Chapter 37: No Room for Sympathy
Lily was so furious she couldn’t speak. She turned her head away, refusing to look at Yunice.
Yunice let out a cold laugh in her heart. It’s not that I don’t know how to play innocent—they’re just not buying it. Now that they didn’t get the notebook, they probably hated her even more. But what could they really blame her for? She was doing it for Lily’s own good. No one had told her they were planning to trade the notebook for Quinton’s favor. Their suspicion and hostility toward her only weakened their argument.
Elsie glared at Yunice from behind Owen, fuming. She was sure now—Yunice had gotten smarter. She’d done it on purpose. At the same time, Elsie realized she’d underestimated her. She’d assumed Yunice wouldn’t have the heart to destroy something that had belonged to her dead father. But it turned out Yunice was so jealous, she’d rather burn it than give it up.
Elsie wasn’t ready to give up. “Yunice, Quinton really cares about that notebook. Why don’t you just write it out from memory? You don’t want Owen to lose face, do you?”
Owen looked at Yunice again, clearly thinking that if she was willing to make up for it, he might let it slide. But Yunice looked troubled. “I’m not well-educated—I only finished high school. Dad’s notes were really dense. I couldn’t even understand half of it, let alone memorize or rewrite it…”
Hearing that, Owen pushed Elsie aside and faced Yunice head-on, full of anger. “You’re doing this on purpose. You’re mad… just because I didn’t introduce you to Quinton today!”
“I never said you weren’t my sister. At home, you get everything you’re supposed to. But why do you insist on dragging your condition—and my identity—into public conversations?”
“I kept my distance outside to protect your dignity!”
“So what are you angry about now? You’re my sister—you should support me, think about me! If it were Elsie, she’d never put me in this kind of spot!”
But wasn’t it Owen who had exposed her condition and humiliated her in the first place?
Yunice stared at him coldly. “Then next time, just pretend you don’t know me. That way, you won’t be embarrassed, and I’ll make sure not to acknowledge any of you either.”
Owen’s heart skipped a beat. He stared at Yunice in disbelief. She was really cutting ties with him?
Ignoring his stunned expression, Yunice continued, “Other than that notebook, I don’t have a single thing from the Saunders family. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and search.”
She turned toward the door. “I’m leaving.”
The more she ignored him, the angrier Owen got. “Don’t you have any manners? No one else has left yet, but you think you’re special?”
Yunice acted like she didn’t hear a thing and closed the door behind her.
Elsie stepped in to calm Owen. “Don’t let her get to you, Owen. With her around, you and Mom can’t even eat in peace.”
Chapter 37: No Room for Sympathy
He sighed again. “If Yunice could just get the Johnson family to help clear your bad press, we wouldn’t have to keep sucking up to Quinton.”
Elsie was skeptical. “You really think she’d help me?”
“I saw her go to the Johnsons myself,” Owen said. “She’s just too jealous to offer help. But I know she still cares about this family. She won’t sit back and watch the hospital’s reputation go down the drain.”
Elsie scoffed inwardly. What can Yunice possibly do to get the Johnsons involved? Still, she had to admit—Yunice wasn’t as easy to deal with as she had been three years ago.
The next morning, before heading to work, Owen handed Yunice a phone. “Next time you go to the Johnsons, don’t call a cab. Just ring Bobby and have him drive you.”
Yunice’s chest tightened. He knows I went to the Johnsons?
Seeing the flicker in her eyes, Owen patted her head and said, “I know you still care about this family. Build a good relationship with Mr. Johnson. They won’t treat you badly.”
A cold wind seemed to blow through her heart. So Owen still hadn’t given up on marrying her off to that man. The Johnsons worked in the healthcare system. Getting in good with them would benefit the whole family’s future. So what if it meant sacrificing just one person?
Elsie stood beside Owen in a chic little Chanel-inspired outfit, her jewelry sparkling. She offered sweetly, “Yunice, this phone was mine, but it’s practically brand new. You don’t mind, right?”
Owen’s voice turned firm as he chimed in, “Even if it’s used, it still cost real money. You don’t have a job right now, so don’t be picky.”
The more someone feels guilty, the harder they try to act like they’re not. Owen knew deep down he owed Yunice. But instead of facing it, he turned it around—making it seem like she was the one being unreasonable. He was also trying to keep her in line, reminding her not to cause trouble.