Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
But Yunice immediately picked up on the hidden meaning. The design flaws were probably just an excuse to see her.
She quietly deleted the message.
When the rain finally stopped, Wyatt started the car and drove them back to Pavilion Hatt.
Before he could come around and open the door for her, Yunice obediently got out of the car.
She was worried that if he got angry, he might actually lock her up in the house. She froze in place, uneasily watching him.
“Wyatt, please don’t lock me in. After those three years in the asylum, I can’t take it anymore. I’ll be okay?”
Tears clung to her lashes. She looked down and reached out to tug at the edge of his sleeve.
Just a little tug. Lips pressed together, the corners of her eyes tinted red and damp.
Wyatt frowned. He knew some of it was an act, but still, his throat bobbed heavily.
She’d spent three years in that asylum-three years of being treated worse than livestock. The scars on her wrists hadn’t even fully faded. Back then, she could only lie there on the chopping block and await whatever came.
Wyatt’s gaze on her was filled with conflict and restraint. Locking her up would be the simplest effective solution. He’d never expected love-he only wanted her to stay.
But somehow, just a few soft words and a couple of tears from her, and his mind involuntarily conjured those scenes of her being tortured in that hellhole.
If he locked her up now, how was he any different from the monsters who’d tortured her before?
He liked her alive-lively. Not trembling in fear every day like some broken shell.
But she wasn’t trustworthy. Turn your back for one second and she ran.
Between her losing her mind and running away, which one was harder to handle?
Wyatt’s eyes darkened with cold light. Yunice could feel it, and her heart began to thump.
“Sir, the Crawford family called again,” the housekeeper’s voice cut through the tension.
Sensing something was off, the housekeeper cautiously added, “Mr. Carl asked for Ms. Yunice to take the call.”
Yunice looked at Wyatt nervously. When he didn’t object, she ran to the living room to answer the phone. Wyatt stood at a distance, watching her back. He could feel her slipping away-her fear, her distance.
She was probably crying to Carl right now, begging him to take her away.
Hands in his pockets, Wyatt strolled slowly into the living room, stopping a few steps away.
Yunice could sense him watching her, and picked up the phone solemnly. “Mr. Carl.”
Carl’s voice was steady and flat. “Owen said you promised to provide a venue for his wedding. Is that true?”
“Yes,” Yunice replied.
“Then go back to the Saunders house and discuss the wedding details with him. You’ve made promises. Life has to go on, doesn’t it?”
“I understand, Mr. Carl,” Yunice said.
Carl hung up.
Yunice turned back around and tugged on Wyatt’s sleeve again. “Can I go back to the Saunders family tomorrow?”
Wyatt looked down at her hand, then up into her eyes.
If he said yes now, wouldn’t that be letting her off too easily?
Seeing that Wyatt’s expression remained cold, Yunice’s smile slowly fell apart.
Watching her change, Wyatt’s heartbeat began to slow. Did I overdo it? Did she grow up trying to please me, once she realized it didn’t work?
He frowned. All she has to do is lower her head and…
Wyatt froze. Something soft pressed against his lips.
Yunice had tiptoed up, stretching her neck to just barely reach him. She gave him a light kiss and then looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. “Okay?”
Feeling awkward, Wyatt shifted where he stood. A few seconds passed before he looked away, then finally turned and left her standing there with a cold, “Whatever.”
Yunice raised her brows slightly. As expected. Wyatt doesn’t respond to force. He only softens when coaxed.
Better keep him appeased for now. I’ll deal with the Saunders and Powell family mess first, then I’ll deal with Wyatt.
After all, ever since the day she married him, she’d always planned to leave eventually.
Wyatt was far too controlling. She didn’t want to be some caged bird.
That night, Wyatt didn’t return to their bedroom, and he was nowhere to be seen the next morning either.
After breakfast, Yunice sent him a message reporting her plans, then headed out.
He didn’t respond.
Her first stop was to pick up Gill-she planned to bring her along to the Saunders house.
As Gill got in the car, Yunice noticed someone hiding behind an obstacle in the rearview mirror, watching her.
Probably someone Wyatt sent to keep an eye on me.
Pretending not to notice, she drove off and took Gill shopping at a luxury boutique, splurging left and right.
Gill was all smiles, juggling bags of clothes and jewelry. “Hey, did you win the lottery or something?”
“Open the wallet,” Yunice said while driving.
Gill flipped it open and stared, jaw dropping at the neat rows of bank cards. “Did Mr. Wyatt kill someone and you caught him in the act, or what?”
“His ex-girlfriend,” Yunice said calmly. “I found out about her.”
“You’re serious?” Gill went quiet, then slowly shut the wallet. Her face darkened. “So it’s true…”
They had suspected all along that Wyatt had skeletons in his closet.
“Don’t worry,” Yunice said. “She can’t touch me for now. And don’t start thinking I’m the one getting the short end of the stick in all this.”
Because really, it was Nora who got the short end of the stick.
Seeing Yunice so indifferent, Gill patted her chest, “Thank God you don’t have feelings for him. Otherwise, this would basically count as a breakup.”
Yunice gripped the steering wheel. “I wouldn’t say I feel nothing. I’m just forcing myself not to care.”
But logic only went so far. Her body and subconscious always gave her away.
From the corner of her eye, she glanced at her wallet full of Wyatt’s cards. I can’t pretend I’m not jealous at all.
What Maine said yesterday still echoed in her head-Wyatt taking Nora to see the aurora.
That must’ve been so romantic.