Yunice Saunders : Invisible Princess

In her third year at the mental asylum, the nursing assistant frowned as she walked down the corridor, kicking aside the mentally ill patients who were crowded together, playing a game of piling people. As they scattered with distorted screams, the woman at the very bottom of the pile was revealed, curled up motionless.

Her hair was a mess, covering her face, and her gaze was empty as she heard the nursing assistant's harsh words above her.

"It's 10:30, a visitor from home is here. Get up and clean yourself up."

Home... was she talking about the family who had thrown her into this asylum and left her there for three years? They were no longer her family.

Seeing the woman remain motionless, like a corpse on the ground, the nursing assistant impatiently pulled her hair, yanking her to her feet. "Do you want to die? Can't you hear me?"

Yunice Saunders hugged her head with both hands as she was roughly dragged into the bathroom by her collar. The nurse turned on the high-pressure shower, spraying Yunice, who was cowering in a corner, in a manner similar to how they'd treat animals in a cage.

Twenty minutes later, Yunice was taken to the visiting room.

"Mr. Owen, 10:30 is here to see you."

Yunice's empty gaze shifted to the man sitting on the sofa. He had his hands clasped together, elbows propped on his knees, and the deep furrow in his brow revealed profound annoyance and emotion. The man was her second older brother, Owen Saunders.

When Yunice was born, her mother and father had a fight, and after giving birth to her, her mother left home in a rage. Her father searched for her in vain, and passed away when Yunice was 13. After that, it was Oscar Saunders and Owen who took care of the family. At the time, they swore that as long as they were around, no one would bully her. Now, seeing that familiar face again, Yunice felt a sharp pain in her chest, but her gaze was cold.

Her grievances were real, but her resentment was also real. Owen no longer cared for her and personally sent her to the mental asylum.

Owen was also looking at Yunice. On the way here, he had imagined that after three years of separation, Yunice would have realized her mistake and would obediently hug him, begging for forgiveness. But Yunice did not. She stood there with a cold expression. He had come here full of joy, hoping to take his sister home, but she didn't even greet him.

Owen had wanted to get up and hug Yunice, but he hesitated and spoke in an annoyed tone. "Elsie misses you. She begged me to bring you home. From today on, you can leave the mental asylum." When he finally got a reaction from Yunice, Owen's tone changed. "But there's a condition. Once you get home, you must not make things difficult for Elsie."

Yunice's face went pale. They really thought that if she didn't make things difficult for Elsie White, everything at home would go back to normal? It was Elsie who was instrumental in sending her to the asylum.

Five years ago, the police returned her mother, who had been missing for 15 years, along with Elsie, a year younger than Yunice, to the Saunders family. Yunice then learned that her mother had been kidnapped by human traffickers and taken to the mountains, and Elsie was the child she was forced to give birth to. In other words, Elsie was her half-sister.

The family reunion was heartwarming to Oscar and Owen, and they accepted Elsie without resentment, treating her like their own sister. Yunice initially treated Elsie wholeheartedly, wanting to make up for lost time. But Elsie constantly betrayed her behind her back, constantly framing her. To avoid upsetting her brothers and making her mother uncomfortable, Yunice always endured.

Until three years ago, when Yunice was trapped in a fire, and Elsie insisted on rushing in to save her. By the time Owen found them, she had already snatched the gas mask off Yunice's face to give to Elsie.

Owen immediately carried Elsie out of the fire without a second thought, leaving the near-unconscious Yunice behind. Afterward, Elsie goaded Yunice, saying that she deliberately ran into the fire to see who Owen would save. The Saunders family only needed one daughter; the unloved one was superfluous.

Yunice exposed Elsie in front of everyone, but Elsie just threw herself into Owen's arms, sobbing. Everyone rushed to comfort Elsie while calling Yunice cruel and ungrateful. Finally, Elsie deliberately stabbed herself while holding Yunice's hand. Her family saw her holding the knife, and they all thought she was crazy, so they sent her to the mental asylum.

Seeing Yunice's bitter expression, Owen felt his anger flare. He had come to help her, to take her home, but she was still being ungrateful and passive-aggressive. Didn't she want to leave?

"Are you trying to stay in the asylum and enjoy the good life there?"

A "good life" at the mental asylum? Yunice was stunned. Did he have any idea what it was like there? The asylum was full of lunatics! Lunatics who were not restrained by law or decency! These people would rip my clothes, poke my face with the back of a spoon, and they loved to play human stacking. A group of them would crush me under their weight, squeezing my chest and hips, suffocating me in the darkness. Even if a lunatic killed me, they wouldn't be held accountable!

