To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 114

"No need, it was my fault for not watching where I was going. I'm fine."

Elara's mind was elsewhere—she needed to leave.

But he insisted, "Let's get you to the hospital first. Otherwise, you might end up with a scar."

Elara's impatience was growing. "We don't even know each other. Why are you being so helpful?"

He paused, then pulled out a business card and offered a practiced smile. "I'm a licensed attorney. If this tea room fails to deliver on its promises, you can contact me anytime."

The manager's eyelid twitched. The idea of Mr. Ryan Lawrence, from the Lawrence family, moonlighting as a lawyer for others was unheard of.

Elara took the card—plain white, black lettering—but the name and number were different from the last one she'd seen.

Ryan Lawrence.

So he really wasn't Ryan Linden?

She tucked the card away and touched her forehead. "Honestly, it's nothing. I'll be fine."

Ryan was about to say something else when Jason walked over.

"Ryan, what brings you here?"

Ryan's smile didn't quite reach his eyes when he spotted his brother. "Dad sent me to deliver some documents."

Jason chuckled. "He's got you doing assistant work now? Looks like he's grooming you for something big."

Ryan just smiled lightly and said nothing.

"I invited Mrs. Vincent here, so I'll be the one to take her to the hospital," Jason said.

Ryan shot back, "Big brother, the fact that your guest got hurt shows just how busy you must be. Why not let your little brother help out for once?"

"No need. We all have things to do."

"You don't have to be so serious, Jason."

The bickering was giving Elara a headache.

"You two can sort this out yourselves—I have somewhere to be," she said, turning to leave.

Both Jason and Ryan fell silent as she walked away without looking back.

Once she got into her car, she called Summer. "Find me a few more people who might be interested in jewelry and real estate."

"It didn't work out?" Summer asked.

"I can't afford to put all my eggs in one basket."

Summer agreed immediately. "Exactly, that's how business works."

Elara almost refused, but considering she'd have to wait at any hospital, she nodded.

It was hot outside and treating the wound wouldn't take long, so she agreed and followed him to his car.

Chuck switched on the AC. Elara settled into the backseat while he cleaned her wound.

"It's just a surface cut. If we treat it properly, you won't have a scar," he said, spritzing something over her forehead.

Within seconds, Elara felt lightheaded.

Chuck quickly reclined the front seat and slid into the back, pulling her gently into his arms.

"What are you doing?" she managed to say, her body going limp and her heart racing for no clear reason.

Chuck picked up the spray bottle again and misted her face. "Don't be scared. We're just putting on a show. The effects will wear off soon, and it won't harm you."

As he spoke, he unbuttoned her collar, then his own shirt, but didn't go any further.

"Why are you doing this?" Elara tried to grab his hand, her voice barely above a whisper.

Regret flickered in Chuck's eyes. "I'm sorry. If I don't do this, I…"

Before he could finish, the passenger window shattered with a crash. Brian's cold, sharp gaze appeared through the broken glass, his expression darker than a winter's midnight, though a faint, mocking smile curled at his lips.

"Well," he said, "this is certainly an interesting way to spend the afternoon."