Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Yunice was still a little dazed when the head gardener hurried over to her, full of enthusiasm.
“Ma’am, would you like to add any new flowers to the garden?”
He opened a catalog, filled with photos of blooming plants and elegant trees.
“Anything you like, Ma’am. I can coordinate the arrangement based on your preferences,” the gardener said warmly.
Yunice knew Wyatt probably didn’t care much about details like these, so she didn’t push the task back. She picked a few varieties that looked pleasant and had a light fragrance.
She had never liked heavily scented flowers. Back when she lived with the Saunders family, Oscar used to get dizzy from strong scents, so their home always avoided things like lilies or gardenias.
“Wyatt,” she suddenly asked, “do you prefer strong or light floral scents?”
This was his house, after all. She couldn’t just follow the habits of the Saunders family.
Wyatt paused, caught off guard by the question. “Light.”
Yunice nodded and returned to discussing arrangements with the gardener.
Just then, the Powell family butler approached Wyatt and was surprised to find him in a good mood.
The sharp-eyed butler followed Wyatt’s line of sight and spotted Yunice on the swing.
Wyatt turned, meeting the butler’s gaze with a smirk laced with mockery. “What are you here for?”
“Sir wants you to keep Mr. Paul in check,” Luke replied.
Wyatt picked up a few pebbles from the flowerbed and tossed them into the fishpond. “What if I kill him by accident? Who takes the blame then?”
Luke knew Wyatt was hard to convince, so he just stood there patiently, trying to wear him down.
Wyatt continued tossing stones. The koi fish initially swam over eagerly, thinking it was food, only to get smacked in the head by cold pebbles. They scattered in every direction, thrashing their tails in panic.
Yunice glanced over from the swing, silently lowering her presence.
But Luke peeked at her and added, “Now that Ms. Yunice is married in, wouldn’t it be proper to visit the old house more often?”
Wyatt hurled the last of the pebbles, snorting, “What, you think the Powell family is such a prize? What if I don’t want to go?”
At that moment, Yunice stepped off the swing, walked up to him in front of Luke, and leaned in close.
“I want to see the drama,” she whispered.
Wyatt studied her face for a beat, then slipped both hands into his pockets and turned to Luke.
“I’ll go. But on one condition.”
Luke’s eyes lit up. “Name it.”
“Get rid of that ridiculous raised threshold at your front gate.”
Luke’s brows furrowed.
Wyatt’s leg was healed now. Why was he making such a demand?
Was this a calculated insult to the old man? Or the whole Powell family?
No matter Wyatt’s intentions, Luke had at least gotten a response, so he returned to report.
“He wants the threshold removed?” The Powell patriarch fell into deep thought. Why now?
Jensen sneered, “What reason? He just wants to twist the knife.”
The balance of power had shifted. Wyatt held the cards now, and they were beneath him.
Of course, he’d take his time settling scores.
But like it or not, Wyatt could leave the Powell family. The Powell family couldn’t afford to leave Wyatt.
Jensen, ever since making a fool of himself in the meeting hall, had kept a low profile.
The North City project needed a trusted insider to manage it.
And Paul, as the heir, was due for his trial by fire. Wyatt’s pressure would serve as the grindstone.
Their plan was clear: mold Paul into a second Wyatt.
It was the only way.
That evening, before the banquet began, the Powell family sent a message: the threshold had been removed. Wyatt could see for himself if he didn’t believe it.
So Wyatt took Yunice with him.
She wore heels for once, dressed formally, standing confidently at Wyatt’s side with a presence that matched his stride for stride.
They entered through the main gate and headed toward the reception hall.
The dining hall was on the other side-no rush to eat just yet.
The reception hall was arranged the same as before, high-backed chairs lined up in a semi-circle. Yunice remembered vividly how, last time she was here, everyone else had been seated while Wyatt stood alone, taking their abuse.
But today everything was different.
Paul was on his knees in the center of the hall, pinned down by several men. His face was flushed red as he struggled, but he couldn’t overpower four hands with just two.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a familiar silhouette and turned his head.
Yunice walked in, arm in arm with Wyatt, calm and collected, taking her seat at the head of the room.
For a moment, Paul didn’t recognize her.
It had only been half a month, yet Yunice’s entire aura had changed. She glowed. Her eyes radiated ease and control-so different from the ghost-like girl she used to be in the Saunders household.
Paul couldn’t stop staring at her, mind spinning.
How had he ever thought such a Yunice wasn’t good enough for him?
Paul still remembered what Yunice had looked like when she was first brought back from the asylum-like a ghost haunting its last breath.
And now… now he couldn’t take his eyes off her.
How had she transformed so suddenly?
Yunice, sensing his gaze, lifted her eyes. Her expression was elegant, composed-but hidden behind that surface was a flicker of cold mockery, a sharp glint that cut deep.
But Paul, dull as ever, couldn’t see any of it.
He probably still didn’t know that the one who had orchestrated his downfall was Yunice herself.
That day, when she locked Elsie in the elevator control room, it wasn’t just to trap Jason’s wife.
Her true target had always been Paul.