Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
No need? Lily did not quite process it. She forced a smile. “If it’s for measurements, then Elsie should definitely be here. A wedding dress has to be perfect.”
Luke gave her a strange look. “Of course, a wedding dress must be tailored to the bride.” Then he turned, his tone polite but firm. “Please take Ms. Yunice Saunders’ measurements.”
The words struck like thunder. Lily stood frozen. Yunice herself was momentarily stunned.
It was Lily who recovered first, forcing a laugh. “Elsie will be back soon. It won’t take long…”
But Luke could no longer hold back his irritation. “We’re taking measurements for Ms. Yunice Saunders. It doesn’t matter if Ms. Elsie is here or not.”
“Yunice?” Lily’s mind went blank. She turned her bewildered gaze to Yunice.
Yunice frowned slightly, her voice calm. “Are you certain it’s me you’re here for?”
She had grown up running in and out of the Powell mansion. Luke would never mistake her for Elsie.
As if suddenly realizing something, Lily quickly added, “Right, right, Mr. Luke, perhaps there’s been some confusion. Elsie also uses the name Yunice,”
But Luke’s patience had run out. His tone was sharp. “Madam Lily, you as a mother, don’t you know who exactly is Yunice Saunders?”
Lily’s mouth hung open, unable to close. Yet Yunice’s expression was even darker. She stared coldly at Luke. “You’re saying… the one engaged to the Powell family is me?”
Luke smiled. “Yes.”
With a heavy thud, Lily’s legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the sofa. Giana, watching the scene unfold, quietly slipped away to call Owen.
Yunice showed no trace of joy. Her voice was low and steady. “I already signed the annulment papers. How could I possibly be marrying Paul!”
Luke replied calmly, “Ms. Saunders, you’ve misunderstood. Mr. Jackson didn’t arrange for you to marry Mr. Paul.”
Lily, who had just lifted her head in shock, felt like her heart was riding a roller coaster.
“It doesn’t matter who Yunice married. As long as it’s not Paul,” Lily said.
Yunice frowned. “Then who is it?”
Luke answered slowly, “It’s Mr. Cooper.”
“Wyatt?!” Lily was still struggling to make sense of everything. But as though something just struck her, she screamed, “Mr. Jackson wants Yunice to marry Wyatt?!”
“Yes,” Luke answered.
Lily nearly lost her voice. “How can that be! Wyatt is Paul’s uncle! If Yunice marries him, wouldn’t that make her a generation above Elsie?!” In the future, wouldn’t Elsie have to call Yunice Aunt? How could she possibly accept that humiliation?
But Luke merely sneered, his tone filled with disdain. “That won’t happen.”
Lily refused to give up. “Why not?!”
Luke cut her off sharply. “Because the Powell family will never let Ms. Elsie marry in. Madam Lily, you’re overthinking it.”
That single word, overthinking, landed on Lily’s face like a merciless slap.
Finally, Luke stopped playing nice. “Even the engagement gifts from a few days ago were sent by Mr. Jackson on behalf of Mr. Cooper. They are for Ms. Saunders. It had nothing to do with Ms. Elsie. The Powell family never…”
Ignoring the interruption, Luke waved his hand. “Quickly, take her measurements. The wedding date is tight; let’s not waste time.”
But Yunice coldly pushed the measuring tools away. Her voice was frosty. “I knew nothing of this marriage. I don’t agree to it. Whoever promised you this marriage, go find them!”
Then, she spun around and stormed back to her room, bolting the door shut behind her. Outside, Luke and Lily exchanged helpless glances.
To Lily, this was a chance, a way out. She hurriedly suggested, “Perhaps… Luke, you should return for…” now! Once he left, she could properly discuss things with Owen and figure out their next move.
Damn! Of all times, where on earth had Owen gone? She hadn’t been able to reach him on the phone this whole time.
But to Lily’s horror, Luke did not leave as expected. Instead, he calmly sat down on the sofa, settling in like he owned the place. “It seems the Saunders family has some misunderstandings about this marriage. In that case, I shall wait here until Mr. Owen returns. Then we’ll settle this matter properly.”
Yunice sat alone in her room, while Lily wept in the living room, feeling heartbroken that Elsie’s wedding had somehow turned into Yunice’s. Elsie was the first to rush back, bringing with her Paul, who sat in his wheelchair. And Owen’s phone was still unreachable.
The moment Elsie stepped into the house, her legs turned weak. When she saw Luke sitting there, her heart sank. This was not a nightmare. This was not some prank by Lily. The Powell family really had changed the bride.
Paul’s brows furrowed deeply. He had only learned about the engagement gift after Elsie cried at the hospital. He still hadn’t figured out who had spread the false rumor about him marrying Elsie, and yet now he was being told that Yunice was marrying Wyatt?
Wheeling himself into the room, Paul’s sharp gaze landed directly on Luke. Such a massive upheaval in the Powell family, and he, the precious son of the house, had been the last to know. Did the Powell family even remember he existed?
With Paul’s arrival, Luke no longer dared to remain silent. Paul’s voice was icy. “How can Yunice marry Wyatt? I was the one who broke off her engagement. Do you intend for the entire Silverburgh to point at my back and laugh?”
Luke replied respectfully. “Mr. Paul, I don’t know the details either. Everything was arranged by Mr. Jackson. I’m merely following orders.”
Paul had still been holding onto the hope that this was some kind of misunderstanding. But judging from the situation now, it was real. He could not understand it. There were so many women in the world; why must Grandfather arrange this marriage in particular?
“I’m going to ask Grandfather myself!” Paul left in anger. Elsie hurriedly chased after him, crying, “Go with you!”
