Chapter 681 Turning the Tables

The three of them behind Yunice were frantically exchanging looks.

Think of something – anything – but don’t let them get into the basement!

But everyone’s minds had jammed, and no one could come up with a legitimate reason to stop them.

Owen instinctively followed, trailing just behind them, still making a last-ditch effort.

“Yunice!” he called loudly, just as her hand touched the basement door lock.

She and Wyatt turned to look at him.

Owen’s throat bobbed. “There’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you. Father’s old manuscripts and medicinal formulas must be in your possession. With Wellinges Pharma growing so quickly, are you using our family’s formulas?”

His gaze shifted nervously to Wyatt. “Mr. Wyatt, relying on your wife’s family’s assets to cash in – don’t you think that’s inappropriate?”

Wyatt gave a short, amused laugh. “Is it that cashing in is wrong, or that cashing in without cutting you in is wrong?”

Owen pressed his lips together, frowning. “Either way, you’re using the Saunders family’s secret formulas. You should at least pay the Saunders family patent royalties.”

By now, Owen had already pocketed the money from the villa and the hospital. He had no real intention of fighting over the family’s formulas, but to draw Wyatt and Yunice away from the basement, he had to stir the pot.

Yunice pulled her hand back from the door, her expression serious, as if genuinely concerned Owen might try to seize the manuscripts.

Owen gestured toward the seating area. “Come talk with me.”

Wyatt glanced at her, and together they moved to the living room.

“Even though you’re no longer part of the Saunders family, and you don’t have the Saunders family’s network, I still think of you as my sister. According to Father’s will, you’re not entitled to inherit the estate, but I can give you the manuscripts in my personal capacity.

After sitting, Owen paused for two seconds before saying, “Those books hold formulas worth a fortune. With them and Wellinges Pharma’s strength combined, who knows how much wealth you could create – it’s far more valuable than the Saunders family’s fixed assets.”

Yunice smiled. “So I’d be getting the better end of the deal, huh?”

“Among family, there’s no need to keep score,” Owen replied smoothly.

The pretty words flowed easily from him, but when it came to actually doing something for others, he never lifted a finger.

Out of the corner of his eye, he kept gauging Wyatt’s reaction. He knew Yunice could be handled, but if Wyatt took her side, things would get complicated.

So he added in a humble tone, “You have no obligations for elder care, but I still have to support our mother and the whole Saunders household, don’t I?”

Yunice’s lips curved. “Fine. If my share is going toward Mom’s support, I have a suggestion.

“I heard you bought Elsie a custom luxury grave for three million. Why not save that money? Consider it her way of contributing to Mom’s care.”

The shift in topic caught Owen off guard.

Lily, however, reacted like a cat with its tail stepped on. She rushed up to Yunice, bristling. “Yunice! How can you be so vicious? Elsie’s dead and you still won’t leave her in peace!”

She turned to Wyatt, tears welling and voice full of righteous indignation. “Mr. Wyatt, look at her! She won’t even give the dead a proper burial. How can a person’s heart be so rotten? Aren’t you afraid to sleep next to someone like her?”

Wyatt thought for a moment, then said, “I think my wife isn’t nearly bad enough. A cuckoo squatting in another bird’s nest like her deserves to have a few priests bless her, then pin her in the eighteenth level of hell, lowering her into the oil cauldron over and over, reminding her this is the price of stealing someone else’s life.”

His mocking gaze slid to the urn Lily clutched so protectively.

Realizing his intent, Lily hugged Elsie’s urn tight to her chest and screamed, “No! Absolutely not!”

Owen frowned but ignored her. “Yunice, I know you’ve always been at odds with Elsie. She did wrong you in life. I’ll cancel her burial plot reservation – if you’ll agree to drop it, and the Saunders family will never mention her again.”

“What!” Before Yunice could answer, Lily shrieked, glaring at Owen. “Say that again! I dare you!”

“She’s dead, Lily,” Owen said impatiently. “What does it matter if she has a plot? It’s not like she can come back to life.”

“But she’s your sister!” Lily screamed. “She’s been gone less than three months! Her ashes aren’t even cold, and you’d do this to her? Are you still her Owen?”

Owen’s voice turned icy. “I was never her Owen. My dad is Will. Her dad is Timothy. What kind of siblings are we supposed to be?”

“Mm!” Lily gritted her teeth and slapped Owen hard across the face. “Don’t forget what you promised Elsie before she died!”

He had promised never to be good to Yunice – never to welcome her back into the Saunders family.

Yet here he was, siding with Yunice, even refusing Elsie a grave.