Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Yunice sighed, already knowing he’d use some reckless method like this.
Still, she scolded, “Why would you come here at all?”
The Cooper family couldn’t go a day without him. Coming here like this was reckless, dangerous, and irrational.
“I’m already here. Don’t waste time nagging,” Wyatt said, draping an arm over her shoulder as they walked toward the desk.
Yunice brushed his arm off with a tired frown. “Keep your protective gear on.”
She put her mask back on, then stood across from him behind the desk. The distance between them felt more clinical than affectionate.
“Not very welcoming,” Wyatt muttered.
In his imagination, she should’ve flown into his arms the second she saw him.
Yunice just stared at him-at the flattened hair under his cap, the casual expression on his face, the dark circles under his eyes. “You haven’t been sleeping.”
Wyatt shot back, “Have you?”
Classic Wyatt. If he didn’t want to answer, he always replied with another question.
Looking around the room, Wyatt asked, “Where’s Owen?”
Just hearing that name made his expression tighten. If not for Owen, Yunice would’ve been cleared to leave already.
Now she was on the internal list-trying to get her out again could tarnish her reputation permanently.
Yunice lifted her chin toward the inner room. “He’s in there.”
Neither of them had spoken since being quarantined together. Each kept their distance.
Wyatt looked back at her. “Let me hold you again.”
“..What?”
“I’m leaving soon.”
Yunice hesitated.
Wyatt reached out a hand. After a moment, she sighed, placed her hand in his, and let him guide her around the desk and onto his lap.
Looking at him eye to eye, she reminded, “Make sure you disinfect when you leave, okay?”
“You’re not going to say anything else? I finally came all this way,” Wyatt murmured, one arm around her waist.
She’d gotten even skinnier.
“Seeing me… feeling any better?” he asked.
Her eyes welled up. She nodded.
Not just better-steadier.
Mr. Gerardo’s death had left her in a deep emotional fog. She hadn’t expected Wyatt to come in person, just to lift her spirits.
From the radio clipped to Wyatt’s belt came a static-laced voice: “Team assembly. Repeat: Team assembly.”
Yunice lifted her gaze. Their eyes met.
Time was up.
She leaned forward and pressed a kiss-mask to mask-on his cheek.
Wyatt’s eyes darkened, arms tightening around her. “Come with me?”
He didn’t care about reputation or gossip. He had the means to wipe away any stain on her record.
All she had to do was say yes.
Conflicted emotion flickered in Yunice’s eyes. She could run-she had the privilege to choose that.
But just then, the door handle turned.
Owen stood at the threshold.
The moment he saw Wyatt, his face lit up. He stepped forward instinctively. “Mr. Wyatt-Elsie, is she…”
Yunice leapt off Wyatt’s lap and stood between them. “Go,” she whispered to Wyatt.
If Owen latched on, things would get messy fast.
“He’s not stable. He’s been obsessing over Elsie. Just go,” she muttered, pushing Wyatt toward the door.
But Owen, finally seeing someone who might have answers, wasn’t letting go that easily. He rushed after them.
“Wait-Mr. Wyatt! How’s Elsie? Has she shown symptoms? Is she still alive?!”
The radio at Wyatt’s side crackled again, urgently calling for him to rejoin the team.
Yunice blocked Owen, then turned to Wyatt. “Get your suit back on.”
Owen’s voice cracked. “Yunice, don’t stop me! I just want to ask him a few questions! Elsie-did she get sick? What’s happening to her? Is she still alive?”
“I keep dreaming she’s dead. I see my mom crying…”
His words tumbled out, wild and frantic.
“I dreamed you and Wyatt were blaming me… saying I ruined everything… even my dad came to take me away…”
His mind was unraveling-and seeing Wyatt had become his last lifeline.
Wyatt quickly pulled his protective suit back on.
Owen shoved Yunice aside with all his strength and rushed to him. “Is Elsie still alive?!”
Yunice stumbled back. In that moment, a flash of something on Owen’s arm caught her eye.
Small red dots.
Her expression changed instantly.
She spun around to see Owen reaching for Wyatt. Wyatt frowned, ready to push him back, but Yunice leapt between them, throwing herself in the way.
“Owen, Elsie is alive!” she shouted. “But if you keep this up, don’t blame us for taking it out on her!”
Owen froze, just enough hesitation to stop him in his tracks.
Yunice turned to Wyatt, frowning. “I told you I’m not leaving, and I won’t. You can’t keep doing this and making things harder for me.”
Wyatt knew this was how it would end. He gave her one last look, then turned and left without another word.
He carried his own burdens-he didn’t have the luxury of being reckless.