Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Morgan had always been violent, and he didn’t hold back now. But Yunice didn’t make a sound. He didn’t increase the pressure, just studied her face with a mocking look. Then he burst out laughing. “Hard to imagine Wyatt getting it up with that face staring back at him.” He paused and added, “Actually, maybe he can’t get it up. Hahahaha!” The laughter filled the room-sharp and loud-until it died off slowly, and his gaze turned ice-cold. He looked at Yunice like a butcher sizing up a lamb.
That look. Yunice had seen it before. Every murderer in the asylum wore that look. And the fact that she had been locked up in a mental institution for three years, while people like him walked free-it was absurd. She quietly gripped her pen, bracing for whatever would come next. Morgan’s hold on her chin tightened. His expression darkened even more. Then, he slowly smirked, “Maybe I should add a few more marks to your face. Wyatt might like that.”
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a folding knife. With a click, the blade snapped open. Yunice’s eyes followed the knife. Her mind raced. What was Morgan’s problem with Wyatt? If he hated Wyatt so much, fine-but why take it out on me? As the blade hovered closer, Yunice still couldn’t break free. So she opened her mouth and said calmly, “Did you fall in love with Wyatt or something? Can’t stand the thought of him getting married, so you came here to mess up my face?”
The Daughter in the Shadows
, Performance, and Pretending
Morgan froze for three or four seconds, his face twisting green. Then he snapped up Yunice’s chin and growled, “Are you out of your damn mind?” But looking at her blank, dopey expression, the vicious glint in his eyes faded. His usual arrogant, lazy energy took over again.
He let go of her chin, dropped the leg that had been propped on the bed, and with a click, folded the spring-loaded knife and tossed it onto the tray with a loud clack. Hands in his pockets, he issued a command like a king: “Didn’t they say you’re good with medicine? Make me something. Or I’ll carve up that face.”
Yunice sat up straight. “What kind of medicine?”
Morgan leaned in, curling his lip like a snake preparing to strike, grinning with sick amusement. “The kind that makes women scream and men… excited. You get it.” The way he said it left no room for confusion. And whether the dummy in front of him could pick up on it, that was his twisted entertainment.
Yunice hesitated, then gave him a frightened glance. She slipped off the bed barefoot, went to Joe’s medicine cabinet, sniffed a few vials, and carefully ground some powders together. She wrapped it in a piece of paper and cautiously handed it to him.
Morgan snatched it with a smirk, eyeing her timid posture. “Coward,” he muttered. Wyatt really was pathetic-letting himself get blackmailed into marrying this thing. The more Morgan thought about it, the angrier he got. Without warning, he grabbed Yunice by the chin again and forced the powder into her mouth. As she choked and coughed violently, he laughed darkly. “Perfect. You can test it first. If it doesn’t work-just wait and see what I’ll do to you.”
He let go. Yunice’s knees gave out. She collapsed to the floor, cheeks flushed, eyes hazy, her breath growing shallow and warm. Footsteps approached outside. Morgan chuckled and turned to leave.
Wyatt opened the door just in time to see Yunice crumpled on the floor. He scanned the room quickly-only she was there. His brow furrowed as he rushed in and bent down to help her. “What happened?”
Yunice looked up at him, eyes wet, dark, glistening with desire. She stared at him without blinking. Wyatt paused, and Yunice took the opportunity to loop her arms around his neck. She leaned in, her breath hot on his ear.
Outside the room, Morgan leaned against the wall, hands in his pockets, looking as casual as ever. Seeing Wyatt walk in and fall into the trap, Morgan sneered, “Dummy… hope you’re ready to suffer.” He looked at the remaining powder in his hand and raised an eyebrow. Looked like the stuff actually worked.
Elsewhere in the hospital, Elsie was asking around for Yunice’s room. She didn’t expect Paul to suddenly appear in his wheelchair. Elsie walked over, arms wrapped around her clipboard, her voice soft. “Paul.”
Paul looked startled, glancing over. He’d come for Yunice-clearly didn’t expect to see Elsie here. He forced a polite smile. Elsie opened her arms like she was showing off. “Paul, don’t I look good in a white coat?”
Paul had always liked seeing her in one. Back at Saunders Hospital, he’d loved it. And the Silverburgh Hospital coat was even nicer. He had to like it. Sure enough, Paul’s gaze swept over her-from her hair, to the expensive designer clip, to her manicured hands.
He frowned. “Yunice said a proper doctor shouldn’t wear flashy stuff like that. No one said anything back at Saunders, but here, you’d better keep a lower profile.”
Elsie’s smile froze. She quickly removed the clip and jewelry, then crouched to place her hands gently on Paul’s legs. “I just wanted to make you proud. I won’t do it again…” As she spoke, her fingers slid deliberately across his inner thigh.
Paul’s breath caught. Elsie leaned in, her voice syrupy. “So, Paul, who looks better in a white coat-me or Yunice?” Whatever Paul thought of, it made his throat move with a slow swallow. Then he motioned for her to come closer.
Elsie stood and leaned in, the neckline of her coat angled just right. Paul whispered something in her ear that made her giggle. After a moment, Elsie stopped laughing. When Paul asked her something, she didn’t answer right away.
“Elsie?” Paul raised his voice slightly. She blinked, then leaned in to whisper back, “I’m listening.” Then she moved behind his chair and began to push. What Paul didn’t see, what he couldn’t see, was that she rolled him forward. Elsie turned her head and shared a flirtatious look with a red-haired man down the hall.
