Chapter 35
Posted on May 02, 2025 ยท 1 mins read
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Chapter 35: The Price of a Name

โ€œYunice?โ€ Owen looked at her in surprise, then quickly reached out to steady a middle-aged man. โ€œMr. Ford, are you alright?โ€

Quinton Ford waved a hand, indicating he was fine, but then turned toward Yunice, eyeing her closely. โ€œWhat did you just call her, Mr. Saunders?โ€

From behind Quinton, Elsie stepped forward quickly, casting a nervous glance at Yunice. Sheโ€™d been using Yuniceโ€™s name in public. And now Owen had slipped up. Quinton Ford was a major pharmaceutical tycoon, someone Elsie had long hoped to collaborate with. The last thing she needed was for her identity swap to be exposed. โ€œMr. Ford, my brother was calling me,โ€ she interjected quickly.

Owen jumped in. โ€œThatโ€™s right.โ€

Quinton looked between the two; something about their story clearly seemed off. He didnโ€™t press the issue, but instead bent down and picked up the canvas bag Yunice had dropped. As he did, an old notebook fell out, flipping open on the pavement. His eyes narrowed at the sight of its pages. He leaned down to take a closer look, but a pale, delicate hand quickly snatched both the notebook and the bag from his grasp.

Quinton looked up to see Yunice, tense and on guard. โ€œYouโ€ฆโ€ Owen started, but caught himself. Nearly slipped again. He quickly changed his tone. โ€œDo you have any manners?โ€ He turned to Quinton and offered an apologetic smile. โ€œMr. Ford, sheโ€™s just a distant cousin. A littleโ€ฆ unstable. Please donโ€™t take it personally.โ€

And just to be sure Yunice didnโ€™t say anything more, Owen pinched the inside of her arm behind his back, a subtle but sharp warning. The sudden sting made Yuniceโ€™s eyes well with tears, but she stayed quiet, refusing to react.

Elsie, all smiles, invited, โ€œMr. Ford, shall we continue our discussion over here?โ€

Once Quinton had walked off with Elsie, Owen turned back with a scowl. โ€œElsic and I have work to do. Lao Liu will take you home.โ€

Yunice clutched her bag tightly and looked up at the grand hotel behind them. Owen and Elsie stood proud, dressed in luxury, using the Saunders family name to network with powerhouses like Quinton Ford. And her! A mentally ill distant cousin. Even after saving someoneโ€™s life, she was met with nothing but coldness.

Status really is everything.

That night, Owen came home in high spirits and even asked Giana to prepare extra dishes. At the dinner table, he turned to Yunice with a smile. โ€œYou donโ€™t like spicy food, so these milder ones were made just for you.โ€

Chapter 35: The Price of a Name

โ€œYou two are both wonderful,โ€ Lily said happily. โ€œYouโ€™re my greatest blessings.โ€

Yunice ate the food Lily had served her, but every bite was flavorless. No matter how much time passed, she still couldnโ€™t adjust to this environment. She knew she was the outsider, yet still found herself caught between numbness and silent resistance. She lowered her head and ate faster, hoping to disappear from their line of sight. But fate didnโ€™t let her.

โ€œYunice,โ€ Owen said, โ€œthat notebook you dropped earlierโ€”it looked like Dadโ€™s handwriting. Can I take a look?โ€

Lily froze. Her expression darkened as she turned toward Yunice. โ€œYou told me you didnโ€™t have any of your fatherโ€™s things. Were you lying to me?โ€

โ€œLying?โ€ Owen looked between the two, confused.

Lilyโ€™s gaze stayed fixed on Yunice, her voice filled with disappointment. โ€œThese past few nights Iโ€™ve been dreaming of your father. He kept telling me that he left important notes with you. He begged me to protect them. But when I asked, you told me they werenโ€™t in your possession.โ€ She pressed her temples as if in pain. โ€œI havenโ€™t fulfilled your fatherโ€™s request. My headโ€™s been aching constantly ever sinceโ€ฆโ€

โ€œHow could you?โ€ Owen slammed his hand on the table. โ€œYunice, those were Dadโ€™s thingsโ€”they shouldโ€™ve gone to Mom! What right do you have to keep them to yourself?โ€

The last bite of rice turned to ash in Yuniceโ€™s mouth. She set down her chopsticks and said calmly, โ€œDad didnโ€™t leave me anything. And if he did, theyโ€™re not with me.โ€

โ€œThatโ€™s not true!โ€ Lily snapped. โ€œI searched every corner of this house and couldnโ€™t find those books. Who else couldโ€™ve taken them?โ€ She sighed dramatically, holding her chest. โ€œIโ€™ve tried to be tolerant of you. You didnโ€™t have a proper upbringing, but I still treated you kindly. And nowโ€”now youโ€™re lying to me? Even to me?โ€ She clutched her chest again, as if the betrayal had left her breathless.


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