To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 140

Summer fell silent.

After a night's rest and some medicine, Elara's fever finally broke. Determined to see Mr. Holt again, she prepared to pay another visit to Quentin Heavy Industries—she wasn't about to give up so easily.

"Are you sure you're up for this?" Summer asked, concern flickering in her voice.

Elara gazed out the window at the brilliant sunshine. "I'll be fine."

Just as they were heading out, Summer's phone rang. It was Mr. Holt's assistant: he'd gone to the golf course that morning. If they hurried, they might be able to catch him for a brief chat.

A brief chat—was that really all they could hope for?

Still, neither Elara nor Summer felt discouraged. They quickly bought appropriate outfits and made their way to the golf club.

This time, no one tried to stop them.

After giving Quentin's name at the entrance, a caddy led them to the third hole. But when they arrived, Mr. Holt was nowhere in sight.

"Don't tell me the old man's playing games with us," Summer muttered, scanning the fairway.

It was still morning, but already the heat was shimmering in waves across the course.

Elara sat in the shaded rest area, unscrewed a bottle of water, and swallowed two cold medicine tablets.

"Someone like Mr. Holt wouldn't send us here just to waste our time," she said quietly. "Let's wait a little longer."

As soon as the words left her lips, a group of figures appeared in the distance along the colonnade.

Quentin Holt and Brian Vincent led the group, deep in conversation about heavy-duty truck battery technology as they strolled closer, seemingly oblivious to everything else.

Summer leaned in, voice low and tense. "Great, another missed opportunity. Is he determined to make this impossible for us?"

"Your swing is excellent, Mrs. Vincent. Clearly you've had some proper instruction," Quentin remarked with a friendly smile.

Brian took a slow sip of his ice-cold lemonade, his gaze lingering possessively on Elara's flushed cheeks. "You wouldn't believe how many times she made me go over the basics before she got the hang of it. Don't praise her too much, Mr. Holt—she'll get cocky."

With that, he handed her his own glass of lemonade.

Elara shook her head. "I just opened a bottle of water. I haven't finished it."

Summer started to pass Elara her water, but Brian's sharp look made her freeze.

Brian picked up Elara's water bottle himself and handed it to her—only to let go abruptly mid-transfer.

The bottle hit the ground with a loud clatter, spilling water everywhere.

Brian's smile was edged with challenge. "After all this, Mrs. Vincent, it seems you'll just have to drink mine."