Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Morgan was supposed to be in the interrogation room, a place no one could get into except authorized personnel. Yunice had no idea how this reporter pulled it off.
The footage didn’t show faces-it was pitch black. But you could hear the cops grilling him, and Morgan ranting incoherently.
A cop barked, “What’s your relationship with Elsie?!”
Morgan laughed like a maniac. “She’s my stallion-I ride her, giddy-up, giddy-up!”
From the chaotic tone of Morgan’s voice, it was clear the drugs had set off paranoia. Any testimony given under such conditions wouldn’t be admissible, but it was a high-profile case involving Elsie.
The officer asked again, “Where were you at 8 PM on November 28? What were you doing? Can anyone confirm your whereabouts?”
Morgan rambled incoherently, his drug-addled mind unable to form coherent responses. He snapped viciously, “Elsie was just a bitch. She’s dead, so what? I did the world a favor! Why the hell are they ganging up on me? Let me go! Aaahhh!”
The sound of handcuffs clinking echoed through the video.
“…Yeah, I strangled her. When I did it, she kicked like a little chick. She bruised my leg. You think I was gonna take that? After I strangled her, I slapped her across the face more than a dozen times?”
The officer continued, “And after you strangled her? Did you slit her wrists with a knife? Did you act alone, or did someone help you? Why wasn’t there any trace of you at the scene? Did you clean it up yourself, or did someone else do it for you?”
Morgan’s head suddenly slumped forward. The drugs had finally knocked him out.
The officer flipped his notebook closed and said, “This Morgan guy’s a regular in our records. He’s definitely involved in this. We can’t let him go. We’ve got to use this lead and dig up concrete evidence before his holding period’s over.”
Yunice’s heart surged with excitement. They’d finally dragged Morgan into this!
Her elation faded as she remembered Wyatt standing next to her. Morgan getting locked up was good news for her-but trouble for him.
Noticing her gaze, Wyatt raised a brow. “What are you looking at me for? I told you, I’m not helping Morgan. He’s the one who walked into this. I couldn’t stop him even if I tried. His sister…”
Wyatt clearly had more to say, but Yunice’s eyes drifted past him, and there was a flicker of unease in her expression.
Sensing her discomfort, Wyatt turned around and saw a wiry old man.
The man held a slender black cigarette between his fingers-same brand as the ones Wyatt usually had custom-made.
Wyatt glanced from the cigarette to the man’s eyes.
Among men, there’s a primal instinct for sensing danger.
Yunice noticed Wyatt subtly shifting his stance, moving just slightly to shield her behind him.
It was instinct-a subconscious protective response.
He’d sensed something threatening ahead.
Yunice grew tense, watching Kingsley from behind Wyatt. She had no idea why he had shown up.
Kingsley was someone who rarely appeared in broad daylight.
Had she said something she shouldn’t have? Was Kingsley here to back her up? To confront Wyatt on her behalf?
Kingsley approached and asked Wyatt, “Hey, kid. Got a light?”
The cigarette in his mouth was still unlit.
Wyatt gave a crooked smile, pulled a lighter from his pocket, and flicked it on. He leaned forward to light the cigarette for him.
As the flame went out, Wyatt said, “Nice smoke.”
Yunice was on edge, terrified they might clash. And if they did-who was she supposed to side with?
Kingsley took a long drag, eyes narrowing slightly. “Your girl’s pretty loyal.”
Then he added, “They just brought in a suspect today. You two here for the same reason?”
Wyatt replied, “You too?”
Kingsley let out a dry chuckle. “See, a man with a daughter like me can’t stand to see girls get hurt. I heard the one they caught’s some spoiled rich brat. Got off easy more than once already. So I figured-if he gets away again this time, I’ll take justice into my own hands.”
Wyatt’s smile was deep and unreadable. After a pause, he said, “You’re joking, right?”
With the cigarette still clamped between his teeth, Kingsley strolled off with his hands behind his back.
Yunice’s palms were slick with cold sweat. Kingsley had all but spelled it out. There was no way Wyatt didn’t catch his meaning.
Sure enough, once Kingsley was fully gone, Wyatt turned to Yunice with a frown. “Elsie had someone like that for a godfather?”
Yunice blinked. “Huh?”
Wyatt said, “You didn’t catch it? He was saying he wanted to avenge Elsie.”
Yunice said nothing.
She quickly masked her surprise and didn’t correct Wyatt’s assumption.
He continued, “Remember what that guy looked like. If you ever see him again, tell me right away. You and Elsie didn’t get along. I’m worried he might come after you.”
“…Got it,” Yunice said softly, nodding.
Although Yunice and Wyatt had managed to intercept the footage from the journalist, she had returned the memory card after making a copy.
So the very next day, explosive news about Morgan went viral online. The police were furious and ramped up security measures.
But it was like trying to stop a flood. Morgan had taken Oscar’s place in the public spotlight, and one by one, stories of his past bullying surfaced. Scandal after scandal was unearthed.
It wasn’t just Morgan going down. The entire Johnson family was caught in the fallout. Morgan’s father was even suspended from his position due to the public outcry.
Yunice had been watching Wyatt closely, waiting for him to make a move-but he simply went about his work as usual. Nothing suggested he intended to get involved.
Could it be that Wyatt had finally grown tired of Morgan’s behavior? Maybe he really didn’t want to step in this time.
After all, passion could be drained, and even a sense of responsibility had its limits.
That’s why great favors often turned into deep resentments.
Yunice was practicing her spoken English at home, headphones on, when she received a message from Kingsley.
Apparently, some of the men involved in last night’s brawl had been planted by Kingsley. According to word from inside, Morgan was now officially under criminal detention-a warrant had been issued for his arrest.
This meant the police had finally secured concrete evidence, not just speculation like the night before.
The truth was inching closer.
Meanwhile, at the Powell estate…
Paul furiously smashed whatever he had in his hand. “All that planning, and I didn’t account for that idiot Morgan!”
He ran his fingers over the carved letters on his face, seething with rage at Morgan for ruining everything. And he was even more furious that Yunice still hadn’t given him any scar removal treatment!
Just then, a maid hurried past him and dropped what she was carrying.
Paul looked down and saw evening primrose oil, DHA, and other supplements-clearly the kind women used for nourishment.