Filed to story: The Daughter in the Shadows (Yunice) Book by Una Norris
Yunice followed Taylor out, eyes narrowing slightly. The courier said, “Someone from Virtue Hall said the medicine was brewed wrong. I had to wait over an hour.”
Yunice’s voice came from behind Taylor. “Where did you wait?” Definitely not at the clinic.
The courier must have noticed Taylor’s expression, because he hesitated and said, “At… a coffee shop-nearby.”
Yunice stepped forward and glanced at the packet in his hands, then covered it up again. “I already personally delivered Ms. Taylor’s medicine. I’ll just take this one back.”
“Hold it right there!” Taylor stepped forward and snatched the packet from her hands. The more transparent Yunice tried to be, the more suspicious Taylor became. She’d sent someone to pick up the medicine, and Yunice had still delivered a separate batch herself-she must know the first one had a problem.
Taylor stared at Yunice, then handed the medicine to her subordinate. “Get this tested. I want to know exactly what it is.” It sounded like a statement, but it carried the unmistakable weight of an order.
Once the person had left, Taylor took two steps forward, leveraging her height in heels to look down at the cap perched on Yunice’s head. Our own staff know. That packet didn’t… She added, “Our medicine bags are custom-made, marked with small identifiers only our own have one.” So it had been switched?
Taylor sneered. “You staged this yourself, didn’t you? How else would you know to deliver a second batch in advance?” The performance was too obvious. She’d basically tripped over her own setup.
Yunice said, “The one who came didn’t carry himself right. Kendall family people have presence. Even subordinates should carry that aura. But this guy? His eyes were shifty; the first thing he did when he walked in was check who was there.”
Temperament couldn’t be faked. Even among underlings, those from the Kendall family were different from those working for the Saunders family. Taylor, for example, would never keep someone with the sneaky look of a petty thief.
She paced a few steps, thinking aloud. “Only you knew I was going to Virtue Hall today. Who would bother switching my medicine?” Her eyes narrowed as she recalled someone else who knew. Could it be her?
Yunice didn’t ask who. She just said, “From now on, I’ll deliver the medicine personally to the Kendall family-won’t through anyone else.” That would eliminate any chances of it being swapped.
Taylor had initially suspected Yunice of framing someone, but seeing how little concern she showed about who the real culprit was made Taylor think Yunice hadn’t been involved. Besides, earlier she’d only said the instructions were missing-never mentioned the medicine had been tampered with. That suggested she wanted to stay out of the mess, not stir it up.
But Taylor, the one affected, couldn’t just pretend nothing happened. She frowned and said, “Next time I send someone to pick it up, don’t say a word about it.”
Yunice hesitated, then nodded. “Alright.”
Just then, Taylor answered a call. Whatever was said made her brow furrow slightly. She glanced at Yunice. “I’m my way,” she said before hanging up. She turned to Yunice and said, “You’re coming with me.”
They both got into a small electric cart, weaving through most of the Kendall mansion until they reached the back garden.
The back garden housed a glass conservatory, where rare orchids and a seascape appeared surreal, dazzling, dreamlike. As they walked, Taylor glanced sideways at Yunice, noting how calm and composed she was, seemingly unmoved by the Kendall family’s extravagance. What Taylor didn’t know was that Yunice had grown up seeing this kind of opulence in the Powell family.
They climbed the spiral staircase until they reached the fourth-floor sky garden. Gerardo was sitting at a table while a casually dressed doctor slowly moved a stethoscope over his chest. Yunice stared at the man’s back-it looked strangely familiar. Out of respect, Taylor said nothing, quietly waiting for the examination to end.
“Mr. Gerando, it’s the same old problem. You’ve been skipping meals again, haven’t you?” The doctor turned around; it was Joe. Yunice recognized his voice immediately and subtly angled her face away, keeping herself out of view. Of all people… she never expected the Kendall family to bring him in. And if Joe was here, could Wyatt be here too?
Taylor stepped forward and placed a hand on her father’s shoulder, scolding him gently, “Dad, I’ve been sending meals to your office every day. You’re telling me you’re too busy to even take a few bites?”
Gerardo, a man with a broad, composed face, frowned. “You’ve never run a business, so you wouldn’t understand-once things get moving, there’s no time, and honestly, no appetite either.” Taylor wanted to argue, but Gerardo raised a hand to silence her. She turned to Joe instead. “Dr. Joe, is my dad’s condition treatable?”
This wasn’t Joe’s first time examining Gerardo. He stuck to his usual assessment: medicine alone wouldn’t help-Gerardo needed to start taking better care of himself. Taylor didn’t press further and personally walked Joe out.
Gerardo sat back down at the table, one hand pressed against his stomach. As he looked up, he finally noticed someone else standing nearby. She was wrapped up tightly, her identity concealed. Just then, several footsteps echoed from the glass staircase. One set was the sharp click of heels-Taylor’s. The office… was a call.
Yunice instinctively turned around, her palms tightening, eyes locked on the approaching figure. First came Taylor’s face. Then a head of short hair appeared behind her. Finally, a pair of eyes-cool, unreadable, holding a…
Yunice’s heart jumped to her throat. Why does standing in front of art always feel like I’m doing something wrong? But trying to leave now would mean running straight into him. She pressed her lips together and stayed rooted where she stood.
