Chapter 679 Staying the Night

At Yunice’s words, Lily’s face drooped. She picked up a handkerchief and began wiping a white urn.

The urn sat in a very prominent spot, and Lily’s movements were exaggerated enough to be impossible to miss.

Yunice knew that it held Elsie’s ashes, and Lily was deliberately wiping it to make a point.

She wanted to come home, to see the old place, but Lily clung to Elsie’s ashes.

Peggy smirked to herself–Elsie’s ashes had long since been replaced with protein powder.

That night, after Owen had gone into a rage and smashed the urn, Lily had scooped up a few handfuls of ash, put them into a new urn, and treated it like treasure.

She had no idea that her daughter’s ashes had already been turned into fertilizer for flowers.

Owen made a noncommittal sound and said flatly, “Then have a look around. If you want to stay the night, I’ll have Peggy clean out Elsie’s room for you.”

Yunice’s lashes paused ever so slightly. He was slick–offering for her to stay, but deliberately mentioning that he’d give her Elsie’s room.

It was a subtle way of saying she could stay, but there was no room here that was hers. This wasn’t her home.

He clearly wanted to provoke her into leaving, so she wouldn’t discover the secrets in this house.

“Sure,” Yunice replied. “Wyatt and I will stay here tonight.”

Lily and Peggy both turned to her, a flash of shock crossing their faces.

Owen’s voice was awkward. “This place is small and run-down. Shouldn’t you ask Mr. Wyatt if he’s willing to stay?”

Wyatt’s lips curved. “This is my wife’s old home. Of course I’d like to get to know it better.”

He glanced around the room. “We’re free to move about the house, right?”

“Of course,” Yunice answered. “My father’s will states that the old house is partly mine.”

Owen couldn’t argue. Arguing would be pointless–Wyatt was law here.

Lily and Peggy, unable to refuse, both looked even more sour.

Lily, in particular, was gripping her handkerchief so tightly it was nearly torn apart.

Out of the corner of her eye, Yunice saw it–Lily was already scheming about how to drive her and Wyatt out.

Peggy, on the other hand, kept stealing uneasy glances toward the basement’s hidden door, her whole body radiating tension.

Yunice chose that moment to stand, taking Wyatt’s hand. “Come on, I’ll show you the yard. There are still so many memories from my childhood here.”

The moment Yunice and Wyatt stepped out of the living room, Lily hurried to shut the door behind them.

Then she spun around, panic etched on her face, and rushed toward Owen. Peggy also came over.

“If they’re really going to stay, what do we do?!”

“What if they find the basement…?”

“Why is Yunice suddenly pulling this stunt? Is it because she knows the hospital’s been sold and she’s here to claim a share of the money?”

“She’s not even part of the Saunders family anymore–what’s there to split?!”

“But Oscar is, and the two of them have always been thick as thieves. What if she’s here to help him check the assets?”

Owen’s brow furrowed, and he let out a sharp snort. “Enough! Stop arguing!”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he coughed hard.

He felt something come up and instinctively covered his mouth.

Peggy caught sight of it and sucked in a breath.

Lily also frowned, her expression shifting.

When Owen pulled his hand away, he saw it–his palm was streaked with blood from the cough.

Peggy barely dared to breathe. “Owen… could you have some kind of serious illness?”

And if so… what then? If he died, wouldn’t the Saunders fortune fall to her?

Her expression shifted through several emotions before settling into something far calmer.

Lily, meanwhile, tore off two tissues, stepped forward, and wiped his hand, scolding, “Every time Yunice comes, the house is in chaos. Look at you–you’ve worked yourself up again. I’ll go make you some loquat syrup; drink it and you’ll be fine.”

Owen looked up at her.

The saying was true–if someone doesn’t love you, even if you hang yourself, they’ll think you’re just swinging on a swing.

He was coughing blood, and Lily still didn’t think to urge him to go to the hospital.

He hated that he’d realized the truth too late.

But he couldn’t tear things open with her yet–he still had a use for her.

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he put on a calm expression. “The heating’s too high. The air’s too dry. Turn it down later.”

Hearing that it was just dryness, Peggy’s face showed open disappointment.

Owen went on, “We can’t drive them out, or they’ll get suspicious.”

“But they’re spoiled and pampered. They’ll never be comfortable living here.”

Spoiled and pampered?

If Yunice had heard that, she’d have laughed herself sick.