Chapter 543 A Funeral of Fire and Lies
Yunice and Wyatt returned to Pavilion Hall. As for the Saunders family, they clearly had no intention of letting Yunice be involved in Elsie’s funeral, and Yunice had no interest in being involved either.
When they got home, Elianna was still up after an all-nighter of gaming. She came downstairs for a late-night snack and bumped into them at the door.
“Wyatt, where’d you guys go?”
She noticed something was off with Yunice and gave her a suspicious glance.
Yunice didn’t feel like talking and went straight to her room.
In the living room, Wyatt and Elianna locked eyes. Then Wyatt glanced at the cake in her hand and said impatiently, “Can’t you do something productive? You’re twenty-three, for God’s sake.”
She was just eating cake. Elianna muttered, “You’re in a bad mood. Don’t take it out on me.”
She shot a glance toward Yunice’s room, trying to guess what kind of drama they were dealing with this time.
Not wanting to be the next target, she grabbed her cake and ran back to her room.
Back in her own room, Yunice removed Wyatt’s coat from her shoulders and hung it on the rack.
Despite her heavy mood, her mind was still running through plans.
Elsie’s death had completely shifted her strategy and derailed multiple parts of her setup.
Oscar was still in jail. The only person who could back up his story was dead.
Yunice was certain Paul wasn’t innocent–but she still didn’t know what role he had played in all of this.
Maybe she should drag him in and beat it out of him?
But that kind of testimony wouldn’t hold up in court.
And asking the Saunders family to sign a letter of forgiveness for Oscar wouldn’t work either. Even if Owen and Lily agreed–which they likely wouldn’t–signing it would imply Oscar’s guilt.
Yunice leaned on the edge of the bed, rubbing her forehead. She felt exhausted.
Her entire existence had become wrapped around the feud with the Saunders and Powells. She didn’t even know who she’d be once it was all over.
From outside came the sound of the door closing. Wyatt had entered the room.
Not wanting to pass her bad energy to him, Yunice stood and said, “Let’s get some rest.”
The next morning, Yunice woke up late.
Still in pajamas, she stepped out to get a drink of water.
Elianna was on the couch rating chips and looked stunned to see her. “You’re home?”
Yunice rubbed her sore back and hummed in response.
Wyatt had taken advantage of the excuse to “help her relieve stress” the night before–and didn’t let her off until nearly dawn. She’d passed out from exhaustion after that.
She hadn’t woken up until well past noon. Even Elianna, who was known for sleeping in, had gotten up earlier.
Wyatt wasn’t home.
Yunice held her glass and sat down in the corner of the couch.
Elianna, sprawled across the middle like she owned the place, glanced at Yunice’s spot. "What’s with the mope act? Trying to win pity points from Wyatt?"
She immediately got defensive. “Hey! Wyatt said you’re the mistress of this house. Why don’t you kick me off the couch and take the middle seat?”
Yunice glanced at the idol drama playing on the giant TV screen. “As long as I’m not sitting on the floor, a seat’s a seat.”
Elianna watched her, trying to read the calm face that didn’t seem to care about anything. For some reason, it annoyed her.
She tried to stir something up. “Did you two fight last night or what? Just so you know, don’t take advantage of Wyatt liking you and act all distant. He likes sweet, obedient girls.”
Yunice scrolled her phone. “Well, same goes for you.”
Elianna rolled her eyes and turned back to the TV.
On Yunice’s phone, a video was playing–a news segment covering Elsie’s funeral.
The murder-rape case involving Elsie had become a massive national controversy. Since the story broke, it had drawn the attention of the entire internet.
Public opinion was overwhelmingly against Oscar, condemning him as immoral and perverse. Every comment section was filled with angry posts about women’s safety and passionate demands for police transparency.
But just as many people were focused on something else: how would the Saunders family choose between their biological son and daughter?
Elsie’s death had reignited the media frenzy.
Dozens of microphones were shoved in Owen’s face. Camera lenses zoomed in on him from every angle.
“Mr. Owen,” a reporter asked, “how do you feel about your sister’s passing?”
Someone tried to escalate the situation. “Will you use her death as a reason to request Oscar’s release?”
After all, they were both his siblings. One was dead–shouldn’t he try to save the other?
Owen growled, “Whoever caused my sister’s death–I will never let them go!”
“But what if it’s your own brother?” another reporter pressed.
“Even if it’s my brother,” Owen shouted, “I don’t care!”
The media immediately pounced, “Owen, could you be involved in this? Everyone knows you’ve been trying to sell off the Saunders family medical group. Yunice and Oscar both have shares. With both of them out of the picture, you stand to gain the most. Was this whole thing your plan–to take control of the hospital’s assets?”