Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Then she heard Wyatt say, “Did you go overseas to buy cigarettes?”
Jordan had been gone an awfully long time.
Yunice paused, then heard the sound of the car door being pulled open.
Then Wyatt barked, “To Gardison Residence.”
Yunice’s eyes flew open just in time to hear Wyatt mutter irritably, “When people need me, I get a smile. When they don’t, I get the cold shoulder. Hmph…”
“You talking about me?” Yunice asked.
“Oh, look who’s finally speaking to me,” Wyatt replied.
Yunice had no words.
The car started heading toward the Gardison Residence.
Up front, Jordan kept one hand on the wheel and used the other to secretly text Wyatt:
“Wyatt, are you seriously taking Madam to see Ms. Nora?”
There was still time to change his mind.
Wyatt glanced at the message but didn’t reply. Nora was a vegetable now-no thoughts, no movement. He couldn’t let a single person dictate his and Yunice’s life.
The closer they got to Gardison Residence, the more uneasy Yunice felt. Even though she wouldn’t have to face Nora directly, a lingering discomfort gnawed at her. Part of her worried- Do I really look that much like Nora?
Just then, a hand slipped over hers. It was Wyatt. The furrow between Yunice’s brows slowly eased. She didn’t want him to notice her tension.
“Wyatt, is that Mr. Morgan’s car?”
Hearing Jordan’s voice, Yunice looked out the window. Parked outside the Gardison Residence was a car. A man had stepped out and was now standing in front of it, staring directly toward them. It was Morgan.
Didn’t even Morgan have permission to enter the Gardison Residence? Was this place truly Wyatt’s private territory?
Hands shoved in his pockets, Morgan strolled forward like some punk off the street. Jordan didn’t dare hit him, so he had to stop the car. Morgan walked up to the side and turned his head toward the window. Unfortunately, from where he stood, he had a clear view of Yunice. The moment he saw her, his expression darkened with fury. His black eyes seemed to catch fire.
He immediately circled to the other side, yanked the car door open, and shouted at Wyatt, “You actually brought that woman to see my sister?!”
Wyatt lifted his eyes lazily. “She is my wife.”
Morgan clenched his lips, seething but unable to argue. “I heard my sister’s showing signs of consciousness. Let me in. I want to see her.”
Wyatt stepped out. “You haven’t done what you promised. You don’t have the right to see her.”
Yunice got out too, standing next to Wyatt. Morgan looked like a rabid dog lunging at Wyatt.
“You don’t care about Nora anymore. You’re not marrying her. But you’re still keeping her locked up! That’s abuse! Maine told me that if the people Nora cares about talk to her every day, she’ll wake up faster! But since you married this woman, how many times have you come to see Nora? How often do you speak to her? Be honest-you want her to stay unconscious so she won’t disrupt your life!”
He added, “Maine was just standing up for Nora, and you went after her company! You tried to ruin her! Was it her?!” He jabbed a finger toward Yunice. “Was it she who told you to do it?!” He sneered, “Yunice, you stole Nora’s man, and messed with someone else. Have you no shame?!”
Before he could finish, Wyatt slapped him hard across the face.
“I’m not Nora’s man,” Wyatt snapped. “If you’re that upset and think I’m abusing your sister, then take her. Take her away right now.”
Morgan swallowed the taste of blood in his mouth, his eyes burning with hatred as he glared at Yunice. “Nora ended up in that coma because she was trying to save him. He owes her. And you?” he said with venom. “You swooped in while she was sick and stole her place. Who gave you the right to be here?”
Yunice’s expression turned cold. She turned and started walking away. She was tired of this-tired of being stared at like she was a villain. All of this mess had started with Wyatt. She had been dragged into this marriage. What had she done wrong? Why did I even bother asking about Nora? she thought bitterly. Whatever drama existed between Wyatt and Nora-what did that have to do with her? Once she wrapped up the business with the Saunders family and the Powell family, she was leaving.
Just then, her wrist was yanked back. She turned and saw Wyatt had pulled her toward him again.
“You feel bad for Nora?” he asked. “Then do you know the steel plant explosion-Nora caused it on purpose. Sure, she saved me. But do you realize how many people almost died in that fire? Do you know how Elianna’s father died? Elianna still doesn’t know it was Nora who killed him!”
Yunice and Morgan both stared at Wyatt, shocked by the revelation.
