brow furrowed, his voice cold, “Taylor, quit wasting your time. I’ll never be into you.”
Taylor snorted, raising an eyebrow. “You think I like you? I go for men with presence, courage, broad shoulders, a tapered waist, and long legs. You know-Wyatt Cooper types.” She gave Paul an obvious once-over, her gaze dripping with scorn. “You have any of that?”
Of all people, she had to name Wyatt. Paul clenched his fist. But no matter how angry he got, Taylor had both the Kendall and Powell families behind her.
Taylor pointed her chin toward the car. “Get in. Mr. Jackson’s waiting.” She tossed a look Elsie’s way before opening the car door and climbing in.
Elsie shrank behind Paul; just one glance from Taylor made her fingers ache. But this time, Paul didn’t comfort her. “Go back inside, Elsie. I need to deal with Taylor.”
Elsie froze, watching Paul get in the car with her. They chatted easily in the car for a while, and then it drove off, washing from her sight.
Inside, Paul buckled his seatbelt while jabbing at Taylor, “How’d you know I was at the Saunders place? Were you following me?”
“Please.” Taylor laughed. “You’re not that hard to figure out. I don’t need to follow you.”
Paul gave her a sidelong glance, tapping the window with his fingers.