Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
“She doesn’t like you. If you look pitiful, it’s harder for her to stay cold.”
Yunice gripped her sleeves tightly, feeling exposed as everyone turned to look. Madam Johnson rested in bed. Wyatt stood beside her. Jordan was at the door. Jake stood at the back of the chair.
Yunice was just taking in the room when a sharp face suddenly leaned in close. She pulled back instinctively. A red-haired man scrunched his brow. “Damn. That’s ugly.”
He stepped back dramatically, hands in his pockets, all arrogance. “No way I’m marrying that freak. Someone else can take her.”
Even if she hadn’t seen him before, it wasn’t hard to guess-this had to be Morgan, the man Lily had called a “perfect match.” Seeing him stomp around like a lunatic, Yunice thought her injury had actually come at the perfect time. He found her ugly. She didn’t want to marry him anyway.
But she didn’t want to look too smug, so she lowered her eyes and let them go red with tears. Wyatt’s face darkened. He looked at Morgan, eyes cold.
What did this guy have that made Yunice work so hard just to marry into this family? She saved Madam Johnson, took the blame, even risked her face. Madam Johnson finally told Morgan to shut up.
Even if she didn’t like Yunice, she’d saved her life and taken a blow meant for Wyatt. It wasn’t something she could ignore. She looked over at Yunice’s face. The wound was long, the stitches visible. It was hard to look at, even if she didn’t want to admit it; the injury made her feel a chill in her chest.
To take a hit like that for someone… either the girl was stupid or she was tough. Madam Johnson’s expression softened a little. “Will her face recover?”
Before Jake could respond, Jordan jumped in. “The cut’s too deep. Even the plastic surgeons said it might not fully heal.” Morgan laughed out loud. “That’s great, Grandma. I can’t take this monster but in public. Why don’t we just let Wyatt have her…”
“I don’t think he minds at all. He stayed right by her side the whole time you were unconscious.”
Whether it was Morgan’s voice or his attitude, Madam Johnson’s face turned even darker. She ignored him and looked at Yunice. “Ms. Saunders, thank you for saving me again. I’ll have Wyatt handle your consultation fee later. You won’t be shortchanged.”
Everyone in the room could hear what she meant. Madam Johnson only acknowledged the transaction-not the favor.
Morgan propped his sneakers on the table and said smugly, “Grandina, do you think the little nutjob even understands what you’re saying?”
Then he turned to Yunice, mocking, “Hey, she means take the money and get as far away as possible. You’d do everyone a favor if you just stayed locked up in the Saunders house forever.”
“Enough, Morgan,” Madam Johnson snapped.
He was about to argue back, but then caught Wyatt’s stare. That shut him up real fast. He dropped his feet from the table and sat up straighter. Wyatt was crazier than he was-and Morgan knew better than to poke that bear.
Madam Johnson said, “Everyone else out. Wyatt, stay.”
Morgan had been waiting for that. He got up with a theatrical stretch and strutted out like he owned the place.
Yunice let out a quiet breath. Morgan not liking her was the best outcome she could ask for.
But just outside the room, her wheelchair suddenly wouldn’t budge. Morgan hadn’t left. One of his sneakers was pressing down on the wheel, blocking her path. He leaned down toward her with a smirk.
Yunice shrank back, spine tight against the chair. He clearly wouldn’t touch her-he found her disgusting-but he wanted to intimidate her.
He sneered. “Your family really thought they could send you out to deal with me? I won’t forget this insult. Go home and tell them-if they want to kiss up to me, they better send your sister next time.”
Yunice kept her expression frozen in fear, but inside she was laughing her head off. If Owen ever found out he tried to suck up to a guy like this, he’d choke on regret.
After Morgan finally left, Wyatt came to Yunice’s room and handed her a card. “There’s a million in there. From Madam Johnson.”
Yunice held the card and read between the lines. So Wyatt was drawing a line-what was hers from Madam Johnson was hers. But what about the scar on her face? Was he going to repay that? Or not at all!
The second option seemed more likely. Wyatt had already said he wasn’t some saint. He wasn’t the type to repay favors. If he didn’t backstab you, that was already generous. Just like in the black market-she’d saved his life, and…
Yunice stood and went to close the door. When she returned, she looked at him and said, “Roll up your pants.”
“That was blunt. Too blunt.”
Wyatt’s eyes darkened at once. She explained, “Your leg took a hit. If you don’t deal with it, the tissue could start to die. You might end up stuck in a wheelchair.”
Back during the fight with Paul, Wyatt had banged his leg hard. For someone already disabled, that kind of injury could be serious. Just looking at the way he walked, she could tell it was bad. But he hadn’t rested. He was clearly pushing himself to hide it.
Still, he didn’t look moved by her concern. Instead, he grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her close, sneering. “You know it means something when a woman touches a man like that?”
She ended up on tiptoe from the force. “You’re reading too much into it…”
Wyatt narrowed his eyes. “You were just jealous over Morgan. Now what-can’t get him, so you’re trying to hook me instead?” She was too obvious, always trying to curry favor with whoever held power. It was stupid and desperate.
He let her go and added coldly. “If you want to win me over, it’s not that hard. You know what I want. Play your part, and I’ll…”
He’d been alone too long. Having a woman who knew how to behave didn’t sound so bad,
But Yunice wasn’t having it. “Wyatt, you’ve got it wrong.”
“I never had any interest in Morgan. I don’t trust romantic ties-they’re the least stable thing in the world. That goes for him… and for you.”
“I treated Madam Johnson not to gain favor, but because my father left notes behind. He asked me to finish what he couldn’t. Her condition was a mission, and an opportunity. I missed that opportunity, but that doesn’t mean I was being manipulative.”
All this time, they thought she was calculating. Like she was scheming for something. But she had never once asked for anything.
Wyatt tuned out most of what she said. He only remembered two words.
Wyatt frowned, clearly irritated. “What did you just call me?”
Yunice didn’t understand at first. After a pause, she hesitantly said, “Wyan?”
What was wrong with that? Everyone called him that-only Jordan and people close to him used his given name directly.
Wyatt’s jaw tightened, clearly annoyed. “I’m only five years older than you.”
Respect didn’t really have anything to do with age, though. Before the awkwardness could continue, someone knocked at the door-loud and fast, like something urgent had come up.
Wyatt’s anger hadn’t cooled. “Come in.”
Jordan stepped in, immediately sensing the tension. His eyes flicked to Yunice.
She could tell Wyatt was fuming, but she had no idea why. The man was impossible to understand.
Jordan leaned in and whispered something quickly.
Wyatt’s expression darkened further. He turned without a word. “Let’s go.”
The two men left in a hurry.
Afterward, Yunice went to find Jake to say goodbye.
“Ms. Saunders, you should rest! What’s the rush?” Jake looked worried.
Too many eyes at the hospital, Yunice didn’t want to invite trouble.
She said, “Dr. Dawson, please don’t tell anyone about my medical skills.”
Jake wanted to ask why, but when he thought about it-she was young, talented, and vulnerable-he understood. Some people might target her for that.
He nodded. “I won’t say a word.”
Yunice handed him a slip of paper. “If you ever need anything, you can message me.”
Jake accepted it with both hands, beaming. “Then I’ll be bothering you a lot in the future, Ms. Saunders.”
After a beat, Yunice softened. She handed over a prescription. “Dr. Dawson, Wyatt’s leg took a hit. Have someone make this into a medicinal paste. Remind him to use it.”
Jake grinned. “Ms. Saunders sure cares a lot about our Wyatt. Don’t worry, I’ll deliver your heartfelt message.”