That’s when the nightmare began Ch 11

Chapter 11 Get Out Of This House
Yunice’s concern was something Owen had never considered, but he knew very well in his heart.
Yunice is right.
In front of outsiders, Yunice couldn’t call herself Yunice and couldn’t admit her relationship with the Saunders family; otherwise, Elsie would be swept up in the whirlpool of public opinion.
One identity cannot be used by two people at the same time.
Just now, Owen had been angry at Yunice for her bad attitude, but now his tone weakened a bit. “Elsie is still in graduate school. You don’t need your ID anyway, so why not lend it to someone who does? Once she starts working, she’ll return it to you.”
Yunice sneered at herself. Always waiting.
Owen patted her shoulder, softening his tone. “You have food and drink at home; no need to study or work. Do you know how many people would kill for a life like this?”
His tone suggested that Yunice was being ungrateful.
She said nothing, but when she saw Elsie approaching, she mocked, “So this is a good life? Then why make Elsie work so hard? Is the family unwilling to support her?”
Owen caught the sarcasm in her words; his face darkened, but he couldn’t refute her.
Everyone knew that having ability was better than being a failure. But Yunice’s history of mental illness was now on her record, leaving her with no future.
It was a waste to let the identity of a Saunders daughter go unused. Letting Elsie borrow it to bring honor to the family—what was wrong with that?
Yet, Owen knew the truth. Yunice had never been mentally ill. The only reason they had declared her so was to prevent her from having a criminal record.
Elsie had originally come to call them for dinner but happened to overhear Yunice’s sarcastic remark.
She pretended not to hear and reached out sweetly to take Owen’s arm, only for him to avoid her.
In truth, Owen held some resentment toward Elsie. Kindness itself wasn’t wrong, but reckless kindness only caused trouble for others.
Three years ago, if she hadn’t rushed into the fire, I wouldn’t have had to make that impossible choice, and Yunice wouldn’t have been pushed to the point of attacking someone.
Sensing Owen’s irritation, Elsie’s mind turned. She realized he was feeling guilty toward Yunice.
“Yunice, Owen cares about you the most. He’s been so busy these days, but he still found time to prepare a gift for you,” Elsie said before turning to Owen. “Isn’t that right?”
Playing the peacemaker, Elsie was giving Owen an out.
Owen tossed out a necklace, his expression cold. “It’s for you.”
Yunice looked at the pendant—two large stars protecting a smaller one in the middle.
It was the gift I had wanted three years ago. But now, finally having received it, I felt nothing.
People change. Three years ago, I had cherished family and love. Now, those were the things I despised most.
But if I refused the necklace, Owen would definitely get angry.
She didn’t want to suffer needlessly. Just as she reached for it, Owen, irritated, shoved the necklace into Elsie’s hands instead.
“So hesitant and unwilling. If you don’t want it, then don’t take it! Giving it to Elsie is better than wasting it on you!”
Elsie froze, looking embarrassed.
Owen hadn’t truly wanted to give the necklace to me. He was just using it to provoke Yunice.
Since when did he care so much about Yunice’s reaction?
Sensing danger, Elsie hesitated before saying, “Then I’ll hold onto it for Yunice. If she wants it later, I’ll give it to her.”
Owen waved her off. “No need. Giving it to her is a waste of emotions!”
After Owen left, Elsie glanced at Yunice before quickly following him.
Yunice thought for a moment and decided to follow as well.
In the dining room, Owen noticed Elsie had arrived alone. He was about to criticize Yunice for skipping dinner when she walked in.
Elsie looked slightly surprised. Yunice had learned her lesson.
If she had arrived a second later, I would have told Owen that Yunice didn’t want to eat. Given Owen’s personality, he would have immediately banned her from joining meals in the future.
But Yunice had long since seen through Elsie’s tricks.
A crying child gets more attention. In the past, I had suffered because I didn’t know when to yield. That wouldn’t happen anymore.
I no longer had expectations for this family, nor did I hope they would comfort me.
Living under someone else’s roof, what’s wrong with bowing my head?
Once I reclaimed my identity, I would leave the Saunders family.
The dining table was long. Lily and Owen sat on one side, while Elsie sat across from Lily.
By this arrangement, Yunice should sit behind Elsie.
But the thought disgusted her, so she left an empty seat between them and sat further away.
Owen’s lips tightened in displeasure, irritation brewing inside him.
Lily stood up and gently placed a piece of chicken in Yunice’s bowl.
Yunice’s gaze flickered over the others’ bowls—both Owen and Elsie had drumsticks.
I already knew how things worked, but seeing tangible proof of my lack of importance still felt like being cut by a dull knife.
I had been born during the worst period of fighting between my parents.
My mother had refused to hold me out of spite. Then she ran away and disappeared.
As a child from a single-parent home, I had always been burdened with cruelty and rumors.
“Your mom ran away with another man.”
“She abandoned you because she hated you.”
“Why didn’t she run away when she had your two brothers? She left only after having you. It must be your fault.”
These words had followed me all through my childhood.
Yet, no matter what others said, I had still held onto hope for my mother. Now, that childhood dream was simply broken.
Lost in thought, she was startled when a drumstick was tossed into her bowl.
She looked up in surprise. Owen glanced at her before pulling back his chopsticks.
Seeing this, Elsie immediately smiled and placed her own drumstick in Owen’s bowl. “Owen, you can have mine.”
Owen’s expression softened into a warm smile. Lily’s eyes reddened with emotion. “Seeing you siblings care for each other like this makes me so happy.”
As the three of them laughed together, Yunice found the drumstick in her bowl particularly ironic.
Was a drumstick such a precious thing? Did they have to pass it around just to prove they cared?
No, they had never considered preparing one for me initially.
At the table, the three of them chatted about their plans for the day. Elsie brought up the bracelet incident again, kindly vouching for Giana, insisting she couldn’t have stolen it.
“I must have misplaced it. I’ll save up and buy Yunice a new one.”
Yunice didn’t even look up, simply humming in acknowledgment.
But to others, her response seemed perfunctory.
Owen looked over at her, sitting apart from the rest as if trying to distance herself from the family. Then he glanced at her untouched food.
A surge of anger erupted within him. Suddenly, he shot up and slammed her bowl to the floor!
Rice was scattered everywhere, even onto Yunice’s clothes, but she didn’t move to brush it off.
Shocked, she looked at Owen, not knowing what had provoked him this time.
He snapped, “Elsie apologized, and you ignored her. Mom and I gave you food, and you didn’t eat a bite. We all bend over backwards to please you, and yet you act so high and mighty—who do you think you are?!”
With that, he kicked her bowl away and declared coldly, “If you can’t stand us so much, then get out of this house! No one will stop you!”