Chapter 104: Too Late to Make Amends
Consider it a wedding gift for her. Owen had Elsie prepare some walnut wood and the tools for carpentry. Before long, the hospital room was cluttered with wood and equipment: saws, planes, and piles of materials everywhere. Owen gripped the saw, bracing one foot against the plank, cutting through the wood stroke by stroke.
Initially, there was nothing notable, except his hand was injured. And every time he exerted force, the fresh wound would seep through the gauze, staining it a deep crimson.
“Owen, your hand… It’s bleeding!” Elsie’s eyes widened in shock, tears welling up immediately. She rushed forward, snatching the saw from his hands and clutching it to her chest. “If you’re doing this because you’re worried Yunice is mad at you… then I’ll give the jewelry box back to her! There’s no need for you to hurt yourself like this!”
Tears streamed down her face. Even Owen’s eyes reddened at her words. But he simply took the saw back from her trembling hands.
“I know Yunny,” he said quietly. “She has her pride. Once she gives something away, even if it ends up discarded, she’ll never take it back. I’ll just make her a new one.”
Elsie tried to grab the saw again. “Then let me help! I’ll do it. You can just tell me what to do, okay?”
Owen gave her a grateful smile, but his grip didn’t loosen. “Elsie… if only Yunny were as understanding as you.” Then, he went back to sawing the wood.
Elsie was frantic, unable to talk him out of it. Thankfully, Paul arrived just then. Seeing him was like seeing her savior. “Paul! Please, say something to my Owen. He insists on making a jewelry box for Yunice, even with his hand like this!”
Owen’s voice was calm but resolute. “No need to persuade me. Yunice resents me now… but as long as I finish this jewelry box, she won’t stay angry.”
Paul knew Owen well. He was stubborn to the bone. Talking him down would be useless. So, he turned to Elsie. “Stay here and keep an eye on him. I’ll go bring Yunice over.”
“What?” Elsie’s face fell. She was not keen on letting Paul and Yunice have a moment alone together, but there was little she could do.
Paul did not find Yunice in her hospital room. Instead, he spotted her in a corner of the hallway, whispering on the phone. She was calling her school, making arrangements to sit for the upcoming entrance exams.
By the time she hung up, she hadn’t realized that Paul had silently rolled his wheelchair right up behind her. When she turned to leave, she stumbled over it and fell helplessly into his arms. Even before her body touched him, her light fragrance wafted up, making Paul’s tightly furrowed brow ease ever so slightly.
Yunice frowned, immediately trying to push herself up, but Paul held her shoulders down, his voice cold. “Am I that unbearable to you?”
She shoved him away hard. “Show some respect. By seniority, you should be calling me ‘Aunt.’”
The word ‘Aunt’ stung like a slap, leaving Paul with an expression that defied description. He sneered faintly. “Sounds like you’re quite satisfied with this marriage. But do you really know Wyatt? Do you know what’s…”
Paul stared at her in disbelief. She knew, yet she still agreed to marry him? Yunice hadn’t expected his guess to hit so close to home. So it was true. If you really loved another woman. And I’m nothing more than a convenient front.
“Paul Paul? Where are you?” Elsie finally caught up, her voice sharp with impatience. She nearly missed seeing them. Paul and Yunice were standing far too close together.
Vince shot Paul a glance. She did not want trouble. So, before Elsie could see more, she turned and left. Paul’s voice called out from behind her. “Go see Owen. He’s not in a good place right now.”
Not in a good place…
Hallway to her room, Yunice changed direction. She went to Owen’s room anyway. Elsie was gone. Only Owen remained, sweating as he struggled with the saw, staining the pale walnut wood with droplets of blood. She stood at the doorway, watching the blood gather in his palm and fall, drip by drip, onto the wood.
Perhaps sensing someone at the door, Owen paused. He looked up at her. For a long moment, neither of them moved. They were separated by distance, but even more so by the cold wedge driven between them. His eyes flickered with uncertainty. After a pause, he tried to explain. “I was going to make you a new jewelry box. From rosewood…”
He was about to explain that the rosewood tree could not be transported back yet, since Elsie’s asthma had not fully recovered… But Yunice cut him off. “I don’t need it.”
Owen froze. She wouldn’t even accept my apology? Yunice’s voice was laced with sarcasm. “You think doing this… is going to make me happy?”
Owen’s brow furrowed, clearly unhappy with her pointed, rhetorical tone.