Chapter 87: Forced to Choose

Lily’s tears spilled first, and Owen felt a sting behind his own eyes. His voice was hoarse as he said to Yunice, “So you’re really going to drag the whole family down with you? Even if I go to jail, Mom cries herself to sleep, Elsie’s future gets destroyed, and Oscar’s world falls apart—you’d still refuse to marry him!”

Yunice tilted her head back, her throat moving as she swallowed. Two tears slipped down her cheeks as she whispered, “So even if I live a miserable life, you’d still force me to marry?”

Owen kept asking her to think of the family. But who had ever considered her?

Then she spoke again, her voice soft but firm. “You promised me. You said you’d never force me to marry anyone. You said I could stay with the family for the rest of my life.”

Owen’s eyes trembled. A wave of guilt slammed into him, heavy and suffocating, like two soaked cotton balls lodged in his chest. He couldn’t get a word out. Yunice was his baby sister. He had watched her grow up. How could he not hurt when she cried?

Looking at her now, crumpled on the ground after his own kick, something inside him panicked. What was he doing! Hadn’t he gone to Quinton to fight for her? So why was everyone crying now—including her? If he had really caused this mess?

As Owen’s gaze darted in confusion, Yunice slowly drew in a breath and said, “Fine. I’ll marry him. But after that, I have nothing to do with any of you ever again.”

Lily and Owen stared at her in shock. Why was she so determined to cut ties with her family? Marrying Wyatt didn’t mean she had to stop being part of the Saunders family.

Yunice turned to Luke. “Is the tailor still here? I can get measured now.”

Luke looked her up and down. With all the injuries she’d suffered, could she even stand? But that wasn’t his concern. If they could wrap this up, all the better. He gave the tailor a subtle nod, and the woman stepped forward.

Owen wanted to stop them but was held back by Lily, who was crying and shaking her head like she was telling him, “This is the best outcome. Don’t make it worse.”

Elsie clung to his arm, tears streaking down her face. “Owen, Yunice didn’t mean what she said. We’re her family. Where else could she go? Once she calms down, she’ll understand.”

“Yeah,” Owen murmured, eyes flickering. That gave him something to hold onto. This was still her home. She’d come back eventually. Blood ties couldn’t just be severed. They were siblings. No matter what she said, that wouldn’t change. He stepped back silently, letting the tailor approach.

Chapter 97: Forced to Choose

They had heard everything from beginning to end—how Yunice had been pressured into this marriage after resisting for so long. This was not the moment for Wyatt to appear. If he had any sense, he’d turn and walk away quietly. No one would even know he’d been here.

But instead, Wyatt stepped inside. Yunice’s tiny room was packed. The tailor tried to lift her up—she needed to stand for an accurate measurement. But Yunice winced in pain. Even after a few tries, she couldn’t get up.

Owen’s heart clenched. He almost stepped forward to help her, but Paul beat him to it, his voice bitter. “You’re really going to marry Wyatt?”

It was the first thing he’d said to her all day. Watching her push through pain just to stand and be measured, something inside him twisted with jealousy.

Yunice raised her eyes and looked at him like he was an idiot. She scoffed. “When I was being forced into this, you said nothing. Now that I’ve agreed, suddenly you have something to say?”

Elsie glanced at Paul nervously. She knew he still hadn’t fully let go of Yunice, and she was terrified he might try to stop the wedding.

Paul didn’t reply. After a pause, he muttered resentfully, “I told you to stay away from Wyatt. You didn’t listen. Now look where that got you. Do you even know what kind of person he is?”

“Mr. Paul,” Luke’s face darkened as he cut him off. Then Wyatt’s voice rang out. “Talking behind people’s backs isn’t exactly a good habit.”

Paul stiffened. He whipped his head around and saw Wyatt and Jordan standing at the door. Wyatt’s gaze flicked past him lazily. “When I run into people like that, I usually rip out their tongues. Makes it easier to shut them up.”

Paul went rigid, knees throbbing with phantom pain. Wyatt wasn’t joking—he’d do it. Paul’s face went pale. He didn’t dare say another word.

Wyatt stepped past him and walked over to Yunice. He reached out and gently pulled her upright. Yunice couldn’t even stay on her feet. Her whole body ached, and nearly all her weight fell into Wyatt’s. She was afraid of dragging him down.