Chapter 35 The Price of a Name

Finished

b“/bYunice?” Owen looked at her in surprise, then quickly reached out to steady a middle–aged man. “Mr. Ford, are you alright?”

Quinton Ford waved a hand, indicating he was fine, but then turned toward Yunice, eyeing her closely. “What did you just bcall /bher, Mr. Saunders?”

From behind Quinton, Elsie stepped forward quickly, casting a nervous nce at bYunice/b.

She’d been using Yunice’s name in public. And now Owen had slipped up.

Quinton Ford was a major pharmaceutical tycoon, someone Elsie had long hoped to coborate with. Thest thing she needed was for her identity bswap /bto be exposed. “Mr. Ford, my brother was calling me, she interjected quickly.

Owen jumped in. That’s bright/bb” /b

Quinton looked between the two, something about their story clearly off. He didn’t press the issue, bbut /binstead bent down and picked bup /bthe canvas bag Yunice had dropped.

As he did, an old notebook fell out, flipping open on the pavement. His eyes narrowed at the sight of its pages.

He leaned down to take a closer look, bbut /ba pale, delicate hand quickly snatched both the notebook and the bag from his

bgrasp/b.

Quinton looked up to see Yunice, tense and on guard.

“You” Owen started, but caught himself. Nearly slipped again.

He quickly changed his tone. “Do you have any mannersb?/b”

He turned to Quinton and offered an apologetic smile. “Mr. Ford, she’s just a distant cousin. A little… unstable. Please don’t take it personally.”

And just to be sure Yunice didn’t say anything more, Owen pinched the inside of her arm behind his back, ba /bsubtle but sharp warning

The sudden sting made Yunice’s eyes well with tears, but she stayed quiet, refusing to react.

Elsie, all smiles, invited,

“Mr. Ford, bshall /bwe continue our discussion over here?”

Once Quinton had walked off with Elsie, Owen turned back with a scowl. “Elsic and I have work to do. Lao Liu will take you home.”

Yunice clutched her bag tightly and looked up at the grand hotel behind them. Owen and Elsie stood proud, dressed in luxury, using the Saunders family name towork with powerhouses like Quinton Ford.

And bher/bb! /b

bA /bmentally ill distant cousin. Even after saving someone’s life, she was met with nothing but coldness.

Status really is everything.

That night, Owen came home in high spirits and even asked Giana to prepare extra dishes.

At the dinner table, he turned to Yunice with a smile. “You don’t like spicy foodb, /bso these milder ones were bmade /bjust for you.”

Chapter 35 The Price of a Name

You two are both wonderful. Lily said happily. “You’re my greatest blessings.”

Yunice ate the food Lily had served her, but every bite was vorless.

No matter how bmuch /btime passed, she still couldn’t adjust to this environment.

She knew she was the outsider, yet still found herself bcaught /bbetween numbness and silent resistance.

She lowered her head and ate faster, hoping to disappear from their line of sight.

But fate didn’t let her.

“Yunice.” Owen said, “that notebook you dropped earlier–it looked like Dad’s handwriting. Can I take a look?”

Finished

Lily froze. Her expression darkened as she turned btoward /bbYunice/b. “You told me you didn’t bhave /bbany /bof your father’s things. Were you lying to bme/b?”

“Lying?” Owen looked between the two, confused.

Lily’s gaze stayed fixed on Yunice, her voice filled with disappointment. These past few nights I’ve been dreaming of your father. He kept telling me that he left important notes with byou/b. He begged me to protect them. But when I asked, byou /btold me they weren’t in your possession.”

She pressed her temples as if in pain. I haven’t fulfilled your father’s request. My head’s been aching constantly ever since…”

“How could you” bOwen /bmmed his hand on the table. “Yunice, those were Dad’s things–they should’ve gone to Mom! What right do you have to keep them to yourself?”

Thest bite of rice turned to ash in Yunice’s mouth. She set down her chopsticks and said calmly. “Dad didn’t leave me anything. And if he did, they’re not with bme/b.”

“That’s not true!” Lily snapped. “I searched every corner of this house and couldn’t find those books. Who else could’ve taken

them?”

She sighed dramatically, holding her chest. I’ve tried to be tolerant of you. You didn’t have proper upbringing, but I still treated you kindly. And now–now you’re lying to me? Even to me?”

She clutched her chest again, as if the betrayal had left her breathless.