Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Oscar headed downstairs. “I told her to kneel. To humble her ambition.” Owen followed him, protesting, “Oscar, Elsie’s really a sweet girl. Don’t go picking on her just because of her background.” Oscar shot him a glare. “You kneel too.”
Owen was stunned speechless. But Oscar clearly wasn’t joking. Owen, though fuming, had no choice but to kneel beside Elsie. He was kneeling, but in his heart, he was far from convinced.
Oscar said, “I know you’re not happy. You funded my research all these years, so you think I owe you. I can’t control you.” Owen bit back, “That’s not true!”
Oscar continued, “She’s kneeling because her heart’s not clean. You’re kneeling because you don’t know who’s family and who’s not. You can’t even tell right from wrong.” Owen, still unclear what he’d done wrong, muttered bitterly, “Oscar, you just look at people… through tinted glasses.”
At that moment, Giana tried to sneak past-but Oscar caught her red-handed. He barked, “Come here!” Giana flinched, trembling, but reluctantly stepped forward. She’d been trying to slip out and report to Lily. Oscar pointed at her. “No way Elsie called you back herself. She must’ve sent someone to fetch…”
Both Giana and Elsie looked panicked. They’d always assumed Oscar was just some nerd with his head stuck in the lab, only caring about experiments. But now they realized he was the sharpest mind in the Saunders family.
Owen had been called back by Giana. But in his eyes, that wasn’t wrong. Oscar couldn’t demand Elsie kneel and expect no one to back her. Oscar could tell Owen wasn’t convinced. He pointed at Giana and asked, “Who is she?” “Giana,” Owen said impatiently.
Oscar exposed it one word at a time. “She’s Blanc’s eldest daughter. Sold to the Wican family as a wife.” Blanc was Elsie’s biological father.
Owen frowned. “Oscar, we agreed-no mention of the White family at home. If Mom hears it, she’ll have another episode.” “Oh. I can’t bring up the White family-but you can put one of them in our house as a maid? What’s your agenda?”
Owen said, “I didn’t bring her here. She helped Mom back at the White family home. Mom insisted on returning the favor.” “The White family ruined Mom. They ruined Dad. They ruined the whole Saunders family. And now you want to thank them? I think all of you need to get your heads checked!” Oscar roared.
“You think I was wrong to say you can’t tell who’s family and who’s not?” Oscar pointed at Owen’s nose and snapped. “You think I was too drunk yesterday to see through your games? I let it play out on purpose to see what you’d do! And look at you-praising Elsie nonstop like she’s some saint. Did you forget your own sister just died a few days ago? Have you mentioned Yunice even once?!”
Owen had been holding it in for days. Now, under fire, he exploded. “You think I haven’t been grieving?! I’ve been relying on sleeping pills just to get through the night! I dream about her death every single day! But what do you want me to do? Say her name over and over so she’ll come back to life? The dead are gone! The living have to keep moving forward! I didn’t bring her up because I didn’t want to drag this family into more grief. I wanted everyone to feel some happiness. What did I do wrong?! Fine! Since you’re so considerate of the family, then go do two things for us. One, send Giana back to the White family. Two, have Elsie cancel Yunice’s ID and apply for a death certificate!”
Owen looked completely stunned. “Oscar… she’s already gone. What’s the point of keeping her ID? You’d rather waste it than give Elsie a chance?”
Oscar was even more furious. “What do you mean waste it? That identity belongs to Yunice. She’s Dad’s daughter! The fact that I’ve let Elsie cat at the Saunders family table is already the greatest mercy she’s going to get. And now she wants a title too?”
Owen stubbornly said, “Fine, Giana can leave. But Elsie’s ID… I’m not canceling it!”
Oscar laughed coldly. “Great. Just great. I can’t believe I actually trusted you back then. I’m the idiot who signed her ID registration!”
“You won’t do it? Then keep kneeling. We’ll talk again when Mom gets back!”
Fine! Kneel it is!
Lily would definitely side with them anyway!
At the Gelt Auction the day before, everything had ended. Wyatt never raised his paddle once. When he got bored, he lit a lantern. This gave Paul no opportunity to bid, unless he was willing to go even more over-the-top than Wyatt. But Paul didn’t have that kind of capital. Sure, he was wealthy-but most of it came from his father and grandfather. Wyatt, on the other hand, had full control of his own massive private fortune.
With no way to win the royal wedding rings, Paul had no face left to show himself before them.
maneuver in the dark, wait until Yunice was alone-and then make his move.
But Wyatt didn’t seem to have any work to do these past few days. Wherever Yunice went, he followed. Even when Yunice went to meet Carl, Wyatt went with her. Carl, seemingly on purpose, insisted on meeting Yunice alone. Wyatt could only wait outside.
