To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 128

Ryan offered a faint, almost teasing smile. "We've only met a handful of times and you're already inviting me to a place like this? Miss Jules, your intentions are pretty obvious. And as it happens, I don't mind at all—ah!"

He didn't get to finish. A sharp, electric pain exploded at his waist, radiating up his spine like a thousand needles surging into the base of his skull. His strength vanished in an instant, knees buckling as he crashed to the floor.

Once his vision cleared, he realized Elara was now holding a stun baton. He should have been angry, but instead, he let out a low, amused laugh. "So fierce. No wonder Brian ended up cheating."

Elara was genuinely furious now. "I approached Vice President Lawrence in good faith, hoping we might be friends. Clearly, I misjudged you. Since that's the case, there's nothing left to discuss. Goodbye!"

She turned to leave.

"Friends? Or do you have something else in mind?" Ryan shot back, his tone icy. "You spend enough time with the wrong crowd, you start to become one of them."

Elara paused in the doorway. "So what, Vice President Lawrence—is this your way of humiliating me, trying to force me out? What are you hiding that's so shameful? Afraid I might uncover your secret?"

Ryan shrugged. "I'm under NDA with the Lawrence family, Miss Jules. What secrets could you possibly expose?"

She'd suspected him from the very first meeting, which was why, at their second, he'd handed her his business card outright—making his identity clear. Still, she didn't believe him.

She was too sharp to fool.

By now, Ryan had recovered from the shock and slowly pulled himself to his feet.

The next moment, the towel wrapped around his waist slipped and fell to the floor.

Elara's eyes widened in shock. She started to glance away, but curiosity got the better of her. Maybe, if his swim trunks were short enough, she'd spot the birthmark on his hip.

She let her gaze wander for a split second, then her stare settled, transfixed, below his waist.

But what she saw left her momentarily speechless.

Ryan wore a pair of deep blue, knee-length swim trunks—hardly risqué. They covered his hips and thighs completely, and even had the Lawrence Group's logo stitched on the side.

The illustrious Mr. Ryan Lawrence, soaking in a hot tub wearing company-branded promotional swimwear?

But Ryan only paused for a moment before asking, "The person you're looking for—was he a law student, too?"

Elara shook her head.

Ryan pulled a folder from his bag. "I made some inquiries. Not a single law firm in Kingston will touch your divorce case. My license is registered under the Lawrence Group's legal office. I'm not afraid of him. If that will put your mind at ease, I'll represent you myself—and I'll fight to win you a better settlement."

He opened the folder, sliding a draft of a divorce agreement across the table. "Take a look. This is just a framework—you can change anything you want."

Elara opened her mouth to reply, but the doorbell rang.

Both froze.

Ryan recovered first, rising calmly to answer the door.

On the other side stood Brian, his finger poised to ring the bell a second time. Their eyes met—and in that instant, the air between them turned to ice.