Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Paul jumped up, preparing for battle. He hadn’t informed Wyatt about his grandfather’s hospitalization on purpose.
But Wyatt still found out.
Not only Wyatt came – Yunice was with him.
As they approached, Paul glared warily. “What are you doing here?”
Wyatt answered, “You can come, but I can’t? Or are you afraid if I show up, the old man will die?”
His mocking tone made Paul’s lips press into a thin, tight line.
Wyatt leaned casually against the wall, then gestured for Yunice to take the bench opposite Paul.
Which meant that every time Yunice lifted her eyes, she’d see Paul directly across from her.
Wyatt looked around deliberately. “Where’s my brother? Didn’t he come?”
His smiling, almost teasing gaze fell on Paul.
Just one look, and Paul knew nothing happening inside the Powell family escaped Wyatt’s eyes.
Thinking about it now, Paul suddenly realized a lot of things didn’t add up.
Jensen, while useless most of the time, had always been obsessed with putting on the image of a successful man.
Paul couldn’t understand why a man like that would suddenly act so recklessly, fooling around with Linda right there in the dining room without a care in the world.
And the old man assault Spring? Already in his seventies – why would he suddenly lose control like that, even to the point of trying to…
Looking at everything together, Paul couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off – very off.
It felt like… like someone had been drugged.
With that thought, Paul shot a suspicious glance at Wyatt, wondering if he had been the one behind it.
Right in front of Wyatt, Paul called the butler and ordered immediate blood tests for several people.
“If we find out someone poisoned us, Grandpa won’t let them off,” Paul said, glaring at Wyatt.
Wyatt looked utterly disdainful. Meanwhile, Taylor, standing nearby, looked guilty. After staying by the emergency room door for a few moments, she quietly walked away. Wyatt noticed the reaction, thoughtful.
Just then, the emergency room light went off, and the doctors came out to report that Jackson had woken up.
Wyatt stood up, casually throwing out, “Guess it’s true what they say – bad people live forever.”
“You-!” Paul gritted his teeth but didn’t dare lash out.
Wyatt didn’t bother with him. He led Yunice away. After all, Wyatt hadn’t come to visit Jackson; he had just come to see if he would die. Since he hadn’t, there was no point in staying.
Paul didn’t care about Wyatt anymore. He quickly rushed into the operating room to see his grandfather.
Just as he was about to speak, Jackson grabbed his hand with surprising strength and rasped, “Is there any food left from lunch?”
Paul immediately picked up the hidden meaning and asked urgently, “Grandpa, are you suspecting you were poisoned?”
Jackson gave him a confused look, surprised at how quickly Paul caught on.
What Jackson didn’t know was that while he was losing consciousness, his beloved son and daughter-in-law had already caused a full-blown scandal in the dining room.
Paul said, “The leftovers are probably gone, but I’ve already ordered Dad and Linda to have blood tests. If there was poison involved, it’ll show up.”
Jackson clenched his fists, grinding his teeth. “I want to see which rat dared to use such despicable tricks to destroy my reputation at the end of my life!”
Suddenly, Jackson’s mind clicked into gear. Jensen and Linda had both been affected – but then…
“What about Taylor? She ate with us too.”
“Taylor?” Paul frowned. “She’s fine…”
Suddenly, he jumped to his feet. “That’s what’s wrong!”
Taylor, when summoned, was just outside the lab area, wandering around.
Seeing her there only confirmed Paul’s growing suspicions.
The moment Taylor entered Jackson’s hospital room, Paul started firing accusations. “You poisoned the family and didn’t even bother hiding it properly! We all ate at the same table, and the other three were poisoned, but somehow you’re fine! Taylor, how do you explain that?”
Taylor asked back calmly, “What poisoning? Who got poisoned?”
Paul pointed at her, roaring, “Grandpa was drugged with an aphrodisiac!”
Taylor froze for a second, then barely held back a laugh. “And why are you accusing me? You didn’t get poisoned either, did you?”
Paul snapped, “I wasn’t eating with Grandpa!”
Taylor countered, “The blood tests aren’t even back yet. How do you know for sure it was the food? Or maybe you’re the one who did it – is that why you’re so sure?”
Thrown off and furious, Paul glared at Taylor but had no comeback.
At that moment, Jackson, who had been silent until now, spoke coldly. “Taylor, if you admit to it now, I’ll be lenient.”
Taylor refused firmly. “It wasn’t me.”
Jackson continued, “I know you still hold a grudge because of what Linda did to you before. You can’t fool me. This has your fingerprints all over it. Go kneel in the ancestral hall!”
Taylor thought bitterly, How generous of you. Who do you think you are, testing my loyalty like this?
She let out a cold laugh and turned to leave.
Paul shouted, “Men, stop her!”
Taylor frowned and turned back.
Paul stood up, scolding, “Do you even know how to be a wife? How to respect your elders? Where’s the upbringing your parents gave you?”
Back when Linda drugged Taylor, Taylor had also been desperate and humiliated. Paul had mocked her cruelly then, accusing her of being shameless and saying she was willing to do anything to get pregnant with a Powell child.
Now Taylor walked up to him, her eyes burning with suppressed fury. “Oh, your parents were well-raised, all right – sneaking around in broad daylight, your seventy-year-old grandfather sexually assaulting maids, and you, a shameless playboy. What a wonderful family tradition.”
Jackson’s eyes darkened dangerously. He had long lost all patience with Taylor’s defiance.
Paul also snapped, shouting, “Bring in two men! Hold her down! And keep Alan outside – I want him to hear her screams!”
He had been swallowing his rage for too long. Now he had to vent it.
Two strong bodyguards burst in. Ignoring Taylor’s struggles, they seized her arms and pinned her down to the floor.
Taylor glared up at Paul, her voice like ice. “Try it. I dare you.”
Paul pulled off his belt with a sneer. “Since no one taught you at home, I’ll show you myself what it means to respect your husband.”
Just as Paul was about to strike, Jackson grabbed his arm.