Chapter 3 Payback

Yunice's back stiffened, but she didn't turn around.

He was Paul Powell, her childhood playmate and fiancé.

She didn't turn around, but Paul reached out, grabbed her by the shoulder, and turned her to face him, a smirk on his face. "You always run to your father's grave whenever you're sad..."

His smile froze. He finally saw Yunice's deathly pale face. Her eyes, hidden behind her long black hair, seemed shrunken and hollow.

A shiver ran down his spine, and he instinctively pulled his hand back. That's when he remembered the woman was crazy. Crazy people could do anything. He'd even heard rumors that she'd smeared herself with feces for fun.

The thought of having just touched her made Paul shudder, and he discreetly wiped his hand on the tree trunk behind him. His movements were subtle, but Yunice still noticed.

She and Paul had been engaged for years, and everyone had always assumed they were a couple, even Yunice herself. Because of that, she had always been possessive of Paul.

Being rejected by someone you like really hurt. However, Yunice's reaction was calm.

Paul had not visited her even once during her three years in the mental hospital. She had already realized that there was no future between them.

Too much time had passed. Paul no longer knew how to interact with Yunice. To him, she was like a familiar stranger. Awkwardly, he said, "Since you stabbed her in a fit of rage, Elsie's health has deteriorated. Now that you're refusing to come home, she's so worried she can't even eat. We're all so concerned about her."

Yunice sneered. She'd missed a meal, but she was still alive, right?

Seeing Yunice was unmoved, Paul frowned and his tone hardened as he said, "I'm telling you to go home and apologize to Elsie right now. Otherwise, you can forget about ever seeing me again."

Yunice had been submissive to Paul in the past, leading him to believe she couldn't live without him. But over the years in the mental hospital, waiting for salvation, her hope had been ground into dust. She had stopped expecting anything from anyone. She would no longer try to please anyone.

Letting go of her need to be loved, she now only wanted to live for herself.

Yunice opened her palm and stared at the burn scar on her hand. The pain reminded her that when she was helpless, being stubborn or putting on a brave face would only cause her more suffering.

So she decided to go with Paul.

She had planned to return to the Saunders family to reclaim her identity anyway, and catching a ride with him was better than walking. Paul walked ahead and took some wet wipes from his car to clean his hands outside the door.

When he got in, he saw Yunice sitting in the back seat. She used to always sit in the front passenger seat-it was her exclusive spot. Why wasn't she sitting there now?

Then he saw a sticker on the dashboard that read: "Princess's Exclusive Seat. Other Girls, Sit in the Back."

Paul's face flushed with embarrassment. He quickly explained, "My sister put that there as a joke. Don't take it to heart, okay?"

He figured Yunice would constantly nag him as she used to, interrogating him endlessly. Just thinking about it annoyed him. Yunice was always jealous, and if she knew Elsie was the one who put the sticker there, she'd definitely make trouble for her.

Paul had prepared himself. Whatever Yunice asked, he'd go on the offensive, accusing her of being paranoid. That tactic had always worked before; not only would he get away with it, but Yunice would end up coaxing him.

To his surprise, however, before he could say anything, Yunice simply replied, "Okay."

And then, nothing. Paul was stunned for a moment. He waited, but Yunice genuinely had no intention of asking any further.

He frowned, then started the car. The atmosphere in the car was silent. Neither of them spoke. Paul glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Yunice staring out the window with an indifferent expression, as if she wasn't even paying attention to him. He had planned to talk to her about breaking off the engagement, but he was also worried Yunice might refuse to let go.

But now, seeing the woman so indifferent, he was inexplicably irritated. He couldn't pinpoint why, but the more she ignored him, the more annoyed he became. So he suddenly floored the gas pedal, picking up speed.

Yunice was timid. Whenever Paul drove fast, she'd always get scared and beg him to slow down. But Yunice was never scared of speeding. Back then, she was only afraid Paul would get hurt. Now that Paul was no longer her love interest, she didn't care anymore.

The car barely passed a large truck, making Paul break into a cold sweat. In a panic, he quickly slowed down himself.

She didn't even ask him to stop. He felt embarrassed and muttered, "You're braver than before."

Paul was young and reckless. He liked to show off with fast driving, enjoying how Yunice used to be scared and plead with him to slow down. But Yunice had never been afraid of speeding. Back then, she was only afraid Paul would get hurt. Now that Paul was no longer her love interest, she no longer cared.

At the Saunders family estate, Lily Moore and Elsie stood at the gate, eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Seeing Owen come out with a shawl, Elsie thought it was for her. She subtly pushed Lily aside, waiting for Owen to drape it over her shoulders.

But Owen didn't even look at her. He stared down the road, waiting for Paul's car to arrive, holding the shawl for Yunice.

Elsie's face turned to frustration. Even now, Owen still couldn't forget about that crazy woman.

Just then, Paul's car arrived, and Yunice immediately put on an awestruck expression. "Paul always knows how to handle things. Yunice just listens to him..."

Then, as if realizing something was wrong, she flinched and covered her mouth. With a sob, she said, "Owen, I didn't mean to say you were incapable. It's just that I grew up in the mountains and don't know how to speak properly..."

But Owen was already deep in thought. She's right. I went to pick Yunice up myself, spoke to her patiently, but she was rude and refused to come. But Paul, of all people, managed to bring her home so easily?

Owen's mood soured. He had been so happy moments ago, but now his face was gloomy. She doesn't care whether Owen coaxed her or not? Well, he doesn't care either!

So, when Yunice got out of the car, Owen deliberately draped the shawl over Elsie's shoulders.

As for Yunice... she could freeze for all he cared. The autumn night was already cold. Especially getting out of the car, the cold wind instantly made Yunice's thin T-shirt feel chilling.

She glanced at the shawl wrapped around Elsie, then turned her attention to Lily, who was rushing toward her.

Lily's eyes were red as she sobbed, "My child, you've suffered..."

Elsie also stepped forward, tears welling up in her eyes. "It's all my fault for wanting to stay with the Saunders family. That's why Yunice got so angry she fell ill. I should have never dared to dream of having a family... If you agree to come home, Yunice, I'll leave with nothing. You don't have to worry about me taking your family away anymore."

Upon hearing that, Lily immediately burst into tears and hugged Elsie.

Owen frowned. "You're my daughter too. What's with all this 'our child' talk? The Saunders family is your home. No one has the right to chase you away! Don't ever talk like that again!"

Paul also stepped forward, placing himself between Yunice and Elsie. "She stabbed you, causing you to require lifelong medication. This is her punishment. She owes you. The Saunders family owes you. We all need to make it up to you."

Owen's expression turned grim. Yes. This is Yunice's and the Saunders family's debt. We all owe Elsie.