Chapter 18: From Now On, She Lived for Herself!

Yunice’s gaze followed the small box of medicine as it landed in Elsie’s hands, a flicker of disappointment crossing her face. Lily noticed her reaction and quickly grabbed her hand with a bright smile. “Yunny, Morn will make something delicious for you tonight as compensation. What would you like? Chicken drumsticks, perhaps?”

Without waiting for an answer, she made the decision for Yunice. In a cheerful tone, she called out, “Giana, go buy some chicken drumsticks. Oh, and pick up some candy for Elsie too. She can’t stand the bitterness of medicine.”

Yunice stared at Lily’s smiling face, but all she felt was an abyss in her chest, a gaping void where icy winds howled, freezing her to the bone. The pain was sharp, slicing deep. Her daughter was going to get better, and she was overjoyed. Not once did she consider that her other daughter would lose her only lifeline in the process.

Yunice had just learned something new. Chicken drumsticks could be used as rewards. Her life was worth nothing more than a few pieces of chicken. Ha.

Her gaze shifted to Owen. And him. He was the same as always. So good at being generous with things that were not his. Every time, with his ‘kindness,’ he made decisions on her behalf, giving away everything that belonged to her to Elsie. Her dresses. Her gifts. Her room. Her identity. Now, even her life-saving medicine.

Maybe her stare was too sharp because Owen finally frowned at her. “Why are you looking at me like that?” It was just a box of medicine, yet she was acting as if the whole world had betrayed her. How childish.

Owen took a deep breath, trying to be patient. “Yes, the medicine is yours, but Elsie’s condition worsened because of you. Even if she doesn’t blame you, you should at least show some remorse.”

Elsie bit her lip, looking pitiful. “Forget it, Owen. Maybe Yunice needs it more than I do. I can wait…”

At those words, Owen’s expression darkened. “Wait? For how long? Do you think your body can afford to wait? You heard Paul just now. This medicine is rare!”

“You’re always thinking about others,” he sneered, glancing at Yunice. But do you think some people even appreciate…

Yunice did not argue or justify herself. She merely waited for Owen to finish his lecture, then said calmly, “I’ve already told you. I have compression injuries. This medicine is for my treatment. I can’t give it away.”

Owen let out a mocking laugh, as if she had just told the most ridiculous joke. “You eat well, sleep well, and have enough energy to argue with the entire family. How do you look like someone who needs treatment?”

Yunice opened her mouth to speak, but he cut her off with a wave of his hand. “Don’t tell me another sob story about your time in the mental hospital. I’ve checked. It was all standard treatment. Stop using cheap tricks to make us feel guilty.”

“Guilty?” Yunice let out a self-deprecating chuckle, turning to Lily. “Do you even know what guilt feels like? You accused me of hurting Elne and sentenced me to ‘atonement’ by locking me away for three years. Have I not paid enough?”

Lily averted her eyes, unable to meet Yunice’s gaze. Only she knew the truth. Yunice had been innocent all along.

Caught in the silence, Lily suddenly dropped to her knees before Yunice. She clutched at Yunice’s clothes, tears streaming down her face. “Blame it on me! It’s all my fault! Just don’t take it out on your sister, okay? I’ll kneel, I’ll beg if that’s what you…”

She knelt so decisively that even Owen was stunned. Elsie immediately followed suit, throwing herself into Lily’s arms.

Owen’s vision blurred with tears, his chest tightening until he felt like he might explode. In his rage, he grabbed Yunice by the collar and lifted her off the ground. Her feet barely touched the floor, her breath caught in her throat as her face turned red from the pressure. Yet she refused to look away, refused to back down. Her eyes locked onto Owen’s, unyielding and sharp, as if to say, “I will not apologize. I am not wrong. Regardless of the pain. Regardless if it kills me. I. Am. Not. Wrong.”

Owen’s jaw clenched, his teeth grinding audibly. “How could you make Mom and Elsie kneel for you?! They didn’t owe you anything!”

Yunice struggled against his grip, trying to pry his fingers loose, but he refused to let her speak.

Paul finally stepped in, peeling Owen’s hand away. “Let go. Are you trying to strangle her?”

With a forceful shove, Owen flung Yunice onto the couch. She hit hard, her body jolting with pain so intense it felt like her insides were being torn apart. She clutched at her chest, gasping for air.

Owen hesitated when he saw how pale she had turned, but before he could react, Paul had already moved to help Elsie and Lily. Seeing Lily crying too hard to stand, Owen had no choice but to focus on comforting her instead.

