To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 136

"Thanks."

Summer turned away with a bright smile, muttering under her breath, "Smartass."

Records Room.

A man leaned against the filing shelves, his long fingers gliding over the spines of dusty folders. The cuff of his crisp shirt revealed a glint of cold steel—a sleek wristwatch catching the light.

He drew in a careful breath, almost as if he were trying to extract hidden truths from the documents before him.

"Mr. Lawrence, all of our children's home records are here—including the ones partially damaged in the fire," Director Brown explained. "Are you looking for your missing…niece?"

At the mention, a shadow flickered across the man's brow.

His assistant stepped forward, lowering his voice. "Mr. Lawrence prefers not to be disturbed while he's reviewing records."

Director Brown bobbed his head quickly, awkward and apologetic.

Just then, a teacher hurried over and whispered something in his ear.

Director Brown's expression shifted, and he turned to the stone-faced assistant. "I have a matter to attend to—may I step out for a few minutes?"

The assistant, who hadn't wanted the director hovering anyway, gave a curt, "Go ahead."

Director Brown returned to his office, where Summer was waiting. He looked her up and down, sizing her up.

"You grew up here at the children's home? What's your name?"

Summer flashed an easy smile. "My adoptive parents changed it. I honestly don't remember what I was called back then. Over the years, have any parents come looking for their kids? Especially ones who went missing thirteen years ago?"

He'd seemed ready to brush her off, but at that, his demeanor changed—serious, almost wary.

After all, the man in the records room was also searching for a child brought in thirteen years ago.

"What month were you brought here?" the director asked.

Records Room.

The assistant noticed the growing frost on Mr. Lawrence's face and quietly suggested, "Back then, people living near the canal said the woman was likely brought here. But what if, after the hospital revived her, she was sent somewhere else? Maybe it's time to check the hospital's records again."

Mr. Lawrence didn't reply. He turned the last page of the file, closed it, and strode toward the door.

Just as he stepped out, he encountered the director, who was berating a teacher while hurrying back.

"If anyone else comes asking, just tell them the records from thirteen years ago are gone—suggest they try a DNA test… Oh, Mr. Lawrence, are you leaving already?"

"Who was just here?" Mr. Lawrence's tone was sharp, alert.

The director quickly forced a smile. "Just a young woman. But she arrived in July, not June—and she was quite…difficult—"

Before he could finish, Mr. Lawrence was already striding away, following in Summer's wake.