Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
From a distance, she looked eerily similar to Yunice-maybe 70% alike.
Laurie stared for a moment. When she realized who it was-her former colleague who’d been gone for three years-her expression flickered, then quickly returned to normal. She tugged Yunice.
“Come on.”
But Yunice didn’t budge. She was rooted in place, eyes locked on Nora.
Laurie glanced at Wyatt, trying to read the situation.
Wyatt hadn’t been paying attention-until he noticed Yunice wasn’t moving. Then he turned, smiling at first.
But the moment he saw Nora getting closer, his smile faded. His face darkened, unreadable.
Nora stopped in front of them.
The wheelchair halted. Maine gave Yunice a disdainful glare.
Nora offered a soft, gentle smile. “Hello, Mrs. Cooper.”
Was she letting go?
Yunice responded, “Hello.”
Nora continued, “Please don’t misunderstand. I’m only here to gather some personal things I left behind three years ago.”
Maine scoffed. “Nora used to work at Wellinges Pharma. She didn’t get a chance to clean out her stuff before the accident. Her department may be gone now, but her things should still be around.”
Wyatt walked over and stopped beside Yunice. “Three years ago, Jordan sent all your things back to the Johnson family. Didn’t you see them?”
Nora turned her gaze to him, her voice still calm and gentle. “I did. But one item was missing. Whoever packed up must’ve overlooked it. I wouldn’t have come otherwise, but that item is very important to me.”
Maine’s tone sharpened. “Mr. Wyatt, it’s just a small item, right? You’ll let Nora retrieve it, won’t you?”
Wyatt’s expression went cold, lips tightening. “Tell Jordan what’s missing-he’ll find it. This is a restricted area. Outsiders aren’t allowed.”
Maine shot Yunice a pointed look, clearly implying, And she’s not an outsider?
Laurie wasn’t having it. She scoffed, “According to marriage law, half of Wellinges Pharma belongs to Yunice. She’s got every right to come and go.”
Maine nearly laughed out loud. “Half the company? Did Wyatt agree to that? You people really have no shame.”
Laurie shot back, “Whether he agrees or not, that’s between husband and wife. What’s it to you, nosy hag?”
“You-!” Maine was ready to throw hands.
Yunice quickly stepped in front of Laurie.
Maine sneered, gritting her teeth. “Rats getting their day… You all think you’re so high and mighty now. But everyone knows Nora was-“
“Maine,” Nora cut her off sternly. She turned to Wyatt, voice steady. “Mr. Wyatt, please allow me to retrieve it myself. No one else can find it.”
Wyatt didn’t want to concede. But Maine took the chance to push Nora’s wheelchair past him, toward the executive office.
Yunice looked over-Wyatt’s office was right next to the main secretarial department. After all, he hadn’t kept a secretary around in years. Only Jordan remained as his assistant.
Wyatt followed them.
Yunice and Laurie stayed back. Laurie muttered, “She’ll leave once she gets her stuff. No more excuses to come back.”
Yunice heard the protective tone in Laurie’s voice and felt a twinge of warmth. “Laurie… everyone says I’m the homewrecker. You don’t think so?”
Laurie rolled her eyes. “What’s it got to do with you? When you met Wyatt, Nora wasn’t even in the picture. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Wyatt for not cleaning up his own mess.”
She really didn’t hold back.
Laurie continued, “Next time they try to come at you with their passive-aggressive crap, don’t just stand there. Fire back. Stop acting like you’re guilty or something.”
Then she shot a glance toward the secretarial office. “There’s nothing simple between those two. Especially Nora. She plays the whole calm and pure routine, but she’s sharp-calculating. She came here on purpose. To let you see her.”
She looked Yunice up and down. “You’re not in the wrong, but if you back down now, someone will take him away.”
Yunice pressed her lips together and stayed quiet.
Nora sat in her wheelchair, Wyatt leaning against a wall in the distance. Maine was moving furniture around, searching through the gap between the desk and wall.
The room was silent.
Nora watched Maine for a moment, then slowly turned her gaze toward Wyatt, her eyes soft with lingering affection.
“…Wyatt, it’s been three years. Don’t you have anything to say to me?”
Wyatt glanced her way, but didn’t meet her eyes-and didn’t answer.
Nora bit her lip, then tried again after a few seconds. “Maine told me… you used rare rhino horn to save me. Yunice even fought with you over it…”
“Oh?” Wyatt let out a cold chuckle. “My wife argued with me? What, did she crawl under my bed and report back to you?”
Her expression dimmed. “Do you really have to be so harsh with me, Wyatt? You know how rare my recovery was…”
They’d come so close to being lost forever. Couldn’t he show even a little gratitude for the miracle? Wasn’t it only after losing something that people truly learned to treasure it?
But Wyatt didn’t show a hint of warmth.
Nora’s eyes reddened. She bit her lip and said softly, “If you’re trying to cut ties with me… why did you come at all? Aren’t you worried Yunice might get the wrong idea?”
Wyatt replied, “You’ve got it wrong. I came to keep an eye on you two. Don’t say anything in front of my wife that’ll upset her. If you do, I’ll be the one stuck trying to cheer her up later-and trust me, she’s impossible to coax.”
“Wyatt!” Maine snapped, furious, slamming her fist on the desk.
Wyatt shot her a look. “Find the thing quickly. Don’t waste time. You’ve got three minutes.”
Wyatt’s words were razor sharp.
Nora lowered her eyes. When her tears fell, she wiped them away and rolled her wheelchair forward. From the gap beside the desk, she pulled out a bracelet.
“Maine, let’s go.”
Maine shot Wyatt a venomous glare, then pushed Nora out of the office.
Nora glanced up.
The hallway was empty.
Yunice and Laurie were gone from where they’d been standing.
Nora gave a soft laugh. “Wyatt, your wife trusts you a lot. That’s nice.”
Wyatt’s expression darkened, just as Jordan approached. He extended a hand to Nora. “Ms. Nora, let me walk you out.”
Nora nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Jordan.”
Outside Wellinges Pharma, Maine was still fuming. But when she turned to Nora, she saw a faint smile on her face.