Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
His heart pounded. He exited the video, and sure enough, there was more content below.
He slowly scrolled down, eyes widening bit by bit.
The man didn’t wait for him to finish. “I’ll give you one day to think it over. Ten million. Transfer it to me, and I’ll hand over all the evidence.” Then he hung up.
Owen sat frozen in front of the computer, unable to move.
The email was still open-an entire investigative report compiled by the paparazzi on Elsie.
Not only had they uncovered inconsistencies in Elsie and Yunice’s personal information, but they’d also captured a crystal-clear video of Elsie getting cozy with a patient at the hospital.
Wait-that patient was Morgan.
The same Morgan the Saunders family had once tried to match with Yunice.
Back then, Morgan had dismissed Yunice as mentally unstable and accused the Saunders of looking down on him. He’d even said he’d get his hands on Elsie just for fun.
Owen never imagined that, without his knowledge, the two had actually gotten involved.
Any one of the clips in that video would be enough to ruin Elsie if it got out.
His throat tightened. Panic set in as he quickly dialed Elsie’s number. She needed to come back immediately.
But the call didn’t go through.
He tried again. This time, not only did she reject the call, she then shut her phone off.
At the hotel, Paul powered off Elsie’s phone and tossed it aside.
Then he turned around and looked at her sleeping on the bed.
After dragging her away from Morgan, Elsie had been trying hard to win him back-playing up her feelings, pretending she still cared.
So Paul brought her to a hotel. When she brushed up against him with obvious intent, he gave her a drink laced with something.
She passed out not long after.
Paul had stripped her bare.
Now she lay face down on the bed without a stitch on, several clear handprints on her backside.
They weren’t his.
Paul’s eyes turned red. He sucked in a breath, then looked away, unable to face it.
Elsie really thought he was a fool.
He hadn’t been doing well lately, his funds drying up. And just like that, Elsie switched gears and found someone willing to spend on her.
So those five years of playing nice, of flattering him… it had all been for money. And he’d actually believed it was love.
Paul sat in a chair, chain-smoking, one cigarette after another.
His thoughts drifted to Yunice.
He’d always claimed Yunice stayed with Wyatt for power. But now, looking back-what had he ever given Yunice when she was with him?
He’d spent over a billion on Elsie. He helped her secure her advisor. He paid for VIP memberships at luxury clubs. He connected her to rich businessmen, helped her steal projects, and built her up into a young, successful woman.
Wherever Elsie went during those years, she was admired and envied.
And Yunice? Yunice had been with him for eighteen years. He bullied her from the start, treated her like property. He never thought about what she wanted. He never tried to make her feel loved.
The things that come easy are never cherished.
Yunice never got what Elsie did. People looked down on her, pushed her around, and he never once stood up for her.
Paul lit cigarette after cigarette. He kept thinking, finally piecing everything together.
He thought about what he’d gained from Yunice-and from Elsie.
What he had done for Yunice-versus what he had spent on Elsie.
And only now did he realize: all those years with Elsie had been nothing but talk. She never helped his life or career. In fact, she’d only made things worse. She was the reason his grandfather and father kept losing faith in him.
Now he understood why they’d never approved of her from the beginning.
He had been the only one too blind to see it.
Paul stubbed out the last cigarette. The pack was empty.
Elsie woke up coughing from the heavy stench of smoke filling the room. Her head pounded and spun from the lingering effects of the drug. She sat up slowly, pressing a hand to her forehead, and mumbled softly, “Morgan…”
Paul heard her loud and clear. He turned his head, his voice eerily calm. “Awake now?”
The sound of Paul’s voice snapped Elsie out of her daze like a bolt of lightning. She remembered now-Paul had taken her from Morgan, brought her to this hotel. And she’d just called out Morgan’s name…
Her face went pale. She scrambled to get out of bed and beg for forgiveness, but the moment she moved, she realized she was naked. Then her gaze shifted, and her panic disappeared.
Her body was covered in bruises, some red, some purple. Even with a foggy memory, it was obvious what had happened last night. The marks said enough. Paul had been so eager to have her, so rough-he had to have missed her like crazy. It could only mean he still had feelings for her. He wanted her back.
It felt like victory. Elsie decided not to get out of bed. Her waist ached, her limbs were sore, but she lay there with smug satisfaction, convinced she had Paul in the palm of her hand. She’d made the right choice last night. She’d been worried about getting nothing from either side, but now at least Paul was back under control.
Leaning seductively against the pillows, Elsie asked, “Paul, how many times did you take me last night? I’m so sore… Don’t tell me you haven’t touched Taylor at all since you married her?”
She figured Paul must’ve been saving himself for her. Otherwise, why would he have so much pent-up energy? She was so sore, it was swollen down there.
Paul’s voice dripped with sarcasm, though there wasn’t a trace of a smile in his eyes. “What can I say? I just can’t get enough of you.”
Elsie giggled at his reply, but then noticed something-his voice was hoarse. Really hoarse. She climbed out of bed and threw on a robe. As she walked toward him, the smoke hit her straight in the face, making her cough. Covering her nose, she frowned slightly. “You smoked this much? Are you in a bad mood?”
Paul hadn’t slept all night and had chain-smoked until his eyes were bloodshot. He looked like a wreck. If she hadn’t known he was the heir to the Lu family, someone like this wouldn’t even be worth her time.
But guilt gnawed at her. She couldn’t help wondering if his state meant he’d figured something out. She knelt at his feet, her voice soft and sweet. “I swear, nothing happened with Morgan. Don’t let your imagination run wild.”
After a long pause, Paul finally asked, “What if I went broke? Would you still stay with me?”
Elsie smiled. “You’re the heir to your family. You? Broke? That’s never gonna happen.”
His eyes narrowed with cold determination. “Exactly. Anyone could lose everything-but not me. I’ll make damn sure the whole world knows this: I, Paul, never let anyone get away with disrespecting or betraying me.”
His words were venomous. Elsie had never seen this side of him before. It unnerved her a little. But Paul hadn’t hurt her, so she told herself she was just being paranoid. She’d known Paul for years. She could play him like a fiddle. Easy to control.
Meanwhile, in Yunice’s hospital room, Wyatt was feeding her dumplings.
Jordan walked in, paused at the door when he saw Yunice lying there quietly, and hesitated like he had something to say. Wyatt didn’t even glance at him. “Out with it.” Clearly, he wasn’t trying to keep anything from Yunice.
Jordan said, “News came in last night-Paul’s set to take over Jensen’s position. He’s joining the Northvale project.”
Wyatt’s eyes went to Yunice first. She met his gaze, then lifted her chin slightly and prompted, “Dumplings.” She hadn’t finished eating.
Wyatt kept feeding her.