Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
After a few seconds of silence, Yunice did not answer. Oscar frowned at Owen, took back the phone, and murmured softly to Yunice, “Yunny, don’t listen to him. If you want to return, we will welcome you with a special birthday celebration. I may not be able to give you the top floor of the Millennium Hotel, but I will not leave you feeling wronged. Open arms. If you don’t, that’s okay. I can…”
Owen stood next to Oscar, listening to Yunice’s movements. He feared Yunice might agree to Oscar’s suggestion, so he interrupted. “Why spend that money? Can’t the Millennium Hotel banquet hall accommodate Yunice?”
Oscar responded, “It can fit one Yunice, but can it fit two?”
Owen shot back, “You’re just trying to push Elsie out. It’s the same birthday party, the same process. What difference does it make if there’s one more?”
Before Oscar could reply, Yunice sneered. “The same process…”
Both Oscar and Owen turned to her phone when they heard the mocking tone in her voice.
Yunice’s voice continued, “Whose birthday should be the main event?”
Owen immediately answered, “Yours! Think about it, when have I not taken care of your birthday?”
Yunice replied, “The main event you’re referring to is when you introduce guests, push me aside, and proudly introduce Elsie? Is it choosing a flashier princess dress for Elsie, letting her show off at my birthday party, or handing the cake knife to Elsie while I’m left as mere decoration?”
For every question Yunice asked, Owen was momentarily stunned. He had never noticed those details before and had never taken them seriously.
He countered, “Are you really going to make a big deal out of such small things? Everyone in the family knows you, so why do I need to introduce you? Letting Elsie dress nicely and perform is so the Saunders family can warm up to her. And as for the cake knife, who cares who cuts it? Elsie did it, and you didn’t have to do it yourself.”
Before Yunice could respond, Oscar angrily stood up and shoved Owen aside. “Do you think you’re right? Don’t you know that people’s attitudes depend on how the family treats them? The Saunders family’s attitude toward Yunice is shaped by how the family treats her. If even you’ve been sidelining her at her own birthday event, who will take her seriously if you keep doing that? And the cake… Have you never learned proper banquet etiquette? Do you really not get it? If you went to Paul’s birthday, would you dare cut his cake for him?”
“Why are you bringing up Paul again? Elsie and Yunice are both family. Why does it matter?”
Oscar scolded, “We’re still brothers. Why didn’t you let me take the CEO position at Saunders Hospital?”
Owen paused, looking displeased. “You’re changing the subject. A cake and the Saunders family, really?”
Oscar sneered. “See, you understand what’s important. You’re just using Yunice’s interests to flatter Elsie.”
Oscar, seeing this, took matters into his own hands. “Yunny, I can’t let this go. You’ve suffered a lot because I wasn’t there for you. Now I’m here, and I will make things right! Give me a chance. Come to the birthday party, and you’ll see how the Saunders family compensates you. Okay?”
Yunice didn’t answer. Owen, looking uneasy, waited for her response. Deep down, he still wanted Yunice as his sister. Now that he knew what had been bothering her, he hoped to repair their relationship.
“Yunny…” Owen’s voice almost sounded pleading.
Yunice finally relented. “Fine.”
Oscar immediately felt a weight lift off his shoulders. He didn’t notice that Owen, standing behind him, had a hopeful expression on his face.
Upstairs, in Elsie’s room, Paul paced back and forth, dialing a virtual number on his phone. He had tried several times, but the other party always ignored him. Paul had suspected it was a marketing strategy, but he was too eager to make money.
Elsie sat on the bed. “Paul, really? You can’t come to my birthday party? You’ve always come before, but now that you’re married, you won’t come? My friends and family will talk behind my back. I’m not afraid of them laughing at me, but I’m worried they’ll secretly call you fickle, like those playboys…”
She spoke for a long time, but Paul seemed lost in his own thoughts and didn’t even hear her. His phone remained pressed to his ear as he dialed a number that kept ringing busy. Finally, the call went through! Paul’s face lit up with excitement!
A middle-aged man’s voice came from the other end. “Mr. Paul, haven’t you already joined other projects? Why are you calling me again?”
Paul walked to the balcony, shut the door, and immediately adjusted his posture. “What’s it to you? I have money and want to invest in more projects, so what?”
“I’ll transfer 140 thousand dollars to you. When will I see a return?”