A red-haired man had been standing nearby for a while. Elsie had noticed him the moment she whispered in Paul’s ear-he was staring straight at her. His gaze was intense, invasive, and clearly didn’t care that she had a boyfriend. Elsie was secretly thrilled. He must be someone powerful, she thought smugly. And he’s into me.
She broke eye contact and pushed Paul into a room, a smile tugging at her lips. She locked the door behind them.
An hour later, Elsie stepped out, legs pressed together, making her way quietly into a shadowed stairwell while no one was watching.
Back in the hospital room, Wyatt had just set Yunice down on the bed. She looked past his shoulder, saw Morgan leaving, and finally loosened her grip around Wyatt’s neck.
“Thank you.” Her voice was distant, cold. Nothing like the woman who’d been clinging to him just seconds ago.
Wyatt’s eyes narrowed, seeing through her immediately. “Using me again?”
Yunice didn’t answer. She didn’t explain either. She’d done it before, and she wasn’t afraid of being caught again. Ever since the day she stepped out from behind him, pretending to be some docile little girl in front of Wyatt, Owen, and Paul, she’d stopped playing that role. Even the fact that he showed up at the Saunders family home to take her away-that had been part of her plan. She had locked herself in her room and called Joe in advance, hoping Wyatt would refuse the marriage himself. She hadn’t expected him to show up and drag her out. Now, with Wyatt silently watching her, she had no idea if he was plotting to get back at her.
The room fell into silence-until her phone rang. She reached for the old device Elsie had given her. Seeing Wyatt didn’t stop her, she hesitated before answering.
“Ms. Saunders, may I have the honor of buying you a meal?” It was Quinton.
Yunice glanced up at Wyatt. She hadn’t turned on speaker, but the room was so quiet, there was no way he didn’t hear Quinton’s voice. She’d been waiting for this call. Quinton was another dance, another card she could play.
Before she could finish, her hand was suddenly empty. Wyatt flicked her phone out of her hand with one swift motion. It spun midair and landed cleanly in his palm. He looked her in the eyes, then said into the phone, “She’s not available.”
On the other end, Quinton sounded confused. “And you are?”
Wyatt’s gaze locked with Yunice’s, heavy with possessiveness. “I’m her man.”
Yunice’s eyes widened. She snatched the phone back and ended the call in a panic.
“Mr. Cooper, you-” She bit her lip, eyes full of feigned fear.
Wyatt’s face was stony. “What’s wrong? Mad I ruined your little opportunity?”
He could see right through her. She wanted a safety net-Quinton was just another option she was trying to secure.
Wyatt’s voice turned sharp. “That widower Quinton-what can he offer you that I can’t?”
Yunice didn’t respond. But Wyatt wasn’t finished.
“Our marriage is already a done deal. You think I’ll let my woman go work for someone else?”
Yunice looked shocked. “So you didn’t talk Mr. Jackson out of it?”
Wyatt answered flatly, “The whole city will know about our engagement within two days.”
She lowered her head, biting her lip. “I’m sorry. I’ll only embarrass you.”
Wyatt set his cane down and sat lazily by her bedside. He scoffed, “Anyone who dares laugh-I’ll rip out their tongue and see if they’re still smiling.”
Yunice stiffened, fingers curling tight in the sheets. Wyatt had helped her several times recently-so much so that she’d nearly forgotten who he really was: cold, violent, dangerous. Now it was all coming back. His warning wasn’t just about others. It was meant for her too. Anyone who looked down on him would pay. Anyone who tried to play him… wouldn’t be spared either. And if the day came that he wanted payback-she’d be next.
As if sensing her fear, Wyatt lifted a hand to her cheek, his thumb slowly brushing the edge of her ear.
“Don’t be scared,” he said softly. “I wouldn’t do that to you.”
But the gentler his voice, the tighter Yunice’s back drew. She looked at him, speechless, her eyes flickering. Wyatt pulled his hand away, picked up his cane, and stood again. He didn’t go far-just stood a few feet from the bed, hands resting atop the cane.
“I don’t believe in marriage,” he said, tone cool. “But since we’re in this together now, from here on out… you work for me.”
Wyatt continued, “If you agree, just nod.”
By “no reverence for marriage,” he meant exactly what it sounded like-he had no intention of following any traditional rules. No fidelity. No emotional commitment. But what right did Yunice have to disagree? She never wanted to get married in the first place, and she certainly didn’t expect Wyatt to be faithful. Working for him was still better than being trapped in the Saunders family.
She nodded.
Wyatt went on, “I’ll have someone take care of the wedding arrangements. You don’t need to worry about it. Focus all your energy on finalizing the improved formula for the Alphasirox pills. That’s your real job.”
Yunice froze for a second. Only now did it hit her-everything Wyatt had done for her was ultimately for the Alphasirox project. Which suited her just fine. Business was easier to deal with than emotions.
Wyatt didn’t stay long. He was always busy and quickly left for other matters. Yunice shook off the moment and moved on to her next step. She had already developed an updated formula for Alphasirox. The first prototype was ready. All it needed was clinical trials before it could replace the original drug on the market. But there was something even more urgent she had to take care of.
Elsie entered the emergency stairwell. The VIP wing was already quiet-no one ever used the stairs. Her heels echoed in the empty space, triggering the motion sensor lights one by one. She rounded the landing, about to step down when two arms suddenly wrapped around her waist from behind. She let out a startled squeak, whipping her head around to see Morgan.
Her voice went soft. “It’s you… Let go of me.”
Morgan was tall, easily able to pull her back into his arms. The more she pushed, the tighter he held on. He breathed in her scent at her neck and chuckled crudely. “Knew you were a slut the moment I saw you. You gonna keep pretending?”
Elsie squirmed. “I do-“