Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Yunice added, “She should be released-but not too easily.”
“I understand.”
They walked on in silence.
It struck both of them how little they actually spoke outside of business matters. It was as if-when there was no agenda-they had nothing in common at all.
If it were Nora, Yunice thought bitterly, he’d probably have his arm around her. They’d be talking about work, gossiping about annoying employees, joking about mutual friends…
But none of that involves me.
I’ve stepped into his world, but never really become part of it.
After the walk, Yunice was the first to suggest going back to their room.
Wyatt didn’t linger outside. After washing up, Yunice was already in her pajamas and lying in bed when he finally came in.
She lay on her side, facing the edge of the bed. She felt the mattress dip beside her.
Usually, when she was lying down, Wyatt would casually place his hand on her stomach like he owned it.
But tonight, nothing.
She felt the mattress shift again-he must’ve turned over, likely facing away.
Yunice lay on her side, eyes wide open.
This must be what they mean by “sharing a bed but dreaming different dreams.”
Wyatt had seen Nora today. And now he was lying next to her, the wife he barely touched.
He must be feeling guilty, she thought. That’s probably why he won’t come near me tonight.
Yunice closed her eyes and fell asleep. She refused to waste emotions on vague illusions of love. No love breaks the trap of affection. No emotion breaks the whole game. She wouldn’t allow herself that kind of weakness.
The next day, just as promised, Wyatt sent a lawyer to the detention center to make contact with Lily. Yunice went too, but stayed in the car. Before the lawyer headed in, she simply leaned forward and gave him a quiet instruction.
The lawyer nodded.
Inside the detention center, Lily rushed over the second she saw the lawyer, her eyes full of hope. “Am I getting out? I knew Elsie and Oscar wouldn’t just leave me in here!”
The lawyer replied, “I’m here on behalf of Miss Yunice.”
Lily’s face fell, twisting instantly into a mask of disgust. “Yunice sent you?” She turned to walk away, not even willing to entertain a conversation.
Behind her, the lawyer said casually, “Mr. Owen is busy preparing for his wedding. If you’re waiting for him to find you a lawyer, I’d say… maybe next year.”
The sound of her ankle chain suddenly halted. She stopped in place and turned her head, staring at him.
Had she heard that right? Did he just say Owen was planning a wedding? Was Elsie getting married? That was the only kind of wedding Owen would take seriously enough to ignore her!
The lawyer clarified, “Mr. Owen is arranging his own wedding.”
Lily let out a disbelieving laugh. “What kind of joke is that? Oscar’s never even had a girlfriend. Who the hell is he marrying?”
“You and Yunice are both full of bad intentions.” The lawyer’s voice remained calm. “Whether or not you believe me is your choice. But whether Mr. Owen is getting married or not has nothing to do with why I’m here today. I’m simply following Miss Yunice’s request to ask you one question: Madam Lily, do you regret what you’ve done?”
At those words, Lily flared up. “What did I even do?! I’m his mother! I said a few words and now my own daughter throws me into jail-and you ask if I did something wrong?!”
The lawyer ignored her outburst, continuing as if she hadn’t spoken: “If you feel remorse, Miss Yunice is willing to give you a chance to make a public apology. If not, you can finish out your year in detention. Though, just a friendly reminder-by then, you might be a grandmother. You’ll be out just in time to hold your grandchild.”
He turned to leave.
Lily’s face turned bright red with panic. Just as the cell door was closing, she shouted, “I’ll apologize!” Her voice was sharp, furious: “I said I’ll apologize! If Yunice thinks she can handle it!”
The lawyer paused and smiled-calm, in control.
Soon after, the media, in coordination with officials, held a public press conference. Lily was brought into the spotlight, dragged under the glare of the cameras. She scanned the crowd nervously, searching for Owen and Elsie. This public apology had stirred massive attention. She was sure they’d show up-they had to. To stop her, to help her, to defend her dignity.
But after scanning the entire room-nothing. No Owen. No Elsie. Not even a familiar face in the crowd. Lily’s confusion grew. Why didn’t a single one of them come?
Her stomach turned with fury. Ungrateful little brats. She cursed them over and over in her mind. But with no one there to save her, she had no choice but to face the press.
“I am Lily, the source of the false accusations in the recent SAT incident. After two weeks of criticism and detention, I’ve come to deeply understand the mental harm and public pressure that slander causes for its victims.”
“I would like to sincerely apologize to those I’ve hurt in this incident, and to the public for the disturbance caused. From now on, I will actively participate in public service to atone for my actions.” She bowed deeply. “I hope everyone can forgive me and give me another chance.”
After the long bow, Lily slowly straightened up. The storm of the slander scandal was finally over. But as the crowd began to disperse, Lily tried to sneak away, only to be immediately swarmed by reporters. They shoved mics toward her with aggressive force, practically trying to cram them down her throat.
“Madam Lily, can you explain your relationship with Yunice? What made you want to destroy her?”
“Using such vicious tactics to ruin a young woman’s future-was she involved with your husband? Was she your husband’s mistress?”
-in-Law Meets Mayhem
These media hounds had no moral baseline. All they cared about was clicks and headlines-outrageous the angle. They’d say anything to provoke a reaction and capture her most humiliating moment.
Lily’s face turned bright red. Furious, she shouted back, “I don’t even know her! I was just running my mouth! What does this have to do with you?! Get out of my way-move!”
She couldn’t even get through the crowd.
Just then, a pair of hands broke through the press and yanked her out of the circle.
Dazed and breathless, Lily stumbled into a car and looked up to see Oscar climbing into the driver’s seat.
Owen stepped on the gas, leaving the paparazzi choking in dust behind them.
Lily finally exhaled. But no sooner had she caught her breath than she started picking at Oscar, her tone sharp and bitter. “What, you waiting for me to drop dead before you show up? I raised all of you and not one of you gave a damn.”
Hands steady on the wheel, Oscar replied, “At least I showed up. Where are your precious Owen and Elsie? Why didn’t they come get you?”
Lily was momentarily speechless. She quickly pivoted. “I heard someone say Oscar’s getting married. What’s that about?”
Oscar corrected her, “Not getting married. Married. We got the license yesterday. The seal’s probably still warm.”
Lily shot upright in her seat. “What?! I was still rotting in a holding cell and he had the nerve to get married?!”
“Who’s the bride?! Which family in Silverburch? Did her parents not teach her basic manners?! I’m his mother and I was in jail-she actually dared to sneak off and marry my son?!”
Oscar nearly laughed. She thinks it’s a rich girl? Wait till she meets Peggy-that’ll be a show.
He knew Lily never favored him and wouldn’t bother confiding in him, so he kept his mouth shut. He said nothing else about Owen.
He dropped Lily at the gates of the Saunders family estate.
“Hey-!”
Lily had barely stepped out before Oscar peeled off in a cloud of exhaust.
Coughing from the fumes, she waved her hand in the air. “Ungrateful little brats! Not one of them gives a damn about me!”
Muttering as she walked toward the house, she grumbled, “It’s all Yunice’s fault. She turned my eldest against me…”