Yunice pushed herself up, her expression cold as she stared at them. Her voice was eerily calm. “Fine. Take the medicine. But I suggest you have it tested first. If anything goes wrong, don’t blame me for poisoning her.”

Elsie rolled her eyes but said nothing. Owen ignored the jab. He had gotten what he wanted.

Yunice was in too much pain to care anymore. No one would protect her, so she swallowed down the blood rising in her throat, steadied herself, and forced her aching body toward her room. She did not want to show weakness. Tears were only useful when shed for those who truly cared. As for them? Even if she cried, they would only call her tears fake.

She tilted her head back, staring at the ceiling, the curve of her lips cold and empty. Everyone was celebrating Elsie’s recovery, but only Paul spared her a glance. Watching her frail figure retreat, a strange feeling tightened in his chest. Almost instinctively, he called out, “Yunice?”

She paused. Without knowing why, he blurted out, “When I manage to get the medicine, I’ll replace the one Elsie took.”

Yunice walked away. If he could get the medicine, he wouldn’t have taken mine to begin with. Did he even believe his own words? But they all loved to make promises. Tomorrow, someday, in the future…

Good thing Elsie had helped her see clearly. Otherwise, she might have wasted her whole life giving to the Saunders family. Fortunately, she now saw everything clearly. Completely and utterly. Any lingering ties to the Saunders family were severed in her heart.

Siblinghood: Shared burdens! Mutual interests? Supporting each other? Those lofty principles their father had always preached to the three siblings, she would no longer abide by. She would still bear the surname Saunders, but she would no longer be the same Saunders as them.

Chapter 19: A Bloodsucking Leech.

The living room was filled with laughter and joy. Owen went to pour himself a glass of water while Lily opened the medicine box. As she picked up a pill, she frowned. “Why are there two missing?”

Paul’s gaze flickered. Had Yunice taken them? Lily, however, didn’t overthink it. She only felt a pang of pain in her heart for the missing pills. “I just hope this little bit of medicine is enough to cure your illness…. Never mind. I’ll go beg Yunice later and ask her to get you two more boxes.”

Owen scoffed. “As a member of the Saunders family, Yunice is supposed to contribute. Mom, don’t spoil her.”

Watching Elsie swallow the pill, Owen turned back, only to catch Paul heading toward Yunice’s room. His hand shot out, gripping Paul’s shoulder in warning. “You still owe Elsie an explanation.”

Was the Powell family going to go through with their marriage alliance with the Saunders family or not? And if so, which sister? The thought of Paul’s lingering glances at Yunice made Owen’s voice drop to a low warning. “If you dare betray Elsie, I won’t forgive you!”

Elsie cast a sorrowful glance at Paul before lowering her head. Paul could never stand seeing her like this. Every time she acted this way, he felt like a complete scumbag.

Compared to that, Yunice had always been easier to handle. Whenever she showed even a hint of dissatisfaction or tried to give him the cold shoulder, he could preemptively scold her, then pacify her with a few sweet words. Every single time, she would fall in line. But Elsie, he could not bear to speak harshly to her…

A few murmured reassurances, and soon enough, Elsie was leaning sweetly into his embrace, the two of them slipping back into their affectionate charade. But through the reflection on her phone screen, Elsie caught sight of Paul’s gaze drifting toward Yunice’s room.

An uneasy feeling crept into her chest. She had brought Yunice back from the asylum to secure her own high-status marriage, not to let her seduce her man.

“Paul, I’m worried that my sister may have done something she shouldn’t have.” Elsie furrowed her brows, her face filled with concern for Yunice. “Even you struggled to get the Alphasirox pills. If my sister, an ordinary woman, managed to acquire them, she must have paid a steep price. If that’s the case, I’d rather not take them.”

For a woman with no advantages, obtaining something completely out of her reach, there was only one conceivable way she could have done it. The thought that Yunice might have traded her body for the pills made Paul’s stomach churn with disgust. His tone turned cold. “Once I get my hands on a new batch, don’t take these anymore.”

Elie obediently nodded. At the same time, Giana entered Yunice’s room with a bowl of food, only to find it empty. Yunice had already slipped away while all eyes were on Elsie. She clutched a crumpled red banknote in her hand and hailed a cab straight to the Saunders family’s private hospital.

By nightfall, the hospital lobby was sparsely populated with a few lingering patients. Yunice entered through the back door and took the elevator up. She knew the hospital inside and out. Its equipment and its vulnerabilities….