To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 131

He suddenly pulled her into his arms, locking her against his chest, and pointed at Lina with a sneer. "See that? That's the difference between love and indifference. If I want, she can do whatever she pleases. But if I don't care about her, she's nothing."

"A woman isn't some toy for you to use as you like. Loving someone means respecting her independence and dignity. Brian, the only person you've ever loved is yourself."

As Elara spoke, she tried to shove him away, but Brian's grip only tightened. She struggled, but he just caught the back of her head in his hand.

Forced to tilt her face up, their noses nearly touching, she could feel his breath.

"I want you to pay for what you've done," he growled. "You can run, you can hide, but on paper you're still my wife. Don't think for a second you can cozy up to another man for protection. If you try it, I'll make sure the whole world knows exactly what happens to a woman who betrays me."

Elara's nails dug deep into his arm, desperate to break free.

"I've done nothing wrong. What am I supposed to atone for? Take your twisted need for control and shove it. My life, my freedom, my friends—you have no right to interfere!"

Brian's smirk was cold, his eyes glinting with malice.

"Should I send your grandfather the footage of you and Ryan at the spa? Let him see the side of you he's never known?"

Elara froze.

If her grandfather saw Ryan, he'd start to hope again—he'd suspect Ryan Linden might still be alive. But if Ryan really wasn't who he seemed, the truth would crush the old man all over again.

No amount of medicine, no matter how expensive, could save him then.

Brian watched her shoulders slump, and his smile deepened.

"Tonight, the Lawrence brothers are joining us for dinner. I expect you to behave. Understood?"

"You're despicable!"

Elara raised her hand to slap him, but Brian caught her wrist with ease.

Meanwhile, Lina was still kneeling on the floor, unnoticed and ignored, little more than a prop in the room.

She lowered her eyes, hiding the malice flickering there. Tonight, someone would pay the price.

—

Brian nodded at her, and she walked to Jason's side, ready to pour his drink.

Treating his own wife like a waitress shocked Jason.

"That's not necessary, Mrs. Vincent," he said, taking the glass from her hand.

"I don't need any either," Ryan said quietly, turning away. He couldn't bear to watch Brian humiliate her.

With both men turning her down, Elara could only kneel at the edge of the pool, waiting for Brian's signal.

But he deliberately kept her there, saying nothing.

Her knees pressed against the hard stone, pain radiating up her legs, but she stayed silent.

Ryan, barely containing himself, was about to speak up when Elara beat him to it, glaring at Brian. "What more do you want from me?"

Ryan, on the verge of losing his composure, snapped back to himself at Elara's intervention. He forced down his anger, balling his fists beneath the water, but said nothing.