"Her blessing would mean so much to me," Owen sighed. "She’s not like you, kindhearted. I don’t expect her blessing. I just hope she doesn’t cause any trouble."

Still, he added cautiously, "But we’d better find her. The last thing we need is a scandal to ruin your wedding."

The search lasted well into the night, but Yunice was nowhere to be found. Owen finally called Paul, asking, "Hadn’t Yunice mentioned that Margaret had a friend who would take her in?"

But Paul knew there was no such friend. As he wondered where Yunice could be, Wyatt came to mind. Hyatt had just been disciplined by Jackson and hospitalized. Was Yunice looking after him?

The thought of Yunice doting on Wyatt made Paul’s stomach churn with jealousy. She wouldn’t even put ointment on me, yet she eagerly served that cripple? How pathetic.

Paul grabbed his jacket and headed out, growling into the phone, "I’ll find her myself." After hanging up, he rushed to Silverburgh Hospital.

In Wyatt’s room, he pushed past Jordan, who tried to stop him, and kicked the door open. Wyatt sat on the bed, his gaze icy as it landed on Paul. "I’d warned him before, don’t fall into my hands again."

Paul ignored the threat. Scanning the room and finding no one, he stormed into the bathroom and checked every possible hiding place. Still no Yunice. He marched back to Wyatt and demanded, "Where are you hiding Yunice?"

Jordan rushed in and tugged at Paul. "Yunice isn’t here!" Paul shook him off, fixating on Wyatt. "We’ve searched all of Silverburgh. If she’s not with you, where else would she be?"

Wyatt’s voice was cold. "Yunice is missing?" Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed his cane and swung his injured leg off the bed.

Jordan frowned. "Wyatt! Let me do this. You shouldn’t be moving around…"

Paul finally realized that Yunice really wasn’t there. But where else could she be? If Wyatt didn’t have her, I’d look somewhere else.

Just as he turned to leave, Wyatt’s voice cut through the air.

The Daughter in the Shadows