Chapter 569 The Real and the Replacement
Madam Mary’s eyes flew wide in disbelief; she hadn’t expected Yunice to talk back so sharply, so mercilessly. She snapped, “You think just because Wyatt spoils you, you can–”
Yunice looked up and calmly cut her off. “And you think just because Wyatt indulges your family, you can do whatever you want? Morgan’s crimes go far beyond what he did to Elsie. He won’t escape the law, no matter who you beg. Instead of coming here to stir up trouble, maybe go tell your precious grandson to confess and take responsibility while he still has a shot at leniency.”
Madam Mary opened her mouth but couldn’t come up with a single word in response. But her son behind her wasn’t as restrained. Humiliated by how his mother was being talked down in front of others, Mr. Morgan surged forward and raised his hand, aiming to slap Yunice across the face. “Trash will always be trash! No manners at all!”
Yunice didn’t move, but the slap never landed. The butler had stepped in front of her, gripping Mr. Morgan’s wrist tightly. His voice was icy. “Mr. Morgan, take a good look. This is the Pavilion Hall. Ms. Yunice is the mistress here. You, as an outsider, dare to raise your hand against the lady of the house–have you forgotten whose home you’re in?”
Mr. Morgan scoffed, “She’s nothing but a decoration Wyatt married for show. And you people are really treating her like she matters? What a joke.” But no matter how much he looked down on Yunice, the butler held his wrist in a vise, leaving him no chance to even touch her.
Yunice actually felt a little disappointed. If that slap had landed, she could’ve put on a nice little performance for Wyatt later. Still, the way the butler and staff protected her caught her off guard–and even moved her a little.
Seeing the tide turning against them, Madam Mary flared up, spitting, “Ms. Yunice, you’ve been living off the benefits of looking like my granddaughter, lording it over her family. Don’t you feel the slightest bit ashamed?”
But Yunice didn’t step into that obvious trap. She answered coldly, “Funny, I was just thinking how shameful it is to enjoy the benefits your granddaughter left behind and use them to throw your weight around. You raised Morgan–scum of society–and now you run around trying to get him out of trouble. Honestly, your morals and values aren’t even close to qualifying you to judge anyone.”
“You–!” Madam Mary was shaking. “Everyone knows Oscar was a depraved murderer! You’re just trying to get him off the hook by making Morgan the scapegoat!”
Yunice said calmly, “My brother’s charges are still under investigation. But Morgan’s crimes are set in stone. Otherwise, why would you go through the trouble of coming all the way here?”
“You–!” Madam Mary’s face turned pale. She clutched her chest, gasping for breath.
Mr. Morgan instantly rushed to her side in panic. “Mom! Don’t scare me! Yunice, if anything happens to her, you’re responsible!”
Yunice replied, “Only a judge can decide who’s responsible. And last I checked, Mr. Morgan, you don’t have a judge’s license.”
Mr. Morgan gritted his teeth. “Don’t think that sharp tongue of yours means you’ve won. Wait till Wyatt comes home–see if you can still smile then!”
Yunice sat back down on the sofa. She had no intention of waiting on the Johnsons.
Upstairs…
Elianna had cracked the door open and peeked at the drama below. She wasn’t foolish enough to jump into that mess. Quietly closing the door, she sent Wyatt a message, reporting everything that had happened at home. She was genuinely curious–between the Johnson family and Yunice, who would Wyatt side with? She expected a dramatic standoff, but before Wyatt even returned, Madam Mary and Mr. Morgan were suddenly called away by a phone call.
Yunice only caught a few words as Madam Mary picked up. “Nora’s awake? Are you serious?”
She watched the two of them leave Pavilion Hall, crying with joy. Her grip tightened around the book in her hand, and she found herself struggling to breathe. The Nora Madam Mary mentioned–it had to be that Nora. Was she really awake? After three years, if the first thing she said was a plea for Wyatt to save her brother… would Wyatt be able to refuse? A man’s weakness for his first love was often incurable.
Elianna strolled leisurely down the stairs. “Wyatt’s definitely not coming home tonight.” Three years apart–and now Nora was awake. How could he not go see her? What reason did he have not to?
Elianna plopped down on the sofa and glanced at the silent Yunice. “You’ve got the energy to trade barbs with the Johnsons, but maybe you’d be better off getting your brother a decent lawyer… Not that it’d help much. No one beats Wellinges Pharma’s legal team.”
In her eyes, if Nora hadn’t woken up, Yunice might’ve had a shot at turning things around. But now that she had… Yunice was finished. After all, Yunice was only a stand-in. A counterfeit can never be placed on the same pedestal as the real thing.