Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
He looked Taylor straight in the eye. “You started it. You know exactly how you clawed your way into this marriage. You and I both owe Elsie. I’m just making it right. Who are you to cause a scene?”
Taylor let out a chilling laugh. “You want to talk about how I got here?”
“Paul, you cheated. Cheated. When we got engaged, did you ever tell me Elsie even existed?”
“It’s you who owe me, not the other way around!”
Taylor stared at the six-hundred-million gift list, then thought about her wedding-how Paul had walked out halfway…
This was beyond infuriating.
Seeing the look in Taylor’s eyes, like she was ready to strike back, Paul frowned. “If you want to run home crying to your dad, go ahead. At most, we’ll get divorced. That’ll finally let me and Elsie be together.”
Elsie’s heart practically exploded with joy. She wished Taylor would get mad enough to divorce him on the spot.
But Taylor just scoffed. “If you had the balls for that, you would’ve done it a long time ago.”
Taylor took two steps forward, closing in on Paul.
Seeing the clear slap mark on her face, Paul unconsciously backed up two steps.
Taylor’s fierce eyes locked on him. In the end, she said, “I’m not letting you get what you want.”
Paul’s throat moved. “Whether you like it or not doesn’t matter.”
He reached out to grab the contract in Taylor’s hand. “I’m giving all of this to Elsie.”
Taylor lifted her hand and tore the contract to shreds, right in front of him.
Paul glared at her.
Elsie was so angry she could’ve jumped up and punched Taylor herself. It’s not your money. What the hell are you getting all worked up about?
Taylor flung the shredded paper into the air, sneering. “Is it even your money to give?”
“Paul, have you done a single decent thing in all your years at the Powell family? Ever earned a dime? Do you think your grandfather knows whose card you’ve been swiping for that six hundred million?”
Paul growled, “Don’t try to throw Grandpa in my face!”
Taylor snorted. “Take a guess-why do you think he backs me instead of you?”
She wiped the swelling on her face with the back of her hand and said coldly, “You’re finished.”
Paul clenched his jaw and didn’t say a word.
Taylor turned her head and looked at Owen. “If you people so much as walk out of here with a single gem, I’ll go hang banners outside your Saunders house, proudly announcing you as the Powell family’s official concubine!”
Owen shouted, “You!”
He muttered under his breath, “Didn’t think you’d turn out to be this jealous, this irrational.”
Taylor fired back with a sneer, “And I didn’t think you were this pathetic, living off money your own sister earned selling herself.”
Owen’s face turned red. “Say that again! We came to return those gifts! Nobody wants your dirty money!”
Taylor said, “Looks to me like you were ready to drool over it.”
Owen was so furious he yanked Elsie toward the exit. “We don’t want your damn money! I hope every time you spend it, you remember the blood and tears Elsie shed!”
Paul shouted at Taylor, “Can you shut the hell up!”
Taylor yelled back, “Who the hell do you think you are to act all high and mighty!”
The two of them kept shouting at each other, sparks flying. Owen, fuming, dragged Elsie out of the Powell estate.
Naturally, Yunice and Oscar didn’t stay much longer either. Oscar followed close behind Owen and Elsie, griping the whole way. “What are you mad about? You people took six hundred million over three years. And you really had the nerve to take it? Back when Yunice got dumped, she didn’t get a cent. Did I see you making a scene then?”
Owen covered his ears, looking like he was about to explode.
Yunice walked at the very back. With Paul’s gifts successfully revoked, she was clearly the happiest one in the group.
Just then, Alan walked in from outside. He hadn’t been by Taylor’s side earlier-if he had been, Paul’s slap never would’ve landed on her.
“Alan.” As they passed, Yunice called out to him. “Ms. Taylor was hit by Paul.”
Because of Yunice’s position, Alan had initially kept his guard up around her. But the moment he heard that, his face darkened like a thundercloud ready to strike.
Just as he stormed off, Yunice handed him a small bottle of ointment. “Have Ms. Taylor apply this. It’ll make the swelling worse.”
Alan narrowed his eyes at her. What was she playing at?
Yunice said, “Just tell her what I said. She’ll understand.”
Alan couldn’t be bothered to argue. He turned and hurried to find Taylor.
He found her dragging Paul toward the old man’s courtyard.
When Taylor turned her face, Alan saw the bright red handprint on her cheek.
That moment, the fury in Alan practically erupted. He raised his fist, ready to beat Paul on the spot.
But Taylor stopped him. Her voice was cold. “Don’t touch him, I’ll make him pay myself.”
Paul barked, “Don’t act all righteous. I’m going to Grandpa. I’ll ask him straight up-what the hell does it mean for you to keep another man by your side?”
Paul went into Jackson’s courtyard first-most likely hoping to get there first and tattle.
Alan wanted to ask about her injury, but thinking of what Paul had just said, he realized he couldn’t cross any lines.
So he said dutifully, “This is from Yunice. She said it’ll make your bruise worse-and that you’d understand what she meant.”
Taylor furrowed her brow. She’d only met Yunice a few times. Last time, when Lily falsely accused Yunice, she had defended her purely because they’d been on the same side.
But now, she and Yunice should be on opposing teams.
She looked at the little bottle of ointment in her hand… Why would Yunice want her to make the injury worse?
Suddenly, her expression shifted – she got it.
“Any parent will protect their own. The Kendall family will stand by me. The Powell family will naturally stand by Paul.”
“I got slapped, and to the Kendall family, that’s a massive humiliation. But to the Powell family, it’s just a little marital spat. Grandpa will definitely brush it off, tell me to suck it up. And since I slapped Paul too, technically I’m not in the right either.”
Taylor immediately understood and, without hesitation, applied the ointment to her face.
“Miss!” Alan panicked, thinking Yunice might be trying to trick her.
But when Taylor lifted her head again, Alan’s face twisted with visible shock.
There wasn’t any pain on Taylor’s end, but judging by his expression, she asked, “Is it that bad?”
Alan numbly nodded.