Yunice sat quietly in her room. She knew Luke had not left yet. Mr. Jackson’s arrangement had caught everyone off guard. Marrying Wyatt! This was something Yunice had never imagined. She did not even know how she had gotten caught up in the Powell family’s mess, but she was certain of one thing: this marriage would be a disaster for both her and Wyatt.
By the time Owen finally returned to the Saunders mansion, night had already fallen.
Lingering behind Owen were Paul and Elsie, both of whom had turned back after leaving earlier. Three of them said nothing. Like eggplants beaten by frost, their faces were pale, drained of all spirit, one looking more desolate than the others.
As soon as Lily saw Owen step through the door, she froze for a second, and then, with a sharp cry, rushed in a panic, tears welling in her eyes. “Owen! What happened to you? How did you end up like this?!”
Scars and dark marks marred Owen’s once-sharp face. His usually pristine, elite-looking suit was in disarray; the buttons were torn apart as if he’d been manhandled, leaving him looking utterly disheveled.
Owen did not respond to her concern. Instead, his gaze turned to Luke. Lily thought he hadn’t realized the purpose of Luke’s visit and hurriedly opened her mouth to explain, but before she could say a word, Owen patted her shoulder lightly, then walked straight to Yunice’s room door. He knocked twice. “Yunice, I have something to say.”
The door soon opened. Yunice stood there calmly. Owen stepped inside, closing the door behind him with a quiet click. In the living room, the others were left standing outside. Choking on her sobs, Lily turned anxiously to Elsie and Paul. “What on earth happened? Did Owen get into a fight with someone?”
At the mention of it, Elsie could no longer hold back. She threw herself into Lily’s arms and broke down crying. “Mom… Owen has been accused of assault and forced entry. They want to sentence him to three years in prison.”
Lily’s legs nearly gave out beneath her. Meanwhile, Paul, sitting in his wheelchair, cast a cold, sharp look at Luke. As expected, Luke showed no sign of surprise. It was clear he had known all along. It seemed Paul’s suspicions were correct: this was a trap his grandfather had set from the very beginning.
Lily clutched at her chest, struggling to catch her breath. “What do we do… Owen can’t go to jail…”
Paul said grimly, “Grandfather intervened and convinced the other party to drop the charges, but on one condition. He wants Yunice to marry Wyatt.”
Silence. Lily’s face was frozen in shock. Words were caught in her throat, but the look in her eyes betrayed her thoughts. No matter who Yunice married, Owen absolutely could not go to prison.
Inside Yunice’s room, she sat on her bed while Owen sat tensely at her little desk. Neither spoke. Silence stretched between them. In the rudeness of the situation, it was Yunice who broke it first. “I won’t marry him.”
Is this still the little sister he had cherished and protected since childhood? He had made it clear: if she refused, he would go to jail for three years! And yet she refused him so easily! Without hesitation? Did she really want him to go to prison?
Deeply wounded, Owen’s voice trembled with anger. “Do you really think this has nothing to do with you? I got into this mess because of you! I was defending your honor when I taught Quinton a lesson. That’s why I’m in this mess! And now you just stand aside and wash your hands of it all?”
“You think I’m afraid of going to jail?” Owen’s voice roared with indignation. “Oscar is locked away doing confidential research and can’t come home. The entire family and the whole hospital are resting on my shoulders! If I go to prison, how are any of you going to survive? You always say I’m biased toward Elsie, but you never reflect on your own actions. If the Powell family wanted to force Elsie into marriage today, she would have agreed without hesitation!” He continued, “A heart for a heart, Yunice. You’ve truly disappointed me.”
Yunice did not speak. In the past, she might have been guilt-tripped and manipulated by Owen’s words, but not anymore. She had already cut herself free from the Saunders family, and now, everything was clear. She looked up at Owen, her voice calm. “Should I be thanking you then? For standing up for me so fiercely that you’ve earned me such a wonderful marriage proposal?”
Owen choked. Searching for justification, he forced out, “Wyatt isn’t as bad as the rumors say. Besides… didn’t you kind of like him? Didn’t you even pick up his cane for him last time?” But even he realized how flimsy his excuses sounded. The Saunders family had been dealing with the Powell family for years. This was not their first day knowing the truth. To outsiders, Wyatt might appear to be the illegitimate son of the Powell family-a figure of glamour and mystery. But only those in the know understood that the Powell family and Wyatt were enemies in everything but name. Jackson had arranged this marriage not as a blessing but as an insult, a humiliation. To marry Yunice to Wyatt was to turn her into a weapon, a pawn, and a living disgrace. The Powell family would not treat her kindly. And that bastard Wyatt, he would never let her live in peace.
Owen sat at the desk clutching his hair in frustration, caught in the brutal tug-of-war between his conscience and cold reality. He struggled like that for a long time, but Yunice never said another word. Finally, Owen let out a heavy sigh. He stood. “I won’t force you. Tomorrow, I’ll pack my things and go to…” Before leaving, he glanced at Yunice again, his voice low. “Go to bed early.” He walked out slowly. But Yunice did not call after him.
Owen waited, hoping, praying for a last-minute reprieve. But none came. The sister he had protected for twenty-one years did not show him even a shred of sentimentality. In the living room, Owen cast one final look at Yunice’s closed door. Seeing her so detached, so utterly unmoved, the last of his tenderness burned away, consumed by rising fury. Turning to Luke, he sneered coldly. “Luke, please tell Mr. Jackson that I appreciate his kindness. But I will not trade my sister’s future for my…” QWTL.
“I’ll turn myself in tomorrow,” he announced flatly.