Freya, swaying her hips and carrying a dainty teapot, came out of Carl’s office and casually sat down on the edge of the tea table in front of Wyatt. With a sultry smile and smoky eyes, Freya flirted. “Mr. Wyatt, when did you become a knight in shining armor?”
She gave him a once-over, then continued with an even bolder question: “Mr. Wyatt, is your interest in Yunice purely physical, or is there some emotional depth to it?”
Wyatt finally looked up from his phone and met her gaze. “Don’t understand the question.”
Freya leaned forward slightly, the movement highlighting her dramatic figure. But Wyatt didn’t spare it a glance.
Smiling, Freya said, “My guess is physical. The way you look at her…. it’s like you want to eat her alive.”
Wyatt said nothing.
Freya didn’t push. Love was messy. Sometimes real, sometimes fake. Sometimes it started out fake and grew real. Sometimes it was the opposite. Marriage was unpredictable. Only time would tell.
Luckily, Yunice had no household registration. Wyatt had never suggested registering their marriage either. As long as that remained true, if anything went wrong, Yunice would still have a way out.
Freya noticed Wyatt’s gaze shifting. She turned around-Lily was standing awkwardly in the lobby, watching her. Realizing she was still perched on the tea table, Freya stood up and walked toward Lily.
Lily was wearing a soft pink traditional Chinese set. Her hair was tied neatly in a bun. She looked refined and proper.
She spoke awkwardly to Freya, “I’d like to see Mr. Carl. Would you mind asking for me, Miss Hua?”
Freya’s beauty was too intense-her features too sharp and overwhelming. But Freya didn’t make things difficult. “Come with me.”
Lily took two steps forward, then hesitated. She turned and walked toward Wyatt instead.
She spoke tentatively. “Mr. Wyatt, I assume you’ve heard about Yunice’s passing. She was unfortunate, and now she’s even ruined your solemn wedding plans. The Saunders family is truly sorry…”
Send Gifts
Wyatt stared at her. “Your daughter’s dead, and you’re apologizing to me?”
Lily froze. Maybe Wyatt’s gaze was too sharp-too unfriendly. She could only lower her head and silently follow Freya into the building.
Freya told her to wait at the office door before slipping inside.
Inside, Yunice was seated at the desk, taking the pulse of one of Carl’s acquaintances. Upon learning Lily had arrived, Yunice and the patient moved to the lounge room in the back.
When Lily entered, Freya left, and only she and Carl remained in the office. Lily relaxed and greeted Carl like an old friend. “Mr. Wyatt was sitting outside. I thought you had guests.”
Carl said, “That boy comes by all the time. I’ve never agreed to see him.”
Lily’s face lit up. At least Paul could still get an audience with Carl-that must mean Carl was leaning toward Paul’s side.
Seeing that Carl was willing to speak with her, Lily grew bolder and asked, “We haven’t seen each other in almost twenty years. You’re forty-seven now, and still not married?”
She stole a careful glance at Carl. “Freya seems to like you. She’s quite a catch…”
There were blinds between the lounge and the office-Yunice could hear everything clearly from inside. She gently withdrew her hand from the patient’s wrist and started writing a prescription.
Carl lifted his eyes and looked at Lily. After a few seconds of silence, he replied, “You haven’t considered remarriage all these years either.”
Lily’s face instantly went pale. She clutched the silk pouch in her hands tightly and lowered her head. “I don’t dare… I get scared every time I see a man…”
After a pause, she changed the subject. “Now I just want Pingwei’s children to live safe and smooth lives… After Yunice passed, both her brothers fell apart. They can’t sleep through the night. If this keeps up, what will we do…”
Yunice blinked slowly and set down her pen.
“Ms. Yunice, do you recognize the person outside?” the man asked.
Yunice gave a small nod, then looked up and said, “Heart and spleen deficiency. Irregular sleep schedule. Mental fatigue from stress. Common among workhorses.”
He was still young, and despite the complaints, he smiled as he mentioned work.
He accepted the prescription Yunice had written and handed her his business card. “A chance meeting is fate-let’s be friends.”
Carl held Yunice in high regard. Exchanging contacts seemed only natural. Yunice’s new WhatsApp account, registered under her new identity, was slowly gaining connections.
In the office, Lily talked about her children and Pingwei, even shedding a few tears. Carl finally promised to speak with Oscar and Owen, and only then did she agree to leave.
Before going, she asked Freya for her contact information, saying she’d get in touch directly next time she wanted to see Carl.
Freya smiled politely, though it never reached her eyes.
When Yunice was ready to go, it was Victor who escorted her out. As they walked out side-by-side, Wyatt’s gaze scanned them both coldly.
Victor stepped forward, offering his hand. “Mr. Wyatt, I’m Victor, the Northvale project coordinator from Crawford Group. I look forward to working with you.”