Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
She forced a sneer. “Just some middleman in the jewelry business. I’m mainly worried about my sister. He’s not kind to her.”
, Oscar
“What? He hits her?” someone asked.
Elsie nodded solemnly. “He’s violent. And my sister… she has a past. Men like that don’t forgive easily. Her life must be hard.”
“True. What kind of man wants a woman with… a history?”
Just then, Elsie felt a sharp gaze at her back. She turned and met the stormy eyes of Carl. He heard everything.
Her whole body went cold. She scrambled after him. “Mr. Carl, wait! It’s not what you think…”
But Carl turned away without a word. Standing beside him, Victor stepped in to block her path.
“Ms. Elsie,” he said coldly, “have some self-respect.” His tone was firm, heavy with disapproval.
Elsie’s eyes filled with tears of grievance. Victor was Carl’s godson. Now that both his godson and goddaughter disliked her, how could she ever dream of joining their family? It was all Yunice’s fault!
At that moment, Yunice was leaning against the wall outside the restroom, calm and composed. Carl’s appearance had been part of her plan. She knew Victor would tell him what happened. And if Carl really cared about her, he would show up.
Those people in the private room were all trash. Of course, they would talk once she left. And once they did, he would see Elsie’s true colors. Elsie dreaming of becoming a daughter of the Crawford family? Absurd.
Footsteps echoed from the restroom. Lily emerged, rubbing hand cream into her fingers, only to stop short when she saw Yunice.
Yunice smiled. “You were in there for quite a while. Should I get you something for your stomach?”
Lily forced a laugh. “What nonsense.”
“Oh, right,” Yunice said, eyes cool. “You don’t have stomach issues. You were hiding. You’re the elder here. Those people wouldn’t dare cross the line in your presence. But you conveniently disappeared, and they were free to act however they wanted.”
everyone in the world is bad; only you are good.”
Yunice chuckled and stuffed her hands into her pockets. “You should head back. Your precious daughter’s probably crying her eyes out.”
Lily’s eyes widened. With a terrible feeling rising in her chest, she rushed back to the private room. Sure enough, Elsie was hunched over the table, sobbing uncontrollably. Lily tried asking what happened but got no answer. She turned to Owen, only to have him cling to her drunkenly, refusing to let go. She was exhausted.
Meanwhile, Yunice remained in the hallway, staring at the still-unconscious Oscar. She did not meet up with Carl. A waiter brought over the lemon water she requested. Yunice gently poured some into Oscar’s mouth.
Oscar frowned, then stirred after a few minutes. Still woozy, he blinked at her face and froze.
“Yunny!” he gasped in surprise.
But her cold expression made his heart sink. She was no longer the soft little sister he once knew.
Looking at her distant eyes, Oscar felt a deep ache in his chest. He leaned his head against the wall and muttered, “I’ve only been gone a few years… How did everything change so much? You’ve all become people I don’t recognize…”
His voice cracked, “Owen’s lost, but I’ve always been on your side. Why won’t you even acknowledge me?”
Yunice looked up. “The medical malpractice records from the Saunders Hospital. I sent them to you.”
Oscar froze.
“You didn’t expose them,” she said softly. “That told me everything I needed to know.”
Oscar muttered, “Yunny, we’re family…”
“You have a family to protect,” Yunice said. “And I’ve made it my mission to tear that family down. Your goal is harmony and peace. Mine is destruction. Even if you understand me now, one day, you’ll stand against me. Better we part ways now.”
Oscar whispered, “All because of those three years in the asylum?”
Yunice’s voice was firm. “Not just those three years.”
But now, the people he loved were at war, and he was being forced to choose.
Yunice stood. “I’m leaving.”
Oscar quickly asked, “Yunny, how far do you plan to go? What are you going to do?”
He had not expected an answer. He knew her target was not just Owen or Elsie. If that were the case, she could have crushed them already, with evidence and with Wyatt.
Yunice didn’t turn her head as she said, “They will lose what they care about most.” Revenge made people regret a lot over the long years.