The middle-aged man replied, “I’ve told you many times-after one week, it will definitely double. If Mr. Paul doesn’t dare to try, then don’t bother.”
Paul sneered. “It’s just 140 thousand dollars. If I lose it, I’ll just consider it money for your coffin.”
Yunice, on the other end of the line, scoffed. It was clear they were two peas in a pod, both Paul and Elsie. They were so eager to buy her a coffin together. But Yunice was the one who would buy the coffin. She would use this money to bury Paul and Elsie together, locking them away for a lifetime.
After hanging up, Paul transferred the 140 thousand dollars to the man, then left the balcony to speak to Elsie. “I can’t come to your birthday party.”
The Powell family and Wyatt were both looking for him. Right now, he had no proper explanation and no face to show up in public.
Elsie, being considerate, said, “Yunice will also be there. Yunice loves to show off, and she’ll definitely bring Wyatt with her. I didn’t think it through, Paul. You really shouldn’t come.”
Paul remained serious, but unusually, he didn’t respond to Elsie’s words.
Elsie felt a bit disappointed. She hoped Paul would be called back by the Powell family to continue his role as the heir, not hiding in her room like a mouse, selling her things every day. What she wanted was Paul’s platinum card. Otherwise, why would she compete with Yunice? If Paul wouldn’t leave, then Elsie would have to continue supporting him.
At Pavilion Hall, someone knocked on the study door, and Yunice opened it to find Jordan standing outside.
Jordan looked troubled and said, “Mrs. Cooper, Wyatt has an important engagement tonight…”
Seeing Jordan hesitating, Yunice thought for a moment before asking, “You want me to wake Wyatt up?”
Jordan nodded eagerly, as if he had found a savior.
Yunice frowned. “Is it an important client?”
Why can’t they let Wyatt rest for a bit? Even robots can’t run like this without a break.
Jordan nodded. “Yes, it’s a very important client.”
Yunice had no choice but to go to the bedroom and wake Wyatt up. Closing the bedroom door behind her, the first thing Yunice saw was Wyatt lying on the bed. His…
Yunice walked closer, and her eyes were immediately drawn to his strong, toned waist, which seemed even more captivating.
In her mind, Yunice silently evaluated his body… Really impressive.
“Wyatt, wake up.” Yunice lightly slapped his face a couple of times, making a sound as her hand hit his cheek.
Wyatt frowned, clearly irritated. He lifted his hand and brushed Yunice’s hand aside. He rolled over and went back to sleep.
Yunice froze. This was the first time she had seen Wyatt in a bad mood upon waking up. No wonder Jordan didn’t want to wake him up and passed this job onto her. It was at that moment that Yunice noticed the bracelet exposed on Wyatt’s wrist.
As she reached out to take the bracelet from his wrist, Wyatt quickly grabbed her wrist and pinned her down to the bed.
Yunice let out a surprised gasp. “It’s me! Jordan said you had an important engagement, so I was supposed to wake you up.”
Wyatt began to wake up, relaxing his grip on her but still keeping her pinned down. “Your way of waking me up is by stealing?”
Yunice shamelessly replied, “It works, doesn’t it?”
Wyatt chuckled. “As usual, you don’t lose out.”
If he hadn’t woken up, Yunice would have surely claimed the bracelet for herself.
Yunice didn’t respond; instead, her gaze lingered on Wyatt’s sleeping robe. She hesitated for a moment before speaking, “Do you need to take care of something?”
There was a bulge in his robe. Morning erections were a sign of normal blood circulation and nerve function. It wasn’t driven by sexual fantasy or desire.
Yunice, being a doctor, was able to handle the situation normally. In her mind, she concluded that Wyatt was a normal man.
Wyatt looked down at Yunice, his lips tightening slightly. Yunice, without hesitation, thought that with two hours left before the engagement Jordan mentioned, there might be enough time.
Wyatt was a normal man, and she was a normal woman. She wasn’t opposed to adult behavior. If they were going to address physical needs, why not with the best option available?
As for Wyatt’s physical condition, she was satisfied. If she needed a bed partner, he was definitely suitable.
Yunice didn’t resist. She looked into Wyatt’s eyes firmly, showing no sign of shyness or rejection. After half a minute, Wyatt asked, “Are you trying to join the party?”
It seems she truly has no expectations or desires toward me, which is why she can look at me so calmly. Wyatt’s heart, which had been racing, gradually slowed down as he pulled away from Yunice and went directly to the bathroom.