Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Elsie’s eyes lit up. I need to make the most of this ginseng! She wiped away her tears with the back of her hand, stepped forward, and positioned herself sweetly in front of Jackson.
“Mr. Jackson,” she said softly, “Paul told me you’ve been under the weather lately. I traveled halfway across the country and finally managed to buy this wild hundred-year-old ginseng from a farmer. If it can help restore your health, it would be the greatest honor for the ginseng-and for me.”
When she finished, Jackson kept his smile, but his expression noticeably stiffened.
“The Saunders family and Powell family must be real close. Even the old man’s health issues made it to her ears…”
“I heard the two families go way back-generations of close ties.”
‘s Crying Again
The way people looked at Elsie changed. They figured if she could, she must be worth cultivating. Connections like that were valuable.
Send Gifts
What Blue sincerely wanted today was Jackson’s birthday, and the Powell family’s West End presence, saving face. They disliked her; they couldn’t afford to show their hatred publicly.
Sure enough, Backson gave a nod of acknowledgment before Linda offered him tea. As they passed each other, Lauda glanced at Elsie. At that moment, Elsie had truly stolen Taylor’s thunder. Taylor’s face remained blank, but Elsie took the chance, while ** was watching, to lean in and whisper, “Beyler, even Mr. Jakt isn’t holding it against me anymore, so you shouldn’t either. Otherwise, the only one who will look bad is you.”
She looked up, eyes locked on Taylor’s with a challenging gaze. She knew Taylor had a temper; she wouldn’t be able to resist the provocation. Sure enough, Taylor’s eyes darkened, and she lost control for a moment, raising her hand.
This was what Elsie had been waiting for. If Beylor dared to strike her, she’d immediately fall to the ground; but then, Taylor would be stuck with the label of a jealous, spiteful woman. That was precisely how she had destroyed Yunice back then. Prejudice is a stain you can’t wash out; when people get the wrong idea, the truth doesn’t stand a chance. How do you argue with a story they’re predisposed to believe?
“Was this ginseng acquired properly?”
Just as Mr. Plate was about to take a sip, a voice rang out from the second floor. Taylor immediately stopped, her aggression subsiding. Like the others, she looked up toward the railing.
There, a young girl in a princess dress, calm and serene, smiled down at the crowd. She turned and began walking toward them. As she passed the landing, the Powell family realized she was the one who had thrown the vase from upstairs earlier. The latter had come up to a halt; her lat was pinned down by one of Wyatt’s bald bodyguards.
Your made her way down the stairs with grace and poise, stepping into full view.
Back when she and Lily had been sent back to the Saunders family, dressed racy like beccar, Yunice had been wearing a pristine white princess dress just like this. No one could have known how bitter she felt back then, covering the clean, radiant Yunice who looked like a blooming gardenia. She stood across from her. The very first moment she saw Yunice, Elsie had vowed to tear every one of those dresses to shreds with her own hands.
For years, she thought she’d succeeded. Ever since Yunice returned from the asylum, she’d only worn cheap street clothes. Elsie hadn’t thought much of it-until now. That same old bitterness came rushing back.
Why did Yunice get to live better than me?
“Yunny, what are you doing here?” Owen stepped in front of Yunice, frowning as he whispered. “Mr. Jackson still doesn’t like you being around Wyatt. Don’t ruin the mood on such a happy day. Go back inside.”
Elsie’s presence was treated as an honor, while hers was seen as nothing but a disruption.
Yunice paused, her lips curving. “I’m here to wish my father-in-law a happy birthday-how is that ruining the mood!”
“What-” Owen’s face turned awkward as he glanced at Jackson. Only then did he remember that Yunice no longer shared the same generation as him.
She brushed past Owen’s shoulder, not sparing him a second glance. Today was a special day; everyone would be on their best behavior. Anyone who started a fight would be the one under fire. The more cautious they were, the more room she had to maneuver.
Yunice circled the century-old ginseng. Taylor, looking thoughtful, asked, “Ms. Saunders, do you have thoughts about this ginseng? Just now, it sounded like you said it wasn’t obtained properly.”
Yunice smiled. “It just looks familiar.”
Elsie clenched her fingers but kept her expression calm. Yunice turned to Owen and smiled again. “Mr. Owen, don’t you think this ginseng looks familiar too?”
Owen didn’t respond right away. His eyes stayed on the ginseng. The moment he saw it, he’d already thought of the one Quinton had gifted them. But that one had already been returned; there was no way it was this one. He had no idea what Yunice was implying-he just knew she was stirring up trouble.
