The Daughter in the Shadows (by Una Norris) novel Chapter 95

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Finished

Gill locked both of Elsie’s wrists from behind. With her arms pinned tight, Elsie couldn’t move at all.

“Ow-” Her cry for help had barely left her mouth before a loud smack rang out, and her face snapped sideways.

A bright red handprint bloomed across her cheek.

Owen’s eyes went wide. He spun toward Yunice, stunned.

She had hit Elsie.

Three years ago, she’d stabbed her. And now–after all that–she dared to lay hands on her again?

So much for learning anything in the asylum. If anything, she’d only gotten worse.

As Owen lunged forward, Yunice struck again–this time across the other cheek.

“Aah!” Elsie cried out, voice shrill with pain.

She thrashed, but Gill clamped a hand over her mouth with her lab coat. She wasn’t about to let this two- faced b*tch get in Yunice’s way again.

Yunice said coldly, “Don’t think I won’t hit you just because you know how to fake a sob.”

Owen charged forward, hand raised–but before he could strike, Yunice met his gaze with a voice like ice.

“Before you lay a hand on me,” she said, “take a moment to think about who I am now.”

His body locked up like someone had hit the pause button. He stared at her, frozen.

She glanced at his raised hand and added, “Maybe you haven’t seen what Wyatt does to people who cross him. Want a demonstration?”

For a second, it seemed like Owen might back off.

Then–he shoved her to the floor.

“Oh, so that’s what this is. You got your claws out now because some man’s backing you?”

“I’m your brother. Your family. And you threaten me with an outsider?” He shouted, jabbing a finger into his chest.

“Tell me–honestly–haven’t I always treated you well?

He didn’t wait for her answer.

“When we were little, Dad was always away. Oscar had school. It was me who carried you on my back every single day. I threw my back out doing it. Still can’t sit or stand for long.”

“And when you were thirteen–you caught that weird illness after obsessing over those roses beyond the courtyard wall. You’d cry for no reason. I crossed half the country to find an old gardener with rare herbs to cure you. I almost got kidnapped along the way.”

17:07 Fri, Apr 18 G

He must’ve been misled. This isn’t like him. Someone else must’ve turned him against me.

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