Of course, Owen wouldn't know any of this because he hadn't visited her for three years. He probably thought she was resting peacefully in the asylum, lying back and enjoying a relaxed life. She knew Owen too well-he considered her a liar and a lunatic. No matter how she explained, even if she showed him her scars, Owen wouldn't believe her. He would think it was all her act.

And the nurses in the asylum wouldn't admit that they allowed their patients to bully her. Yunice had confirmed this with Owen multiple times. Complaining to those who were biased was just stupid.

Seeing Yunice still being indifferent, Owen felt even more annoyed. "I see your madness hasn't been cured. Do you plan to take revenge on Elsie when you get home?"

Owen wanted to hear Yunice admit her mistake, but her cold attitude made him feel suffocated. In a fit of rage, he kicked a nearby tea caddy, sending it sliding toward Yunice. Sparks flew from the caddy, and Yunice jumped back, her face filled with fear as she hid her hands behind her back.

Owen snapped, "If you dare to grab the charcoal, I'll believe you're cured, and you can leave this place."

The implication was clear-if she didn't dare to touch it, it meant she wasn't cured, and she had to stay there for further treatment. After the fire three years ago, Yunice became afraid of fire. Owen noticed the fear in Yunice's eyes, and he felt a little relieved. He knew Yunice was most afraid of fire and pain, so she wouldn't dare to touch it. As long as she promised not to hurt Elsie again, he would forgive her.

Just as he was thinking this, Owen's eyes widened in shock as Yunice suddenly reached for the fire.

"Who told you to hold it?" Owen rushed over and pulled Yunice's hand away. Yunice's palm was severely burned and bleeding! Seeing her clench her teeth and endure the pain, trembling with agony, Owen froze. Yunice was the person most afraid of pain. Even when her hand was just scratched as a child, she would cry and ask him to comfort her.

How could she bear such intense pain without saying a word now?

The sister he had pampered for 20 years no longer sought his comfort. Owen's heart tightened. She was his most cherished younger sister... How could he not care? "Does it hurt?"

Yunice pulled her hand away and hid it behind her back, her voice cold. "I'm all better now. I'm not crazy anymore. Can I leave the hospital?"

Owen's brows furrowed deeply, and he said angrily, "I came to pick you up out of kindness, and you're throwing a tantrum and being passive-aggressive. You stabbed Elsie, and we didn't send you to prison. We've been kind enough, and now you're complaining? Do you think I'll pamper you like I used to just because you hurt yourself?" His anger flared, and he turned to leave the mental asylum. "If you want to go, then go."

In his haste to leave, Owen wasn't worried that Yunice wouldn't follow. She was already reckless enough to grab a flaming piece of charcoal, so there was no way she would be petty enough to stay put. Sure enough, Yunice came out of the mental hospital.

Her walk was a little strange. She held her stomach with one hand, her shoulders were hunched, and her legs felt too heavy to lift.

His driver, Bobby, felt that something was wrong. "Mr. Owen, Mrs. Saunders doesn't look well."

Owen lifted his gaze and let out a cold snort. "She's just faking it, trying to get me worked up. I've coddled her too much, and now she thinks acting weak makes her right about everything."

Even as he spoke in a dismissive tone, he couldn't help but notice how thin the woman was, how pale her skin was, and the wounds on her hands... Fine. As soon as she got into the car, he'd take her to the hospital for a check-up, so she couldn't use her illness as a reason to manipulate him again.

However, before he had a chance to act on that thought, Yunice, despite seeing his car, suddenly turned and bolted in the opposite direction. She was trying to run away!

Yunice had no intention of going back to the Saunders family! Elsie must have set a trap, just waiting for her to walk into it. Going back now would be like throwing herself into a pit of suffering!

She didn't want anything from the Saunders family anymore. Her priority was to go to the registry office, replace her missing ID, and then disappear completely to start her own new life!

However, her body was too battered. The internal injuries from the lunatics there had taken their toll. Every step she took was like reopening a wound. Yunice was gasping for air, her forehead slick with cold sweat, yet she barely managed to get far before Owen pulled her back.

"Ah!" Yunice screamed as she lost her balance and fell heavily to the ground.

Yunice's pained cry caught Owen by surprise. He froze, staring at Yunice curled up on the ground, holding her head as if bracing for a beating... But he hadn't even done anything yet. Frowning, he examined her carefully but didn't move to help her up. "If you think running away will make me worry, you're wrong."

Hearing Owen's voice, Yunice finally dared to lower her hands. Right... this wasn't the mental hospital. No one would chase and beat her here.

Owen said, frowning, "Right now, you're not even in the system. Without an identity, you can't even buy a ticket."

