Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
They couldn’t wait till morning.
But now, with Yunice fussing over Carl like this, it only made them look thoughtless and immature.
Elsie rolled her eyes at Yunice, thinking she was just being dramatic.
But Owen couldn’t hold back and snapped, “If you really cared about Mr. Carl, you wouldn’t have done such despicable things to upset him. You talk nice but act like a snake. Hypocrite!”
Wyatt looked up and shot Owen a cold glance.
Owen flinched and immediately looked away.
Still, he reassured himself-Mr. Carl was here. There was nothing to be afraid of.
Mr. Carl was fair and impartial. He always stood by reason, not family. If Yunice really was in the wrong, there was no way Mr. Carl would side with her.
After the maid brought over slices of red ginseng, Yunice personally made the tea for Mr. Carl.
Carl asked, “They came here-don’t you have anything to say?”
“I don’t,” Yunice replied.
Owen jumped in again, “You think staying quiet means no one will find out what you did? Have you even looked at yourself lately? Scheming, ruthless-there’s nothing ladylike about you! You’re basically a street thug!”
Carl’s voice dropped cold. “Enough.”
Just hearing Owen speak gave him a headache. “If you’ve got something to say, then say it. But don’t sit there slandering your sister. If she’s a thug, what does that make you? You talk like this in front of me-how do you speak to her in private?”
Scolded by Carl, Owen turned away, clearly unwilling to accept it.
Lily softly defended, “Owen’s always had a bit of a temper. He’s just upset… He’s not usually like this…”
Carl replied flatly, “What he’s like normally isn’t my concern. But someone this hot-headed will never accomplish anything.”
Owen looked embarrassed but still wouldn’t back down. “Mr. Carl, why are you only scolding me? She’s the one-“
Carl cut him off sharply, “I said we’ll wait for Oscar.”
Only after everyone fell silent did Carl speak again. “Actions have consequences. I’m not going to make judgments based on hearsay. Just because someone brings me so-called evidence doesn’t mean I’ll automatically take their side.”
Yunice looked at Owen, her expression complicated. Unfortunately, the fool was too caught up in his own anger to understand the deeper meaning of Carl’s words.
Wasn’t the reason Owen had been blinded by Elsie all these years because he always listened to one-sided stories and believed her so-called evidence?
As Yunice quietly judged Owen, he was doing the same to her.
He thought she shouldn’t get too smug. She had no idea he had a video in his hands.
Once Carl saw her ugly side, let’s see how long she could keep up that sweet little act.
Owen kept glancing at the time, wondering why Oscar was taking so long.
His face still ached from the hundred slaps he’d received. But what hurt more than the swelling was his shattered pride.
He couldn’t wait to see Yunice exposed and humiliated.
Meanwhile, Yunice leisurely continued preparing the tea. Without making a fuss, she handed the freshly steeped cup to Wyatt.
The gesture was so natural, like she was in her own home.
Owen watched, his chest tightening with discomfort.
How long had she even been with Wyatt? And she was already doting on him?
He’d been talking here for what felt like forever and she hadn’t so much as offered him a sip of tea. Feeling petty, Owen slumped back against the sofa, thinking, If she poured me a cup, maybe I’d cut her some slack when I expose her. Maybe I’d even say something nice to Mr. Carl so he wouldn’t punish her too harshly.
But instead, Yunice poured another cup of tea, brought it to her lips, and took a sip-without even glancing at the Saunders family.
Owen’s face sank. Lily quietly licked her dry lips.
She’d been sitting there all this time, and no one had even brought her a glass of water.
Still, asking directly would be humiliating.
So, she lightly touched her throat and gave a couple of soft coughs.
Carl looked up. Owen quickly explained, “Mr. Carl, please don’t mind her. My mom’s throat is badly inflamed-Yunice forced chili oil down her throat. She’s in a lot of pain.”
Only then did Carl frown and signal the maid to bring water for the three members of the Saunders family.
Then he asked, “If she’s that sick, why isn’t she in the hospital? What’s she doing here?”
Lily looked aggrieved and rasped, “Carl… are you mad at me or something…”
Anyone with eyes could see how cold Carl was toward the Saunders family.
“Mad at you?” Carl repeated, then challenged, “Shouldn’t you be the ones apologizing to Yunice?”
The Saunders family froze. They had come to file a complaint. Not only did Yunice not have to apologize, now they were the ones being told to say sorry?
What had they even done to her?
Carl continued, “Why were you detained by the police? Already forgotten? You opened your mouth and made up lies about your own daughter. Nearly ruined Yunice’s academic future. Don’t you think she deserves an apology?”
Lily’s face twisted as she clenched her fingers, then mumbled, “Didn’t I already apologize? I did it in front of the entire national media. Isn’t that enough to show I meant it?”
Carl replied, “That wasn’t an apology. That was you compromising out of fear of going to jail. And you apologized to the public, not to Yunice. Isn’t she the one who suffered the most from this?”
Tears rolled down Lily’s face in frustration. “But I already spent 10 days in jail! I’ve lost all dignity! Ever since that press conference, I haven’t dared to leave the house. I’m scared people will laugh at me on the street, point fingers at me…”
Carl cut her off, “That’s the consequence of your own actions. I’ve never seen a mother so vicious to her own child. Why not spread rumors about your son? Or about Elsie? Just because you don’t get along with Yunice, you think you can hurt her however you like? You’re her mother.”
Lily sniffled and turned her head away, muttering, “She’s never treated me like a mother. I’ve never seen a child so unfilial to their own parent.”
Carl said, “A parent’s love is like saving money in a piggy bank. If you don’t put anything in when they’re young, how can you expect anything to be there when they’re grown?”
The implication hit hard – he was accusing her of never having cared for Yunice as a child. Lily broke down, face buried in her hands, sobbing.
Carl’s face darkened, eyes rimmed red.
Owen tried to defend her. “My mom didn’t take care of Yunice because she had no choice. You can’t blame her…”
Yunice had heard this excuse so many times that she didn’t even bother to argue.
Just then, a voice interrupted Owen.
“I’m here.”
Oscar stepped into the Crawford family’s living room, bringing a cold presence with him.
Seeing him at last, Owen immediately perked up. “Oscar, we’ve been waiting for you!”
But Oscar didn’t ask why he’d been summoned in the middle of the night. Instead, he glanced around and asked, “Owen, where’s your girlfriend?”