Chapter 246: The Line He’ll Cross

They said he was the vindictive type. If you tried to scheme against him, he’d either destroy you outright or give you just enough sweetness to hook you in—then, once he got bored, he’d kick you off the highest ledge and watch you fall.

Yunice didn’t know if he’d already marked her as one of those toys. She didn’t dare trust his kindness. She didn’t dare fall for it.

She looked out the window, feeling like driftwood in a storm. Beaten by the rain, floating endlessly in open water, with no shore in sight.

Wyatt held her hand and slid a cold ring onto her fourth finger. Yunice turned her head. It felt like this ring was sealing her fate.

Wyatt, as always, could read her thoughts too easily. He admired her fingers and asked with mocking amusement, “What now? Got something to say?”

Yunice said, “I was wondering how long you can keep up the act.” She looked him straight in the eye. “And what kind of method you’ll use to break me.”

Wyatt stared back for a few seconds before replying, “So all you think about is me?”

Yunice hadn’t expected him to say something so childish. She blinked, then turned away and looked back out the window, no longer willing to entertain that kind of stupidity.

Wyatt brought her to Wellinges Pharma, one of the companies under his name. He gave her a quick tour around the building, then took her straight to HR, handed her an employee badge, and had her officially onboarded. Just like that, she was put in charge of the Northvale project and the liaison with Crawford Group. Whether it was bait or not, she accepted it. She wasn’t going to pass up any opportunity to climb higher.

Two days left until the wedding. Lily had returned home. As she got out of the car, she texted Freya: “Ms. Freya, I spoke with Carl for quite a while today. I hope you’re not upset?”

Freya let out a short laugh when she saw it and replied, “Not upset.”

Freya replied, “Madam Lily is welcome anytime, as long as Mr. Carl agrees to see you.”

Lily wrote back, “Carl and I are old friends. He’ll definitely see me.”

Freya didn’t reply.

Lily put away her phone and stepped into the house—only to see Owen kneeling on the floor. Elsie looked like she was about to collapse, face deathly pale, swaying side to side. She couldn’t even kneel straight. Her head kept dropping against Owen’s shoulder. Every time she realized she was losing control, she forced herself to stay upright.

Owen couldn’t take it anymore. He held Elsie up and snapped at Oscar, “You can punish me all you want, but Elsie’s too weak! Let her rest!”

Oscar said, “Never heard of anyone dying from kneeling. Keep going.”

“You—!” Owen was so angry he couldn’t breathe, but he still didn’t dare fight Oscar head-on.

Right then, Elsie whimpered and fell over. She didn’t move.

“Elsie!” Lily screamed and ran over in a panic. She looked from Oscar to Owen. “What the hell are you two doing?!”

No one answered.

Lily turned toward Giana, who was frozen in place. “Why are you standing there?! Help Elsie inside to rest! It’s almost summer! The sun’s brutal—she’s going to get heatstroke!”

Oscar frowned at Lily. It was only early May. Was Elsie made of paper? Now he saw it clearly. This house was treating Elsie like some precious porcelain doll. He didn’t stop Giana from helping her. He just looked at Lily and said, “Mom. I’m waiting for you to say one fair word.”

Lily looked at Owen nervously. Oscar was serious.

Oscar asked, “Yunice’s room—wasn’t Elsie the one living there this whole time?”

Qwen tried to interrupt. “I already said—”

“Shut up. I wasn’t asking you.” Oscar’s voice cracked like a whip. He stared at Lily again and asked, “Tell me the truth. Since Yunice got out of the hospital, where’s she really been staying?”

Oscar cut her off coldly. “You’re lying. The layout of a room can be reset—but the signs of who’s lived there can’t be faked. I’ve been gone ten years. Yunice’s room hasn’t had a single new item added?”

There was only one explanation. Her room had been cleared and rearranged to make it look like she’d been living there all along. Just one big cover-up.

Lily clutched her handbag tighter. Her expression was ugly.

Oscar said, “I already know most of what’s happened in this house. Are you still going to keep lying to me?”

Lily dodged again. “Gill must’ve told you something, didn’t she? Don’t listen to her. She got kicked out of this house for stealing and held a grudge ever since. She just wants to stir things up and ruin this family.”