Chapter 30: Exchanging Identities?
Was he planning to swap Elsie’s background with hers now? Yunice was the one being forced to take the fall, yet he was putting on a righteous act as if he were doing it for her sake. Yunice almost wanted to clap for his hypocrisy.
Owen knew she wouldn’t agree so easily, so he raised the stakes. “As long as you help the family through this crisis, I won’t force you to get married. You can stay at home as long as you want.”
Yunice laughed mockingly. “Whether I get married or not isn’t up to you.”
Owen stared at Yunice in shock, as if he hadn’t expected her to defy him. In the past, she always did whatever he said. As long as it was for the family, she never refused.
Unable to control her anymore, Owen’s anger flared. “Yunice, I’m finally seeing your true colors. I almost fell for your act of being a good sister. Turns out, you’re the most heartless one of all.”
Yunice sneered. “So, in your eyes, a ‘good sister’ is someone who obeys without question, lets herself be manipulated, and has no thoughts of her own?”
Owen shot to his feet and said coldly, “If you don’t want to help, then don’t. No need to twist my words.”
Leaving Yunice’s room, Owen felt like he couldn’t breathe properly. His chest was filled with anger, but he had nowhere to vent it. He turned back for a glance, but Yunice didn’t come after him.
For some reason, he felt an unexpected sense of loss. He thought of three years ago, whenever he got mad, Yunice would chase after him to coax him, no matter how unwilling she was. In the end, she would always give in. He and Oscar were her only family. Who else could she rely on if not them? Owen had always assumed he could control Yunice for the rest of her life. But now, he felt a distance between them. The feeling made him uneasy.
A part of him actually wished Yunice would smile at him again, grab his arm like she used to, and call his name. It had once been so normal. Why had things changed? But what exactly had changed?
As Owen was lost in thought, Elsie came running over happily, tugging at his sleeve. “Owen, did Yunice agree?”
Owen lowered his eyes and looked at the hand holding onto his sleeve. When he lifted his gaze again, Yunice’s smiling face faded, replaced by Elsie’s. When had it changed? When had the person tugging at his sleeve stopped being Yunice and become Elsie instead?
A strange emotion stirred in his heart. He sighed. “She refused.” Then he couldn’t help but ask, “Elsie, do you think Yunice is blaming me?”
Elsie froze. Seeing the frustration on Owen’s face, alarm bells went off in her head. Was Owen starting to feel guilty toward Yunice? She glanced toward Yunice’s room. How did Yunice suddenly get so sharp after just one trip to the psychiatric hospital?
“Owen,” Elsie said gently, “You did this for the greater good. Even if there was a mistake, it was for the sake of the Saunders family. Besides, making this decision was hard for you too. What kind of sister would blame her brother for that?”
Yes. Did Yunice think he wanted to make this choice? If she had been more competent and taken on the family’s responsibilities, he wouldn’t have had to make such a painful decision. He was struggling so much, yet instead of understanding him, she was criticizing him?
Owen’s momentary guilt vanished completely. He straightened his back. “The family won’t fall apart without her. Even if she doesn’t help, I’ll still handle that.”
Elsie was stunned. If Yunice didn’t take the blame, she’d be exposed. That couldn’t happen! But no matter what, Owen refused to beg Yunice again.
Before leaving, she squatted beside the box Yunice had dug out and casually flipped through a few sketches. They were drawings Yunice had done as a child, mostly portraits of women. The women were quiet and elegant, either sitting or standing gracefully. It was the very image of femininity. They were the kind of drawings Yunice had made whenever she missed Lily, copying from her photos.
Gill had considered them precious and kept them safe all these years. But Lily didn’t see them that way. She casually set the old drawings on the floor, then gently sifted through the bottom of the box. When she didn’t find what she was looking for, she seemed a little disappointed.
Noticing Yunice’s indifferent gaze, Lily asked without hesitation. “Yunny, I remember Dad left behind a few ancient medical scripts. You have them, don’t you?”