Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Yunice glanced back at him through the bars, eyes glittering with amusement. If you’ve got the guts, come stop me yourself.
Owen gripped the bars, grinding his teeth in silence.
Elsie strutted up to Peggy, high and mighty. “We’ve agreed to settle. Withdraw the charges right now and let my brother out. Otherwise, even if you got down on your knees and begged, he wouldn’t marry you.”
Peggy shot her a sideways look. “Who do you think you are? You think you get to decide what your brother does?”
“What, your family doesn’t have anyone else? Where’s his mom? I want to hear it from her.”
Marriage was a serious thing-it had to be approved by the elders.
Elsie’s face went red. “You think someone like you deserves to meet my mom?”
Peggy scoffed. “No need to get riled up. I won’t settle unless your family’s decision-maker steps forward.”
“You-!” Elsie was completely stuck.
Just then, Yunice stepped forward and said calmly, “Will you talk to me?”
Before Peggy could respond, Elsie snapped, “She won’t even talk to me-what makes you think you’ll succeed?”
Yunice answered evenly, “I don’t have much to offer. Just the venue for the wedding. Maybe help with the guest list…”
Both Peggy and Elsie turned to look at her.
Peggy’s response was instant. “What kind of venue?”
Yunice smiled. “Only the top wedding venue in Silverburch. You know the one.”
Peggy’s eyes lit up. “You mean Silverburch Grand?”
Yunice nodded. “No big deal.”
Peggy’s rigid posture finally softened. Her eyes gleamed with greedy delight. She turned to Elsie. “What are you offering?”
When Elsie stayed silent, Peggy sneered. “Don’t tell me you’ve got nothing. That says a lot about your status in the Saunders family.”
Peggy dismissed Elsie entirely and turned to Yunice, beaming. “Let’s put it in writing. A proper agreement, so no one can back out later.”
Yunice said, “Fine by me.”
As the two of them sat down and drafted a formal agreement, Elsie could only stand off to the side and watch.
Soon, Peggy formally dropped the charges. Owen came out of the police station rubbing his wrists and grimacing.
Up ahead, Peggy clung to Yunice’s arm like an old friend. “You and your husband have to be my maid of honor and best man. That would be such a power move.”
“Married couples can’t be in the wedding party.”
“No biggie.” Peggy said breezily. “You’re my sister-in-law now-we’ll be seeing a lot of each other. Can’t wait to have afternoon tea with all the other rich ladies!”
Yunice had a faint, detached smile on her lips as she crouched into the car. Peggy instantly poked her head in and climbed in right after. Behind them, Owen and Elsie trailed behind, their faces dark as thunder as they watched the two women linked arm in arm.
Elsie muttered, “Owen, why are Yunice and Peggy acting so chummy? You don’t think they set this whole thing up to trap you, do you?”
Owen’s glare stayed locked on the two figures ahead. Of course, he’d considered it. But knowing now didn’t change anything. He’d already taken the bait-too late for regrets. Still: “I don’t think it was a full setup. My guess? Yunice and Peggy are close, and since Peggy has a thing for me, Yunice probably handed me over as some kind of favor between girlfriends.”
Elsie frowned. Something about that felt off.
Owen sneered. “But I won’t let Peggy be happy.”
Elsie snapped, “Me neither.”
Inside the car, Yunice sat in the backseat while Peggy cozied right up beside her, eyes gleaming with excitement as she ran her hands along the seats. “This leather feels amazing!” She leaned forward to inspect the dashboard. “And this center console? So sleek!”
“How much does this car cost?”
She caught sight of the driver-the butler-and immediately lit up, waving like they were old friends. “Hey there, butler! Fancy seeing you again!” Then she added with mock familiarity, “Don’t be so cold-I’m going to be your madam’s sister-in-law soon. I’ll be visiting Pavilion Hall all the time.”
The butler’s brow twitched.
Peggy laughed with satisfaction. Dreams really do come true. She, Peggy, had finally climbed the social ladder. From this point on, she’d be living among the elite. Who would dare look down on her now, or casually throw her out of a garden like she was trash?
Just then, Owen and Elsie arrived, both wearing the kind of expressions people reserve for collecting unpaid debts. They climbed in with zero enthusiasm. Owen took the passenger seat. Elsie sat in the back, wedged beside Peggy, who made a point of scooting right into her space.
Elsie was practically pushed out of the car. She finally snapped, “What the hell is your problem?!”
Peggy blinked innocently, “Me? What’d I do? Why are you so aggressive?”
“You keep squishing me!”
“Squishing? This car’s got plenty of space. Maybe you need to lose some weight. Feeling cramped is a you problem.”
Elsie’s face turned bright red. She knew Peggy was doing it on purpose.
Peggy, full of smug delight, tilted her head. “You even know how to appreciate a luxury car like this? If you’re so uncomfortable, why don’t you get out?”
Elsie hissed, “Tacky gold-digger. Acting like you’ve made it just because you got in someone else’s car. I’ve got more sports cars under my name than you’ve even seen in your life.”
Peggy’s eyes lit up even more. If even Elsie had sports cars, then the Saunders family really was loaded. Elsie squirmed under her hungry stare. It felt like Peggy was mentally peeling her like fruit.
Chilled, she bolted from the car. “Owen! We’re not riding with them!”
But the moment she stepped out, Peggy reached over and slammed the door shut. “Don’t want to ride? No one’s begging you.” Then she turned sweetly to Owen. “But you’re not going anywhere. According to our agreement, you’re coming with me to get our marriage license-today. No more delays.”
Owen silently prayed it was a public holiday.
It wasn’t.
“I didn’t bring my ID or household registration,” he said quickly.
Yunice calmly pulled out a folder. “Good thing I brought everything from home when I left. Just in case.” Owen nearly coughed up blood on the spot, while Peggy lunged at Yunice to kiss her out of sheer joy.
Yunice blocked her with a hand. “Butler, take us to the Civil Affairs Bureau.”
The car rolled forward, kicking up a cloud of dust. Elsie was left coughing in its wake, glaring at the shrinking car with murder in her eyes.
Inside the marriage bureau, the clerk glanced between the newly printed marriage license and the photo of Owen looking like he wanted to kill someone. The clerk gave him a suspicious look. “Are you entering this marriage voluntarily?”
For a split second, Owen’s eyes welled with rage. He was right at the edge, ready to explode-to scream that this was a trap, that he was innocent, that he’d been forced. But Peggy beat him to it. She clamped onto his arm, her eyes cold and threatening.
If he so much as raised his voice, she’d throw a fit right there. Maybe even scream rape again on the spot.
Owen’s face contorted. Then, under her gaze, all the fight drained from him.
“I’m here voluntarily,” he said, defeated.
Ka-chunk, ka-chunk. The clerk pressed the official seal onto both marriage certificates, finalizing the legal union between Owen and Peggy. Peggy snatched hers up, beaming from ear to ear. Owen, however, looked like a man walking to his own funeral. He didn’t even glance at it.
The moment the paperwork was done, Owen turned and stormed off. When he saw Yunice standing nearby watching the show, he paused to snap, “Happy now? Got your revenge?”
Yunice looked back at him with calm disdain, just watching his impotent rage without saying a word.