Chapter 169: The One Who Stayed Quiet

“You got bullied, didn’t you!” Gill’s eyes burned with fire as she raised her sleeves, as if ready for a fight.

Yunice wiped at her cheek, a little confused. It really was wet.

“Maybe it’s just the wind making my eyes water.”

Gill paused, seeing Yunice’s face looked perfectly normal, so she didn’t press the issue. But Yunice kept rubbing the dampness on her fingers, her expression distant and quiet. The damage from her family… it never truly faded.

After giving Gill a brief account of what happened, Yunice asked her to drop her off at Aurora Bend to meet Owen.

Gill was clearly unhappy. “Lily’s obviously lying to you! Unless she puts out a public statement right now admitting Elsie’s her illegitimate daughter, I’m not buying it!”

“I know,” Yunice said. “But I still want to see the drama unfold at the Powell family home.”

That snapped Gill out of it; she smacked her thigh. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Owen was clearly going there to beg for Elsie. It was the perfect chance for Yunice to watch him eat his words. How could she miss it?

Gill drove her to Aurora Bend. From a distance, they could already see Owen and Lily standing out in the cold wind, anxiously checking their watches repeatedly. Elsie had been tied up and dragged to the Powell mansion. There was no way she’d be treated kindly. Every second they were late, Elsie would suffer that much longer.

Gill stopped the car and told Yunice not to get out just yet. When Owen and Lily walked over, bracing against the cold, Yunice finally rolled down the window.

Owen wasn’t thrilled with her attitude, but now wasn’t the time to argue. He reached in through the window to open the door and drag her out, but Gill quickly rolled the window back up. Owen yelped, nearly getting his fingers caught. He frowned and barked at Yunice, “Quit wasting time. Get in the car.”

Vunice gave a cold smile. “Get in… only the one at the wheel gets to call the shots.” Owen glanced at the cramped little car and hesitated. But Lily didn’t even think twice – she opened the door and climbed right in.

Left with no choice, Owen squeezed in too, his long legs bunched up like he’d been wrapped in twine, with nowhere to stretch.

“Go to the Powell mansion!” Lily ordered urgently.

Once Gill turned the wheel and got them going, Lily finally looked at Yunice’s profile, her eyes swollen from crying. “Yunny, you have to save your sister this time!”

Owen patted Lily’s back, trying to calm her down while scolding Yunice at the same time. “Mom’s crying her eyes out here – can’t you at least nod or something?”

Yunice didn’t even want to argue. So the entire ride was filled with nothing but Lily’s near-fainting sobs and the sound of Owen softly patting her back.

When they arrived at the Powell mansion, Gill was about to get out too, but Owen stopped her. “The Powell family is all about pedigree. It’s one thing to bring Yunice in, but you’re just a servant – how could you go in?”

Gill knew even if Owen hadn’t said anything, the Powell family would have blocked her at the door anyway. But she had to make sure Yunice was safe.

Yunice walked over and whispered something to Gill. Only then did she relax and wait in the car. Yunice gave her a thankful look as Owen pulled her into the Powell mansion.

They headed to Jackson’s Shoukang Courtyard. The moment they stepped inside, Owen saw Elsie; she was lying on the ground, bound hand and foot like a twisted bowstring. Her mouth was stuffed with a dirty rag, so she couldn’t make a sound. Whether it was from crying or from struggling too much, her hair was damp with sweat and stuck to her face. Maybe she’d run out of strength – or maybe she’d just given up hope. When she saw her family walk in, she didn’t even try to scream for help. She just lay there, silently crying.

That broken image shattered Owen and Lily’s hearts. Lily wailed, her face contorting in grief. She rushed forward to untie Elsie, but was stopped by the Powell family’s people.

Owen’s eyes turned blood-red as he locked eyes with Paul, who sat nearby. Rage surged through him; how could he just sit there?

Paul could feel Owen’s burning glare like knives on his skin. His face was burning with shame. Sitting down felt like being perched on blades. But he had no choice. His grandfather and father were ruthless men. The more he showed he cared about Elsie, the harsher they’d punish her. Not to mention, the Kendall family was sitting right there, watching. All he could do was pretend he didn’t care.

In the back of the crowd, someone noticed Yunice. She locked eyes with Taylor, who was seated in a place of honor. Taylor lifted her chin slightly, then looked away.