Chapter 365 Brother in Name Only
Oscar stood frozen. Yunice had never once mentioned any of this to him since he’d come back.
As shock, fury, and grief shifted across his face, Joe calmly said, “We’re not done. This is Yunice’s second hospital file.”
This time, Carl stepped forward and took the report. It detailed secondary abdominal trauma and internal bruising.
Carl scanned both reports. The second injury had occurred just two months after the first.
Yunice had already returned to the Saunders family by then, and instead of recovering, she’d ended up even worse off—back in the hospital again.
Carl’s face darkened, veins bulging on his forehead in rage.
Joe added coldly, “This second injury happened right around the time of Yunice and Mr. Wyatt’s engagement. At the time, Owen was forcing Yunice to marry him. She refused, and Owen kicked her so hard she ended up with serious internal damage. Her body was already full of old wounds. The surgery didn’t go as planned, so we had to operate again once she was stable. But somehow, word got out that Mr. Wyatt had beaten her—and these two twisted it into a public accusation. Tell me, what kind of brother does that to his own sister? And you, Owen, you’ve got the nerve to get worked up over Wyatt kicking Elsie? Haven’t you done worse to your own blood?”
Owen stood stunned, blindsided by the shift. He hadn’t expected anyone to bring up the past, let alone all unite against him.
He’d come here for Yunice’s sake—how did it turn into this?
Feeling both wronged and resentful, Owen barked, “Yunice kicked my mom first! I acted out in the moment!”
Joe replied flatly, “And how strong do you think a girl like her really is? How strong are you? Funny how your mother walked away just fine, but Yunice ended up hospitalized.”
Owen couldn’t answer.
“The records are right in front of you. Yunice’s injuries were serious. You had two months to help her recover, and you did nothing. She just kept getting worse. If Mr. Wyatt hadn’t stepped in, she’d probably be six feet under by now. Not only are you ungrateful, you tried to smear Wyatt’s name, saying he beat her.”
Wyatt looked at Yunice, unreadable.
Yunice returned his gaze, calm and clear, then quietly reached for his hand.
She knew exactly what he was thinking.
This hospitalization wasn’t completely unrelated to Wyatt. He hadn’t actually hit her, but he had gotten rough.
He didn’t like that they were shielding him from blame. It didn’t sit right.
Sensing that, Yunice gently scratched his palm, a silent signal: Keep calm. Let her finish this.
Carl glanced at them, then turned his gaze to Owen, now hard as iron.
“As your elder, I have to ask: Is what he said true?”
Owen stiffened. “This is all a misunderstanding. Yunice isn’t telling the whole truth! Mr. Carl, if you don’t believe me or Elsie, fine. But you’re saying you don’t believe my mom either?”
“Enough!” Carl slammed the report to the floor. He’d given Owen a chance—but all he got was denial.
“Elsie’s been caught in lie after lie. She can’t even keep her story straight. And still, you defend her. Look at Yunice—look at the evidence. Yet you accuse her of lying? Who’s biased now?
Your family owns a hospital. You tell me, if you really cared about Yunice, why did her health worsen in your care?
And the psychiatric facility? Let’s talk about that. Even if she had needed help, why was she hurt so badly there? Did you look into it? File a complaint? Do anything?
You’re not a brother—you’re a goddamn disgrace.”
Owen stood there pale, speechless.
Carl turned to Yunice with a mix of guilt and sorrow in his eyes. His voice cracked. “Why didn’t you ever tell me? If today hadn’t happened, I would’ve never known what those animals did to you. I wouldn’t even know how to face your father.”
Yunice lowered her eyes and spoke softly. “He’s still my brother. I didn’t want him to be condemned too harshly.”
Carl’s throat tightened, tears threatening. He looked back at Owen, full of disappointment. “Did you hear that? After everything she’s been through, she’s still trying to protect you. And you—look at what you’ve done.”
He pointed. “Elsie pressed directly on her wound. You think that didn’t hurt?”
Carl let out a breath, like he’d burned through his last shred of patience.
“This ends today. Yunice’s suffering won’t be ignored any longer.”
Owen’s face twisted. “What do you mean by that?”
Carl raised his head, voice cold, “You said Yunice was faking it, right? Then go ahead—fake it for me. Show me how someone could use pain like this to frame someone else.”