Chapter 243: A Room That Wasn’t Hers to Take

Elsie had no choice. Crying with grievance, she went downstairs, walked to the front door, and knelt on the stone steps outside the threshold. Her sobs were soft—she didn’t dare cry aloud.

Only then did Oscar force himself to hold his breath and re-enter Yunice’s room, where he immediately flung all the windows wide open. Once the stench of perfume had finally begun to fade, Oscar’s nose prickled with a sharp sting. He looked around at the familiar setup of the room. A jewelry chest sat by the vanity. It was made of walnut wood—Owen’s first project when he was learning carpentry. Yunice had been overjoyed when she received it. She said she’d keep all her most precious things inside.

Oscar walked over and opened the first drawer. Inside was a fountain pen. When Yunice was little, he’d tutored her. She’d been smart—she understood everything right away. He’d given her that pen as encouragement, hoping she’d grow up and succeed, carrying the tool he’d given her.

But by the time Yunice started seventh grade, Oscar had transferred to a research institute. The real break in contact came when she was a sophomore in high school. Back then, he was in a crucial stage of his research, and for security reasons, the institute had cut off all communication with the outside world. He only learned later that Yunice had suffered from a severe mental breakdown and had to be hospitalized. Owen, in order to protect her future, had arranged for Elsie to temporarily assume Yunice’s identity during that time.

Oscar had believed Owen. That was why he’d signed off on the legal documents. But after what he’d witnessed yesterday—the unspoken coordination between Owen and Elsie—he suddenly realized something. Elsie had long since become a part of the Saunders household. She already acted like she was the true Miss of the family. And Owen treated her exactly like a real sister. If he treated Elsie like a sister, then what about Yunice? Had she ever been given the same?

In big families, fairness was a myth. Parents failed at it. Siblings even more so. There was no such thing as equal love.

Just then, Owen came back. From downstairs, he called out anxiously, “Oscar! Oscar!” Oscar stepped out of Yunice’s room, just in time to see Owen stomping upstairs. Seeing Oscar’s icy expression, Owen froze in place.

Oscar said, “Weren’t you at the hospital? Done already?” Owen dodged the question. “Oscar, why’s Elsie kneeling outside? I told her to get up, but she won’t.”

Oscar headed downstairs. “I told her to kneel. To humble her ambition.” Owen followed him, protesting, “Oscar, Elsie’s really a sweet girl. Don’t go picking on her just because of her background.” Oscar shot him a glare. “You kneel too.”

Owen was stunned speechless. But Oscar clearly wasn’t joking. Owen, though fuming, had no choice but to kneel beside Elsie. He was kneeling, but in his heart, he was far from convinced.

Oscar said, “I know you’re not happy. You funded my research all these years, so you think I owe you. I can’t control you.” Owen bit back, “That’s not true!”

Oscar continued, “She’s kneeling because her heart’s not clean. You’re kneeling because you don’t know who’s family and who’s not. You can’t even tell right from wrong.” Owen, still unclear what he’d done wrong, muttered bitterly, “Oscar, you just look at people… through tinted glasses.”

At that moment, Giana tried to sneak past—but Oscar caught her red-handed. He barked, “Come here!” Giana flinched, trembling, but reluctantly stepped forward. She’d been trying to slip out and report to Lily. Oscar pointed at her. “No way Elsie called you back herself. She must’ve sent someone to fetch…”

Both Giana and Elsie looked panicked. They’d always assumed Oscar was just some nerd with his head stuck in the lab, only caring about experiments. But now they realized he was the sharpest mind in the Saunders family.

Owen had been called back by Giana. But in his eyes, that wasn’t wrong. Oscar couldn’t demand Elsie kneel and expect no one to back her. Oscar could tell Owen wasn’t convinced. He pointed at Giana and asked, “Who is she?” “Giana,” Owen said impatiently.

Oscar exposed it one word at a time. “She’s Blanc’s eldest daughter. Sold to the Wican family as a wife.” Blanc was Elsie’s biological father.

Owen frowned. “Oscar, we agreed—no mention of the White family at home. If Mom hears it, she’ll have another episode.” “Oh. I can’t bring up the White family—but you can put one of them in our house as a maid? What’s your agenda?”

Owen said, “I didn’t bring her here. She helped Mom back at the White family home. Mom insisted on returning the favor.” “The White family ruined Mom. They ruined Dad. They ruined the whole Saunders family. And now you want to thank them? I think all of you need to get your heads checked!” Oscar roared.