To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 126

Jason's gaze was so intense, so deep, that even when he momentarily drifted off, no one seemed to notice.

A moment later, he let go of her hand and straightened his cuff with careful precision.

"Miss Jules," he said, "you're the first person to ever lie to me in a way that I actually enjoyed hearing."

"Is that supposed to be a compliment?" Elara arched a brow.

Jason closed his eyes for a beat. "Women with such thick skin aren't usually very charming."

She snorted. "Lucky for you, I'm not trying to win your heart. Your approval isn't exactly on my wish list."

She rummaged in her bag and pulled out a small pack of cookies. Three days without eating left her body starved for nutrition; she was ravenous.

She took a bite, then, out of courtesy, offered, "Want one?"

Jason's composed mask began to crack, a glint of coldness flickering in his eyes.

"These cookies were meant for Ryan, weren't they? Couldn't give them to him, so you're pawning them off on me instead?"

Elara hesitated, at a loss for words.

Sensitive men are always lonely, she thought.

"It's just a polite offer. Don't take it so seriously."

Jason didn't answer.

So, Elara nibbled her cookies alone for the rest of the ride, right up until the car pulled up outside Ignition Dynamics.

"Thank you, Mr. Lawrence. Take care."

She didn't say goodbye; she had no desire to see him again.

The sound of the car door closing left Jason with a fleeting, barely-there smile beneath his otherwise discontented expression.

His secretary, quiet in the front seat, finally ventured, "You're rather patient with Miss Jules, aren't you, Mr. Lawrence?"

Jason's face returned to its usual inscrutability. "Brian doesn't have many weaknesses. Fortunately, there's still one woman he cares about."

The secretary looked puzzled. "I thought his stepsister was the person he cared about most?"

Jason's eyes were fixed on the Ignition Dynamics logo. His voice turned cold. "Look into Mr. Ryan's connections back home."

The secretary paused for a moment. "You mean from four years ago?"

Elara considered this. "I'll go with you to negotiate. But before that, there's something I need to verify."

Summer was curious. "What is it?"

Elara picked up her phone and dialed a number.

The call was answered quickly.

Ryan's voice on the other end sounded even colder over the phone—more like Ryan Linden than ever.

"Vice President Lawrence, today was a bit hectic. How about I thank you some other way?"

But Ryan's tone was icy. "Mrs. Vincent, let's just put this behind us."

He was about to hang up when Elara quickly said, "Actually, I wanted to ask you something about divorce law."

He stayed on the line, but said nothing.

Elara drew a shaky breath. "My husband only accepts being a widower. I… I've run out of options."

"Where are you?" Ryan asked.