When she left the hotel, a Maybach was parked outside. Yunice walked over and saw it had Wyatt’s license plate. But it wasn’t Wyatt who came; it was Jordan.
“Mrs. Cooper, Wyatt asked me to pick you up,” Jordan said as she got into the car. “He told you to go to bed early and not wait for him.”
Yunice asked, “What kind of business takes so long?”
Jordan smiled. “If you want to wear a crown, you must bear the weight.” Just because he was financially free didn’t mean he could lie down and relax.
On the way back to Pavilion Hall, Jordan didn’t stop talking. Yunice ended up talking more to him than she did to Wyatt.
After getting home, Yunice finished washing up, and the servants were well-behaved, even making her a late-night snack. While eating, Yunice thought for a moment and decided to give Wyatt a call. Wyatt answered.
Yunice advised him to drink less. Wyatt replied, “That’s not something I can do.” Yunice didn’t speak. Wyatt paused and then said, “I’ll try.”
After hanging up, Yunice went to bed. She didn’t quite understand the way Wyatt indulged her. He didn’t seem like the kind of person who listened to his wife. She also thought that maybe he was just humoring her. One day, when he didn’t feel like pretending, his true nature would show. But it didn’t matter, at least for now, his status was useful.
Then, Elsie called and angrily said, “I’ve already transferred the money to you, keep it and buy yourself a coffin!” The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. “Haven’t you ever seen money? Always finding ways to scam money from your family!” Last time, the jadeite bracelet scammed her 4.1 million dollars, and now it was 1.1 million dollars!
Yunice laughed, “Of course, I want money because you don’t have any. Oh, and you didn’t know, right? Paul’s father froze his bank cards. He might not be able to help you pay back the money anytime soon.”
“What?” Elsie shrieked.
Jensen was too ashamed to show his face these days, and Jackson didn’t even have anyone in charge of the Northvale project. To force Paul to return home and toughen him up, Jackson cut off all of Paul’s funds. If he didn’t return soon, he might starve to death abroad.
Yunice said, “Isn’t it funny? Such a grown man, still relying on his family. The moment his card gets frozen, he has to obey.”
Elsie unwillingly said, “You’re relying on a man, what kind of ability is that?”
“Isn’t that what I learned from you?” Yunice said.
Elsie was so mad that she hung up. Yunice then received a thank-you call from the welfare center; the 1.1 million would be used to charity. They specifically thanked Yunice for her contribution to improve the living conditions of the children at the welfare center.
Yunice exchanged a few pleasantries before hanging up. She didn’t want Elsie’s dirty money; this was perfect for charity.
Elsie didn’t expect Paul to return so quickly. In the middle of the night, Oscar was in his room lamenting, and Owen was so drunk he didn’t know what was going on. No one noticed Paul sneaking into Elsie’s room through the window.
Elsie was almost scared to death, and Paul covered her mouth to prevent her from screaming. After Elsie calmed down, Paul sat on her bed and said, “I came to find you as soon as I got off the plane. I’m hungry, is there anything to eat?”
Elsie made him some noodles. After Paul finished eating, Elsie climbed into his arms, “Paul, I love you so much… After you got married, I’ve been lying awake every night in pain.”
Looking at her broken expression, Paul’s heart softened. He felt that the only person who truly cared for him was Elsie. Love surged in his heart, and Paul immediately pinned Elsie down on the bed, and they had sex.
Wyatt hadn’t returned all night. Yunice still had to go to the construction site the next day. Yunice intended to call Wyatt to show concern, but thinking he might be sleeping somewhere, she only sent him a message. Two hours later, Wyatt still didn’t reply.
At that time, the boss who had met Wyatt the day before paced outside the temporary office. He had walked around for a long time but still hadn’t seen Wyatt come. He did, however, see Yunice. He pulled a project worker he recognized and whispered, “Who is that woman?”
When he learned that Yunice was just a surveyor, the boss frowned and whispered, “Is there any way we can kick her out of the project?”
“Not to bring it upon yourself.”