Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
He quickly dragged a dazed Elsie out of the hospital, as if afraid Carl would change his mind.
Owen thought Carl must still have some affection left for old times’ sake. After all, Owen was the son of his sworn brother. Even if Carl was backing Yunice now, he wouldn’t go too far.
Once they were out of sight, Owen finally calmed down.
He stopped walking.
Elsie, her face swollen like a pig’s head, looked at him in fear.
Owen stared at her for a long, long time. “Why did you press on Yunice’s wound?”
Elsie’s eyebrows twisted up, and she looked like she was about to cry.
A crisp slap landed on the other side of her face.
Owen didn’t use much force; it was meant to shock her more than hurt her.
It was the first time he had ever hit Elsie, a sign that he was serious and had no intention of listening to her prettied-up lies anymore.
He calmly asked again, “Why did you press on Yunice’s wound?”
Covering her face, Elsie stammered in fear, “I really didn’t know…”
“Fine. Let’s say I believe you didn’t do it on purpose. Then tell me, why were you asking about Yunice? Why were you contacting the Powell family’s servants? Why did you lie in public? Even Carl didn’t know Yunice was in the hospital, yet you knew. What were you planning?”
Elsie shook her head. “Owen, I really do care about Yunice. I was afraid she would be mistreated, so I asked the Powell family’s servants to help me find out what was going on! The Cooper family is so tightly guarded that there was no way for news to get out. I was worried Yunice didn’t have anyone looking out for her, so I turned to the Powell family. And what good would lying do for me? If Yunice came back home, I would have to give up my room for her, share your and Mom’s love with her. I could have just refused to let her come back!”
Owen’s expression twisted, as if he wanted to believe her.
But the real problem was, even if Yunice did return to the Saunders family, she wouldn’t take away his or his mother’s love, nor would she steal Elsie’s room.
That was just what Owen imagined he would do.
In reality, just a few words from Elsie and Lily could make him turn on Yunice, striking and scolding her without a second thought.
Elsie bit her lip, holding back her sobs. She was already full of resentment. She had truly believed Wyatt would lose interest after hurting Yunice and leave her alone. Who could have guessed the information she bought was wrong and ended up ruining her instead?
Now, even Owen didn’t fully trust her anymore.
Although Owen didn’t blame her outright, he still warned, “From now on, focus on your studies and your job. Stay away from anyone who’s not good for your future. You’ve been making too many waves lately.”
Elsie quickly grabbed Owen’s arm, coaxing him, “Owen, I made you upset today. When we get home, I’ll make you some sweet rice wine.”
Owen frowned the moment he heard that.
Back then, whenever he was upset, it was Yunice who made him sweet rice wine.
Thinking about the things Yunice said to Carl today, that faint prick of guilt started to ferment again in Owen’s chest.
If Elsie hadn’t stirred up so much trouble, maybe he could have made peace with Yunice.
He stopped walking and said to Elsie, “You go home first. I’m going to walk for a bit.”
He was going to make some sweet rice wine and bring it to Yunice.
After all, she was injured now. As her older brother, he naturally needed to show he cared.
Everything before was just a misunderstanding. Now that everything had been laid out clearly, there was no need to keep fighting.
“Owen…” A look of jealousy flashed across Elsie’s face. She couldn’t let Owen go back to Yunice’s side.
She had to make him stay.
Just then, a few thugs swaggered toward Owen, twirling butterfly knives in their hands.
Owen immediately sensed they were after him and instinctively stepped back. But the men followed him lazily, saying, “Buddy, you know you gotta pay when you play. You didn’t really think you could do bad things and not pay the price, did you?”
Owen’s face turned cold. “Were you sent by Wyatt? Or Carl?”
Carl had already said he forgave him. He wouldn’t go back on his word. It had to be Wyatt.
The men didn’t answer. Instead, with the clear intent to end things quickly, one of them flipped the butterfly knife in his hand and lunged straight at Owen.
Caught off guard, Owen could only retreat again and again.
At that moment, a figure suddenly stepped in front of him. “Owen!”
Elsie’s voice caught in her throat. Owen stood behind her, wide-eyed, as he watched the butterfly knife get pulled out of Elsie’s abdomen.
The attacker frowned and cursed under his breath before turning and walking away.
Elsie’s body went limp and collapsed into Owen’s arms.
“Elsie… you, you idiot, why would you take the knife for me…” Owen pressed his hands against the bleeding wound.
Thinking about how he had just accused her earlier, guilt and fear that Elsie might not survive overwhelmed him.
Elsie, by taking the knife for him, knew Owen would always stand by her side from now on.
Through her tears, she smiled and said, “Owen is the most important person in Elsie’s life. Owen gave Elsie a home. If you were gone, Elsie’s home would be gone too. So if someone had to die, I wanted it to be me.” As she spoke, her hand fell limp.
Owen was on the verge of breaking down. He felt like a criminal.
Stiff and stumbling, he picked up Elsie and rushed her back into the hospital they had just left.
As he ran, he kept trying to comfort her. “Elsie, you’re gonna be okay. I’m not gonna let anything happen to you! Hang in there!”
At that moment, Yunice, who was walking with Wyatt after seeing Carl off, happened to witness the scene.
Owen was holding a bleeding Elsie, frantically searching for the emergency room.
He shouted at the top of his lungs in the hospital lobby, and when he spotted the emergency room behind Yunice, he charged straight for it, still carrying Elsie.
As he rushed past Yunice, he barked angrily, “Move!”
Wyatt quickly pulled Yunice to his side to avoid being knocked over.
Yunice looked stunned, glancing back at Wyatt and Carl.
What on earth had happened to Elsie?
Carl clearly had no intention of getting involved in Owen and Elsie’s mess anymore.
After sending Carl off, Wyatt stayed behind to walk Yunice back to her hospital room.
Oscar ran off to see what was going on with Owen.
Elsie was in surgery. Owen sat outside, staring at his blood-stained hands, waiting.
Oscar asked, “Who stabbed her?”
Owen looked up, his eyes bloodshot. “Happy now? Have we paid off our debt to Yunice?”