To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 103

The next evening.

Brian came to pick her up himself.

When he saw that she was wearing the dress he'd carefully chosen for her, and her wedding ring gleamed on her finger, he couldn't help but smile in satisfaction.

No matter how much of a scene she made in private, at least she still respected him enough to put on a show for the outside world.

"Brian, focus on your wife and your own life," his grandmother said, voice stern but tired. "Stop meddling where you shouldn't."

Brian managed a polite smile. "Don't worry, Gran. Elara's always been sensible. I'll take care of it."

Elara just gave a cold, silent laugh.

They set off, the car carving a path through the city as dusk settled in.

Halfway to the hotel, Brian's phone rang—a custom ringtone.

Instead of using the car's Bluetooth, he pulled over to the curb and called Lina back.

Whatever she said on the other end made Brian's expression darken as he ended the call and looked over at Elara.

"I'm going to be delayed," he said, his face carefully neutral. "Could you go ahead by yourself? Yves Caldwell's already at the hotel—he'll help you with the guests."

Even as the words left his mouth, Brian felt a twinge of guilt. How could he even ask her that?

Elara stepped out of the car and slammed the door behind her.

Brian frowned, knowing she was furious, but he had no choice—he had to deal with the other situation first, then smooth things over with her later.

Despite rush hour, Elara managed to flag down a cab.

"The Cloudcrest Hotel, please," she told the driver.

The man, his face half-obscured by a surgical mask, nodded and pressed the central lock button with a soft click.

At first, Elara thought nothing of it—it seemed routine enough.

But when she finally glanced up from her phone and looked out the window, a chill crept over her.

The car was speeding along an empty road on the outskirts of town.

"Who are you? Where are you taking me?" she demanded, her hand already reaching for her phone to call the police. But the signal was patchy, cutting in and out.

The driver ignored her, pressing harder on the gas.

"Stop the car!" she shouted.

She yanked at the door handle in panic, but the driver jerked the wheel violently, sending her tumbling across the backseat.

By the time she managed to sit up again, the cab had screeched to a halt in a deserted, overgrown lot.

The jeep screeched to a stop, and two men jumped out—one on each side.

Dusk had nearly swallowed the world, but as one of them drew close, Elara recognized him.

"Can you walk?" he asked, crouching beside her. The wind carried a faint blend of cedar and cologne from his coat.

Elara blinked, dazed. "Y-yeah… I think so."

He chuckled softly at her trembling, catlike voice.

From behind, his assistant, wielding a retractable baton for protection, called out, "Mr. Lawrence, these mutts could come back any second. We should get to the car."

Without another word, the man scooped Elara up and carried her to the jeep.

They sped back toward the city.

Elara gulped down half a bottle of water before she finally felt steady.

The assistant glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "No one's come out here in fifty years. The strays are half-wild—if Mr. Lawrence hadn't noticed something was off… Who brought you out here?"

Elara's hands curled into fists, her brief calm shattered.

Who didn't want her to make it to the fourth wedding anniversary party tonight?

A cold, steely glint flashed in the depths of her eyes.