Taylor didn’t bother hiding her attitude toward Wyatt. After all, Gerardo had arranged for her to marry Paul-Wyatt was the…
She ignored Wyatt and walked straight over to pull Yunice toward Gerardo. “Dad, let her give it a try. My stomach pain… she cured it. That ointment you’ve been using? She made it too?”
With that one purchase, Yunice’s mask fully slipped-in both Kieran’s and Wyatt’s view. Gerardo gave her a glassy stare, then gestured for Wyatt to sit instead. Serving her father a knowledge only Wyatt and not Yunice had, a flicker of disappointment crossed Taylor’s face.
Keath: bet stadise Date (didn’t believe in Viinive’s abilities)
But Wyatt also sat down at once with something unreadable in his eyes, then sat down slowly. “Mr. Gerando, Ms. Taylor’s…” even… We immobaneb followed up. Ms. Dylor exercised the method on herself. That’s real devotion?
“…shot and your appetite was gone so she had me do meridian bloodletting, sally arguing the energy points in her fingers. Night after the procedure she ate an entire bowl of the…” Merdan… Gerando looked over at Taylor. Daler… smiled at her from behind his back, summoning an awkward smile.
“Now I’m curious.” Wyatt smiled. Both Yunice and Taylor turned to Gerardo, evidently waiting for his decision. Gerardo… the idea of bloodletting at the fingertips sounded downright…
Wyatt chuckled. “Waxaha Mu Gerando… ate two needles…”
“Kishiculous!” The remark hit a man’s pride and was a powerful thing. Gerardo reached out his hand. “What’s there to be scared of?”
That was until Yue pulled out a touchschon noodle and Gerardo’s lips instantly pressed into a tight line. Taylor leaned over, holding down his shoulder, practically pushing him into…
Yurce took hold of Gerardo’s hand and inserted the needle into the center joint of each finger. With the first prick, his entire body tensed. Taylor instinctively listened, worried Yunice had hurt him and that her father might lash out in anger.
Send Gifts
To her surprise, Gerardo’s stiffness lasted only a second. He relaxed and even laughed aloud, showing off. “Just a tiny needle. What’s there to be afraid of, huh!”
Yunice inserted four needles in quick succession. After removing them, she pressed on the joints to draw out a bit of blood. Throughout the whole process, Gerardo chatted idly with Wyatt, completely ignoring what Yunice was doing. He got so caught up in the conversation that by the time Yunice had finished the treatment, he didn’t even realize it was over. Not long after, he smacked his lips and reached for an orange from the fruit plate. He peeled it absentmindedly and ate it; then, without a second thought, grabbed a banana.
Yunice stepped aside and nudged Taylor with her elbow, signaling her to pay attention. Taylor’s eyes lit up. “Dad, looks like you’re hungry!”
Gerardo waved her off. “Hungry? I’ve got no appetite.”
“Then look down at all those fruit peels in front of you,” Taylor said.
Gerardo glanced down-and fell silent.
“See? Didn’t I tell you? Just let the doctor stick a few needles in you and bam-appetite restored!” She eagerly grabbed his arm. “No more chatting, let’s go eat while you’ve got it!”
“Hey…” Gerardo hesitated, looking back. “But Wyatt-“
They walked off together, leaving Yunice and Wyatt alone in the sky garden. Wyatt sipped his tea with calm indifference. Yunice, meanwhile, snuck glances at him. She couldn’t tell if he’d recognized her from the beginning. Otherwise, why would he have helped me out earlier?
Just as she was debating whether to come clean, Wyatt turned slightly and said, “Mind taking a look at me?”
Yunice hesitated, then stepped forward and rested a small wrist pillow on the table. She sat down and gently placed her gloved fingers on Wyatt’s wrist to take his pulse. The lace gloves were thin and elegant; her touch, delicate and graceful.
“Your fingers would look perfect with a wedding ring,” Wyatt said.
Yunice’s wary gaze stayed hidden beneath the brim of her cap. She was now certain that Wyatt recognized her.
“Don’t talk. It affects the treatment,” she warned.
Wyatt ignored her. “I’ve got a wife too. She’s a great doctor.”
Yunice stayed silent, pretending not to understand.
“I’m getting married soon,” he continued. “Planning to give her a little pre-wedding gift. As a fellow woman, got any suggestions?”
Yunice took a deep breath. He talks too damn much.
In a quiet, muffled voice, she answered, “Loyalty.”
“Oh,” he raised an eyebrow. “That’s a new one.”
(The following text is largely unintelligible and appears to be a corruption of the original; it has been omitted.)
Yunice’s lips curled into a bitter smile, as if she could taste her own tears. Thankfully, the mask she wore hid any sign of her distress. The sound of high heels echoed, growing louder. Taylor and Gerardo had returned. Yunice slipped the invitation into her bag as if nothing had happened.
Gerardo was in good spirits. As soon as he arrived, he smiled and chatted with Wyatt. “That girl’s not bad at all.”
Wyatt lifted the prescription Yunice had written and smiled. “Thanks to your generosity, Mr. Gerardo, I scored a prescription of my own.”