Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Then she added in a quieter voice, “Some of those people are disgusting. They know Mr. Wyatt is keeping a close eye on Saunders Hospital, so they’re deliberately making trouble. Thankfully, Mr. Wyatt has the resources and influence. Whatever other hospitals run short on, the Saunders family never lacks.”
“And that’s all because… you’re here.”
Yunice sat curled on the floor, chin resting on her knees, and muttered, “If you get a chance, pass the radio to Wyatt. I’ve got nothing but time now-I could talk to him all day.”
Laurie heard the weariness in her voice and quickly relayed the message to Wyatt.
On the other end, Wyatt must’ve rushed over-his breath was heavy when he answered. After taking a moment to steady it, he spoke into the radio. “It’s me.”
Yunice said, “I saw Mr. Gerardo today.”
Wyatt gave a soft “Mm,” letting her know he was listening.
“…He died,” she said, holding back a sob.
Wyatt fell silent.
“I recorded a video of his final moments. Should I give it to Taylor?”
If Taylor and Kyla didn’t witness Mr. Gerardo’s suffering, they might not grieve as deeply. Once this was all over, just telling them the outcome might be enough. After all, this was something none of them could control. They’d all tried their best.
“I’ll handle it,” Wyatt said.
Yunice gave a quiet, tired “Okay.”
Then Wyatt asked, “Where are you being held?”
Yunice looked up. “Third floor of the outpatient building. Preventive medicine ward-pharmacy.”
She then asked, “How’s Mr. Carl?”
“They think you’re still studying at the medical university,” Wyatt said.
That was for the best. No need to make them worry.
“But Lily did come looking for me,” Wyatt added.
“She couldn’t get through to Owen or Elsie. After returning to the country, she went straight to Mr. Carl. Nearly blew my cover.”
The mention of Lily made Yunice’s expression harden. She had long stopped caring about her.
The two of them chatted idly about what was happening outside, the dangers in the hospital, near-misses, and ongoing chaos. Yunice soon noticed background voices coming from Wyatt’s side of the radio.
They didn’t sound like they were indoors.
Realizing he was still busy, she said softly, “Go ahead. I’m tired.”
“Alright,” Wyatt replied, and ended the call.
Yunice looked down at her now-cold meal, and inhaled deeply.
Your body is your only asset-no appetite? Too bad.
She wolfed down the tasteless food, then cleaned up and went to check on Owen.
He was sitting by the window, staring silently out at the world beyond.
His untouched food sat next to him.
He’d been doing this often-gazing out the window, day after day. The people he cared about were outside, so he kept looking, as if he could will them into view.
Yunice didn’t interrupt. She turned back to her research.
From the patients she’d seen recently and the findings Laurie had shared, Yunice had a new direction in mind. She and Laurie had tested one formula on Elsie-it hadn’t worked well, but it had kept her alive. And given Elsie’s poor physical condition, that alone was a win.
It was time to revise the approach.
Owen didn’t leave his room for the rest of the afternoon.
Yunice was used to it by now. Owen was ruled by emotion. He spent all his time drowning in guilt and sentimentality, and it was that same softness that had run his father’s hospital into the ground.
That evening, Tommy came to deliver dinner-and secretly passed Yunice a roasted sweet potato.
A rare treat in times like these.
“Something sweet helps the mood,” he whispered.
He figured Yunice must be going stir-crazy in isolation.
Wearing her mask, Yunice’s eyes crinkled in a smile. “Thanks, Tommy.”
Tommy and the rest of the delivery team lined up to leave. As they headed down the hallway, Tommy noticed someone lagging behind and called out, “Move quickly, don’t waste time.”
Still, Tommy was gentle by nature-even as volunteer leader, he never demanded people stick to rigid formality.
After his warning, he walked away with the rest of the team, unaware that he’d overlooked someone who didn’t belong.
Back in the room, Yunice was carrying both her and Owen’s dinners, holding the steaming sweet potato in one hand. Her hands were full, so she leaned over and used her elbow to push the door closed.
Just then, a gloved hand slipped through the gap and grabbed the doorframe.
Startled, Yunice turned and glanced at the name tag on the suit.
It wasn’t anyone she recognized-not someone from the hospital.
Suspicious, she asked, “Can I help you?”
She narrowed her eyes, trying to get a better look through the visitor’s goggles-just as the person outside said, “Is the sweet potato good?”
The moment she heard that voice, Yunice’s heart dropped. Her hand nearly fumbled the food container.
The person stepped inside and silently closed the door behind him with one hand hidden behind his back.
Yunice craned her neck to see. There was no one else outside.
Panic seized her. “Are you out of your mind?!” she hissed.
Wyatt pulled off his protective suit and wrapped Yunice in a tight embrace.
Startled, she murmured, “I haven’t cleared my observation period yet…”
“Don’t move,” Wyatt said in a low, firm voice.
Yunice fell silent.
He held her for a long time before finally letting go.
“How did you even get in here?” she asked.
“I knocked out the driver and took his suit.”
Wyatt wasn’t trained in medical protocol-posing as a doctor would’ve been too risky. So he’d come in pretending to be a driver.