Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
She needed him out in the open, publicly exposed, so that Taylor-and the Powell family-could track him down.
After being gone so long, the Powell family would definitely drag him back.
And Paul, prideful to the core, would never admit fault once embarrassed. Butting heads with the family would lead him exactly here.
It hadn’t even been hard to lure him to the control room.
Using Elsie’s phone, Yunice had messaged Paul that she’d seen her and Wyatt together inside.
Paul had rushed over immediately.
Yunice knew him too well.
And she also knew he’d never suspect her. When he realized he’d been set up, he’d blame Elsie-assume she was just playing jealous mind games again.
Yunice turned her gaze away from him, proud and satisfied.
A moment later, she felt warmth on her palm-Wyatt’s hand, closing around hers.
She looked up to find him glaring daggers at Paul.
So he was using her to get under Paul’s skin.
Yunice leaned into it, squeezing Wyatt’s hand tighter, then shot Paul a smug look.
The message was clear: Wyatt is better than you, and I know it.
Paul turned green with rage and jerked his gaze away.
Yunice turned to Wyatt with a sparkle in her eye. Did I do good?
Whether it was good or not didn’t matter-Wyatt was clearly in a great mood.
Across from them, Taylor sat stiffly. She couldn’t take it anymore and shot Paul a vicious glare.
Jackson and Jensen had been hoping Wyatt would take Paul under his wing on the North City project.
To put it nicely, they called it mentorship. Truthfully, they just wanted Paul to worm his way into the company’s core operations.
“…estate to fulfill your filial duties in your place.”
Every person in the room turned to look at Jackson.
The move was laughably transparent-an attempt to keep Yunice as a hostage, right in their territory.
Wyatt hadn’t even spoken yet when Yunice smiled and leaned slightly forward. “Of course.”
That answer made the atmosphere tenser.
Wyatt frowned but didn’t object.
Yunice continued, “I’ll fulfill my duties to the Powell family, and our dear nephew will fulfill his to the Cooper family. Supporting each other like that, isn’t that the secret to a prosperous household?”
So they wanted to hold her hostage? Fine. Two could play that game. If she had it bad at the Powell estate, Paul would have it worse under Wyatt.
Let’s see how prosperous they’d be then.
Every word she said was drenched in irony, but no one could point to anything directly.
The old man’s face darkened.
Yunice turned to Jackson, all smiles. “Mr. Jackson, you’ve known me since I was little. You know I love a lively environment and I’ve never been good at following rules. If I move into the Powell estate, you won’t try to restrain me, right?”
Just like how he once restrained Wyatt and his mother.
Her smile was bright, but every word was a blade.
Jackson’s face went dark enough to squeeze ink from.
On the side, Wyatt’s hand, resting on the armrest, subtly relaxed.
Then Yunice added, “Mr. Jackson, if I do move in, can I choose my own courtyard? I’d like to live near our dear nephew and his wife. We’re close in age and have common interests-wouldn’t want to feel too lonely.”
Paul’s head snapped up, eyes filled with confusion.
She wanted to live near him?
Only he would be stupid enough not to understand what she meant.
The old man, on the other hand, felt a splitting headache coming on. He never realized that aside from being disliked, Yunice also had such a sharp tongue.
Before anyone else could speak, Taylor exploded.
“I don’t agree!”
Her face twisted in disgust. “Having one Elsie in this house is bad enough. Now you want to bring Yunice in? Has anyone considered my dignity?”
Everyone knew the rumors between Yunice and Paul. It had been a public scandal.
And Paul was a known womanizer. You hand-deliver someone like Yunice to his doorstep and expect him not to take a bite?
Taylor snapped, “If Yunice moves into the Powell estate, I’m going back to my parents’ house!”
Wyatt leaned back, fully relaxed now.
Yunice had played her hand beautifully-turning the heat elsewhere.
But being sharp-tongued and clever didn’t always bring rewards.
Paul’s scandal had, after all, left the Powell family owing Taylor a debt. Her family background gave her power, and even if the old man disliked her, he had to show respect for the sake of her maternal family.
“I made an offhand comment, and you’re all treating it like a political statement?” the patriarch snapped, thumping his cane. “Not a single one of you knows how to show respect anymore!”
Taylor crossed her arms and ignored him.
Paul, on his knees, stiffened his neck and tried to resist the servants holding him down.
The old man glared at everyone. The sight of Yunice sipping tea and Wyatt slouching like he didn’t care only made him angrier.
Nothing had been decided about Yunice’s stay, and Paul-the one in disgrace-refused to cooperate.
“I’m not going to the Northvale project, and I’m definitely not working under the Cooper family!” Paul shouted. “I’ll make my own way, succeed on my own terms. I don’t need him!”
Jensen visibly winced. Paul? Succeed on his own?
If there weren’t so many people in the room, he’d have gotten up close and said it to his face. Absolutely not happening.
Paul continued to wail, drowning out the room with his tantrum.
Taylor had enough. She covered her ears and snapped, “Shut up already! Do you have no self-awareness at all?”
The patriarch and Jensen began chastising Paul in turn.