No money, no phone, no ID... She had no destination. She had no choice but to rely on the Saunders family.

"I'm not in it?" Yunice was confused at first, but then her eyes widened as she realized something.

Elsie was an illegitimate child. When their mother brought her back from the mountains, she couldn't provide a birth certificate or any information about her father. Because of this, Elsie had been a ghost in the system ever since she joined the Saunders family. She couldn't register for school, couldn't buy a plane ticket, and barely dared to leave the house. Her background was a stain on her life. She was pathetic and innocent. So, the whole family went to great lengths to make it up to her. Even Yunice did the same.

And now...

Yunice gave a bitter laugh. The very thing she had once pitied in others had now become her own reality.

Seeing her reaction, Owen felt this would be difficult for her to accept. He knelt down and began to explain, "After you were admitted to the mental hospital, Oscar was worried that the longer you stayed there, the worse your reputation would be. So, he had Elsie take your identity-she attended school as you, she attended banquets as you. She grew up in the mountains, Yunice. When she first arrived at our home, she didn't even know what a strawberry was. She knew she was very different from you and was afraid of embarrassing you in public. That's why she studied late into the night, until she fainted from exhaustion more than once. She did all of that for you. Don't be so ungrateful and hurt her feelings."

Owen frowned, his expression filled with disappointment, as if Yunice was the unreasonable one.

Yunice let out a hollow laugh. "So now that I'm better, can she give me back my identity?"

She already knew the answer. Elsie had spent years building herself up under the name of Yunice. Even if she was willing to return it, the people she was connected to would only see Yunice as an imposter who was bullying her.

She already knew she would never get her identity back. Yet, she couldn't help but feel a pang of bitterness and resentment. She wanted to hear Owen's answer.

Just as she expected, Owen snapped. "I've explained everything to you, and all you care about is yourself. You didn't even once ask how Elsie is. Three years in a mental hospital, and you're still so selfish!"

Owen lost his patience. "The mental hospital is right there. If you don't want to go home, just go in!"

After that, he turned and got into the car. His driver, Bobby, hesitated. "Mr. Owen, are we really leaving Miss Saunders?"

Owen made sure Yunice could hear him. "I've been too kind to her, which is why she's become such an ungrateful brat! Let her suffer a little; maybe she'll finally understand the meaning of kindness."

After that, he rolled up the window and ordered coldly, "Drive."

As the Saunders family car sped away, Yunice didn't even glance at it. She forced her battered body to move and turned to look at the mental hospital one last time. She would never return there.

She knew the way home. Even without a car, she could walk home. However, two hours after Owen arrived at home, he still hadn't found any sign of her.

...

At the cemetery, Yunice knelt on the ground, pressing her face against the cold tombstone as she cried.

"Dad, I miss you so much... If you knew your daughter had no home to go to, you'd be heartbroken. Dad, please hug me... Owen and Mom no longer love me. They only hug Elsie. They only smile at Elsie..."

Clutching the tombstone, Yunice buried her forehead against her father's photo, but the stone remained still. Just as she would never get the comfort she craved.

She didn't know how long she cried. Only when her tears had completely dried did she begin to calm down.

She wiped her face with the back of her hand, then used her sleeve to brush the dust off the tombstone. "Dad, I'll take care of myself. Don't worry."

After that, she began digging the soil in front of the grave. When her hands weren't strong enough, she used a rock to pry up one of the tiles.

Underneath the tile was an empty space containing a box.

The Saunders family came from a long line of apothecaries, but as they transitioned into the hospital business, traditional medicine was gradually phased out. Nevertheless, the family's medical texts were still passed down through generations.

When Yunice was a child, her father noticed her interest in ancient medicine and bequeathed all those books to her. After he died, a ten-year-old Yunice secretly hid them here. At the time, she naively thought that if her father got bored underground, at least he would have something to read.

She never expected that a childish decision would one day become her last asset. Inside the box weren't just ancient medical manuscripts; there was also a Cow Bezoar Pill, and it was the genuine article.

A proper Cow Bezoar Pill could save a life in a critical moment. The original formula required rhinoceros horn, but since rhinoceros horns were banned, later versions used buffalo horn, which significantly reduced its potency.

However, what Yunice had was the rare, original formula. Her body was a wreck. She had no money, no identity, no way to get hospital care, and no access to medicine. So, she bit off a piece of the pill and swallowed it. The rest she carefully put away.

She quickly looked around. There was no one nearby. She buried the rest of her belongings back into the ground.

Elsie would never know about this. Otherwise, she would surely convince Owen to take all her things.

Just as she finished covering the grave, a familiar yet unfamiliar voice spoke from behind her.

"I knew you'd be here."

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.