To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 123

Although Elara had promised the old lady she wouldn't help outsiders go against the Vincent family, she wasn't about to go back on her word either.

After finalizing the time and place to meet Jason and hanging up, she immediately called Summer.

Summer's voice exploded through the phone as soon as the call connected.

"Oh my god, you're finally back among the living! The day after I lost contact with you, I went straight to the police. They wouldn't even take the case unless Brian filed the report himself, so I bought your name onto the trending searches instead."

"Did he do anything to you?" she asked anxiously.

"I'm fine," Elara replied. "How's the company holding up?"

There was a beat of silence on Summer's end. "Brian's been spreading the word. Anyone who does business with us, he'll target their company."

Elara had guessed as much. "It's okay. Reach out to some out-of-town firms. We'll go visit them together soon."

The two agreed to meet at Elara's apartment later.

Summer arrived not only with a thermos of her mom's homemade chicken soup but also with a thick file on Ryan.

"This world is wild," Summer marveled, handing over the folder. "I can't believe there are two people who look this much alike."

She'd met Ryan Linden back in college. Though he studied energy economics at another school, he'd visit Elara every week. He knew how thrifty Elara was, so he'd always take her out for a decent meal on weekends. Sometimes, Summer would tag along for a free dinner, so she'd gotten to know him pretty well.

Elara sipped the soup and flipped through Ryan's file.

He was the Lawrence family's illegitimate son, just back from Samaria two months ago. Now, he was vice president at Blackstar Technologies—still a step beneath Jason.

Snapped back by Summer's warning, Elara assured her, "I won't tell anyone. I was just thinking… Could it have been Brian's brother behind the bombings at the bakery and the photo studio? If it was him, why target me? Killing his brother would get him the inheritance, not me."

"My brother says Hackett's will has a clause," Summer whispered. "If Brian dies before he turns thirty-five and leaves no children, the entire Vincent family fortune goes to charity."

So the real plan was clear: eliminate anyone who could give Brian an heir, then, after he turned thirty-five, finish him off and claim everything. Which meant she'd become Lina's human shield, whether she liked it or not.

"Did you ever track down where the explosives came from?" Elara asked.

Summer shook her head. "You and Brian are practically at war. Even if his brother's out there, I doubt he'd go after you now."

"No, you're underestimating this. As long as I'm still Brian's legal wife, I'm a target. And Brian won't let me go, either. I have to watch both sides."

Summer could only sigh. Elara was fighting this battle alone, and it was exhausting just to watch.