Chapter 98: The Cut That Didn’t Land
“No!” Elsie suddenly lunged forward, throwing herself over Owen’s hand. “Don’t cut off Owen’s hand!”
Her tearful cry was gut-wrenching. The two of them looked so pitiful, like they were the real victims. Owen stared at Elsie, who was shielding him with her entire body, and his eyes went red. Such a good sister, so genuine, so devoted. How could he not be moved—of course he was.
He looked up again, glaring at Yunice with hatred in his eyes. He looked at Elsie, then back at Yunice’s indifferent face. She always accused him of playing favorites, but in moments like this, it was impossible not to.
Owen was consumed with hatred—so much that it drowned out his fear. He stared daggers at Yunice and growled through clenched teeth, “So all twenty years of taking care of you went to waste. If I’d known you’d turn out so cruel, I wouldn’t have lifted a finger when no one wanted you.”
Yunice lowered her eyes, her thoughts drifting to the past. Her dad once told her that just a few days after she was born, her mother disappeared. Her father was so obsessed with finding her that he barely came home, constantly lost in a daze. The nanny at home didn’t care either, and Yunice had cried herself hoarse in her crib from hunger. It was Owen who held her, soothed her, fed her bottle after bottle until their father finally came home.
No one’s made of stone. Of course, I was moved. But memories were one thing. After three years locked in a psychiatric hospital and her current status as someone without legal ID, there was no way she could ever forgive Owen.
Elsie sobbed and begged Yunice, “Yunice, say something… Owen was so good to you, don’t you remember?”
Yunice replied coldly, “Yeah, I remember. I remember how good he was to me—and I remember how he took all of it back.”
Owen looked up at her with seething anger, his eyes saying, So what, you think kindness can be taken back?
Yunice said, “When we were kids, you fed me bottles and gave me a second chance at life. But then you left me in a mental hospital for three years—and that kick you gave me? Consider it payback. As for the rose tree, no matter how well you took care of it, you still cut it down for Elsie.”
“And the jewelry cabinet…” She let out a dry laugh. “Didn’t you already give that to Elsie? All those pieces you gave me over the years, your trophies—you handed them to her like they meant nothing. All I ever had in the Saunders house was a tiny room with bare walls. So tell me, what exactly do I still owe you?”
Owen froze. Had I really taken back the things I’d given Yunice and handed them off to Elsie? Memories he thought he’d long forgotten started flashing back in his mind.
“Owen, Yunice’s jewelry cabinet is so pretty. It’s got such a unique design. I wish I had a brother who treated me that well.”
“Then I’ll make you one too.”
“How could I take a new one? Just give me Yunice’s old one—I’d be happy enough with that.”
“Alright, Yunice, move your cabinet to Elsie’s room.”
“But Owen… I really like that cabinet too. Couldn’t you give her something else?”
“Why are you being so stingy? I told you I’d make you a new one!”
“Fine…”
The memory faded, but Yunice’s dejected expression from that time was still fresh in his mind. He tried to remember—did he ever follow through and make her a new cabinet? Of course, he hadn’t. He clearly remembered how excited he’d been, buying all the materials to make one for her again. But time passed, and his childhood patience and focus had long since faded. He gave up after cutting a single board, tossed all the tools into the storage room, and never touched them again. And yet she remembered all of that, she held a grudge for something so small.
The bald man, tired of all the whining and delays, tilted his head and motioned for the guards to pull Elsie aside. Elsie shrieked through her tears, “If you want those things, just take them! I won’t stop you! But you can’t let Mr. Cooper cut off Owen’s hand—or I swear I’ll never forgive you!”
Wyatt looked over at her, completely unfazed. “Cutting off yours would work just as well.”
“What?” Elsie froze, her whole body going stiff.
The bald man grabbed her hand and, without hesitation, brought the knife down.
“Ahhh!”
“Elsie!” Paul didn’t even have time to react. By the time he rushed forward, it was already too late.
Elsie, with every ounce of strength she had, tried to throw herself behind Owen—but she never felt the blade. Startled, she looked back—and saw Owen catching the knife with his bare hand, stopping the blade just inches from her skin. Bright red blood poured from his palm, warm and wet, dripping steadily onto the back of her hand.
Chapter 99: Human Pyramid