Morgan’s jaw dropped. Then he burst out in anger. “Wyatt! You’re slandering Nora just to defend Yunice! Why would Nora do something like that? What did she gain from blowing up a steel plant?! Give me one good reason-why would a living, breathing person destroy themselves and end up like that? Give me a reason!”
Wyatt replied, “The reason is simple. Nora was working for the Powell family. She was their pawn. Understand? You should be thankful she backed off at the last second-otherwise, you and the Johnson family wouldn’t be standing today.” He continued coldly, “I’m telling you this now so you’ll think twice. If you keep yelling in front of my wife, I can make sure there’s no Johnson family left in Silverburgh.”
Morgan froze. “Wyatt, are you saying even Grandma doesn’t matter anymore?”
Wyatt’s tone was icy. “Your last name is Johnson. Mine is Cooper. Tell me-whose grandmother is she really?”
Morgan stood there, stunned, watching helplessly as Wyatt took Yunice’s hand and walked right past him. He was completely blank, his thoughts spinning in confusion. Nora… a pawn of the Powell family? No way. He’s lying. He fell out of love, and now he’s slandering her!
The gates of Gardison Residence closed behind them, shutting Morgan out.
Yunice was just as shocked as Morgan. It wasn’t until they had walked quite a ways that she turned to Wyatt with a puzzled, questioning look. She had just opened her mouth when Wyatt said, “You’re wondering if I’m twisting the truth-using the fact that Nora can’t wake up to pin something on her, to ease my own guilt?”
Yunice didn’t know. She hadn’t been there. All she could do was piece things together from what everyone else said about Nora. So she asked for Wyatt’s version. “Nora was sent by the Powell family to hurt you?”
If that was true, then Nora had pretended to fall in love with Wyatt, only to blow up the steel mill, causing massive casualties. As the person in charge, Wyatt would have spent the rest of his life rotting in prison. Two or three years ago, Wyatt had been on the rise in Silverburgh. The Powell family had every reason to see him as a threat.
Yunice asked, “So the injury to your leg-that was from the steel mill explosion?”
Wyatt gave a quiet “Mm.”
Yunice pressed on. “When did you find out Nora was sent by the Powell family?”
“First time we met,” Wyatt said.
Yunice wanted to ask, Then why did you let her in? Why give her the chance to hurt you? She nearly said it aloud- Was it because you liked her? Did your feelings cloud your judgment?
But Wyatt cut her off. “We’re here.”
Yunice looked up to see Wyatt pushing open a door. Inside was the foot of a hospital bed and a room filled with machines. They had reached Nora’s room.
Yunice stepped in instinctively, leaving Wyatt behind at the doorway. This was her first time seeing Nora. The first thing she looked at was her face.
Despite what people said, their features weren’t all that similar. The resemblance was more of a feeling-something hard to put into words. Still, with moderate nearsightedness, it would be easy to mistake one for the other.
Yunice’s heart raced a little. Her cheeks felt warm. Standing in front of Nora, she couldn’t even understand her own emotions. Guilt, maybe. Shame. Or something even less admirable.
After taking a good look at her, Yunice reached to feel the pulse on Nora’s neck, then moved to her wrist. Only then did Wyatt step inside, walking over slowly to watch Yunice fumble around.
Yunice frowned slightly. “Something feels off…” She pressed Nora’s arm, then slid her hand behind her back.
A moment later, she reached for the blanket, intending to check Nora’s legs-but Wyatt stopped her. “She’s not wearing anything.”
Because of the monitors hooked to her body, Nora wasn’t wearing outer clothes. Yunice awkwardly pulled the blanket back up over her.
“She’s been well cared for. Her muscles haven’t atrophied, no bedsores, good skin elasticity. If she regains consciousness, there’s a good chance of full recovery.” It also proved, indirectly, that Wyatt had indeed taken good care of her.
Wyatt’s eyes lingered on Yunice. He looked like he wanted to say something, but held back. Instead, he looked away coldly. “You’ve seen what you came to see. You’ve heard what you came to hear. Can we stop the drama now?”
Yunice stood up and looked at his bloodshot eyes from lack of sleep. She asked hesitantly, “Can I come again next time?”
Wyatt said, “Why do you keep staring at her? I’m the one you’re married to.”
Yunice was speechless. She said nothing more and followed him out of Gardison Residence.
In the car, Wyatt leaned on the window, using his arm to prop up his head. He fell asleep like that. When they got back to Pavilion Hall, he didn’t let Yunice leave. Even though she’d already napped earlier, he still insisted on holding her in his arms like a human pillow.