“That’s quite a layman’s take, Mr. Owen,” Yunice replied. “How could all ginseng look the same? You’re human; Elsie is human too. Are the two of you identical?”
Owen frowned, warning her. He had told her before-never call Elsie by her real name in public! Fortunately, few people present even knew who Elsie was, so no one really paid attention.
Yunice ignored the warning and continued. “Just like people, every piece of ginseng has its own identity. Even if its label is removed, it will still prove its worth.”
Owen understood the implication in Yunice’s words all too well. Afraid she might expose the identity swap between her and Elsie in front of everyone, he took two steps forward, trying to drag Yunice away.
“Are you having another episode? Come on, come back with me; I’ll give you your medicine.”
Yunice pondered. Trying to say I am mentally ill again? That everything I said was nonsense?
Yunice shook off Owen’s hand and said loudly, “So eager to get rid of me-what, Mr. Owen, are you hoping Mr. Jackson dies from poison?”
With a sharp sound, Jackson set his teacup down, eyes dark as he glared at Yunice. Bringing up death at a birthday banquet-was she tired of living?
Owen stared at her, eyes wide and throat dry. “You really must be losing it.”
Yunice didn’t flinch. “Go ahead and eat that ginseng. One bite, and you’ll never say another word.”
Jackson, always suspicious by nature, was furious at first-but now he was curious. What was wrong with the ginseng?
Linda asked, “Is there something wrong with it?”
“There’s a big problem,” Yunice replied, then turned to Elsie. “Was it Paul who told you that Mr. Jackson’s been unwell lately?”
Elsie didn’t know what Yunice was getting at, but she wasn’t going to miss a chance to make herself look good. “Yes. Paul and I grew up together; he tells me everything. Not long ago, he confided in me-he said he was worried about Mr. Jackson’s health. So I traveled far and wide to find this century-old ginseng deep in the mountains myself.”
With every word Elsie spoke, Taylor’s expression darkened. Elsie played up the childhood bond between her and Paul like they were soulmates, making Taylor look like the third wheel.
Carl and Freya watched the drama unfold from a distance.
Freya scoffed. “That shameless white lotus. She’s trampling all over the legitimate fianc?e and flaunting her affair like it’s a badge of honor.”
Yunice didn’t notice Carl watching. She’d led Elsie into her trap, and now she was calmly reeling her in.
“So Paul must’ve told you that Mr. Jackson is currently taking Veratrum. Which means you intentionally brought him ginseng, a known contradiction. You wanted to poison him, didn’t you?”
Elsie froze, instinctively protesting. “Sis, what are you talking about? Why would I ever want to poison Mr. Jackson?”
Yunice smiled. “Because he’s in your way. That’s why you want him gone.”
Others might not understand, but the Powell family knew exactly what she meant. Elsie had been using every trick in the book to claw her way into the family. There was no doubt she resented Jackson for standing in her way.
Jackson had never liked Elsie; now his face turned even grimmer.
Elsie’s mouth hung open in shock, eyes welling with tears. She cried out, pained, “Yunice, why are you accusing me like this?”
Owen jumped in to defend her, convinced Yunice was just stirring up trouble. “Elsie did all this out of kindness, and now you’re twisting it into something vile? Apologize to her right now, and I’ll let this go.”
“Mr. Owen,” Yunice said coolly, “you and she are both in the medical field. You know drug interactions better than I do. Are you part of this silent assassination too?”
Taylor chimed in, “Exactly. You’re both medical professionals. Your sister knows Mr. Jackson’s condition inside and out. Yet you still brought him a contradicting remedy. That’s not just careless-it’s malicious.”
Owen snapped, “Do you think century-old ginseng is easy to come by? Elsie meant well. So what if she made a mistake?”
Elsie started crying too. “I never wanted to hurt anyone. All I ever wanted was just a little respect. Is that so wrong?”
Hearing that made Owen’s heart ache. To him, Elsie was the real victim. He didn’t understand why everyone was always targeting her. She was only fighting for what she deserved!
Owen, full of righteous anger, declared, “If you all can’t appreciate it, then we won’t gift the ginseng at all!”
Yunice’s delicate hand landed on the ginseng gift box before Owen could take it back. She sneered, “Is it yours to take?”
Shamed in front of everyone, Owen’s face flushed crimson.
Yunice ignored him. Instead, she turned to Elsie, her smile full of ill intent. “You take it.”