Chapter 78: Pain That Cannot Be Healed
Owen’s face turned ashen. His eyes reddened, and he looked at Yunice with a pained expression, his voice trembling. “Are you hurt? Did Quinton do anything to you?”
He was frantic, stepping forward as if to pull Yunice out and check her for injuries. But Wyatt deliberately stepped aside, positioning himself just in front of Owen. His mocking gaze made it impossible for anyone to meet his eyes.
Owen swallowed hard, his throat tightening. He did not dare move closer. What troubled him even more was Yunice’s attitude.
Yunice maintained her distance, coldly regarding him. “What’s the point of your fake sympathy now? If it weren’t for Mr. Cooper saving me by chance, by the time you came to look for me, I’d either be dead or mad.”
Her words were like a blade cutting into Owen’s heart. She was blaming him. His eyes reddened further, his chest tightening with guilt. He had dealt with Quinton before and knew the man would never treat Yunice kindly to achieve his goals. Yet, he had allowed her to suffer alone for three days without even bothering to search for her.
Seeing Owen’s agonized expression, Yunice could not help but laugh. “Are you trying to put on an act of guilt? Or do you want me to comfort you, tell you that it’s not your fault?”
Owen froze, his eyes wide, his confusion making him look almost comic. But Yunice remained unmoved. Her expression remained as cold as ice. “Are you angry now? Do you feel hurt because you think I’m trying to read your thoughts?”
Owen gritted his teeth, clearly feeling exactly that. He felt guilty. He was upset for her. Yet, she accused him of merely performing. Did she not have a heart at all?
Yunice sneered, her voice icy. “But haven’t you always done the same to me? When I told you about the suffering I endured in the asylum, you accused me of trying to make everyone feel guilty. When I said I was kidnapped, you accused me of hiding to make everyone anxious…” Her eyes locked onto Owen’s, a malicious smile on her lips. “It turns out that only when the knife is plunged into your heart can you truly feel the pain.”
Owen stumbled backward, his face collapsing in utter defeat. Have I really been treating Yunice like this all along? Could my offhand words truly have hurt her so much? But that was casual wounds. I still care about her.
Yunice seemed to see straight through him. She continued, her voice biting. “You don’t need to feel guilty, though. After all, this isn’t the first time you’ve abandoned me. Remember the gas mask you snatched three years ago! How well is Elsie using it now?”
The sound of Owen’s heart shattering was almost audible in his ears. His face burned with humiliation as he looked first at Wyatt, then at Elsie. It felt like his darkest secrets were being exposed in front of everyone.
He had always considered himself to be fair, giving Yunice enough tolerance and care. Yet, when it came to this, it seemed like anyone could bring it up and pierce him.
Under the collective gaze, Owen felt completely exposed, his guilt and shame overwhelming him. Finally, he steeled himself and said firmly, “Yunny, I’ll make sure to get justice for you regarding your kidnapping!”
Without waiting for a response, he turned and strode out of the hospital. No one knew what he intended to do, and Yunice could not have cared less. She had no time or energy to worry about people who did not matter.
Elsie stood awkwardly in place. She had planned to chase after Owen, but upon hearing Yunice bring up the past, she knew if she went after him now, Owen would just take out his anger on her. So, she hesitated and stopped.
At that moment, she noticed the figure of a wheelchair turning the corner of the hall, and a thought struck her. “Yunice, Paul is really in a lot of pain. Please, just give the medicine back to me!” Elsie’s voice was filled with emotion, her performance so convincing it almost seemed real.
Since it was a performance, there had to be someone watching. Yunice turned her head and, just as expected, saw the wheelchair stopped at the corner of the hall. Paul was gripping the armrests tightly, his face contorted with righteous indignation.
Elsie continued her act, her voice full of drama. “Yunice, it’s all my fault. I’ll even kneel to you!” She dropped to her knees as though to beg.
Yunice did not stop her, and neither did Wyatt. Only Paul, seething with anger, controlled the wheelchair, wheeling himself forward. “Elsie, don’t kneel to her!” Paul growled, his anger evident.
Elsie quickly straightened up, and the moment she saw Paul, her tears flowed freely, as though a dam had broken. “Paul, I have to kneel, or Yunice won’t give me back the medicine!”
Paul narrowed his eyes. “What medicine?”
Elsie sobbed. “The medicine that can cure your leg pain. I made it myself, but Yunice…”
Listening to Elsie’s accusations and then looking at Wyatt standing in front of Yunice, Paul understood everything. His lips trembled with fury, and he spat out, “Wyatt, you’re truly vicious! You won’t even let Yunice give me the medicine, just so I can suffer more!”
He had assumed that Yunice had taken the medicine from Elsie to please him, only to be threatened by Wyatt in the process.
The Daughter in the Shadows