To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 189

That was it for Elara—and for Ignition Dynamics, too.

Nanette set her jaw. "I'll go."

…

Gareth tried every card in his wallet at the ATM, one after another, before he finally accepted it: all his accounts were frozen.

Only Brian had the power—or the nerve—to pull something like this.

Seething, Gareth stormed out, ready to call that "ungrateful brat." But as he stepped down the building's front steps, he nearly collided with Stella Knightley.

Gareth, ever cautious, pulled her aside to a secluded corner and shot her a wary look. "Are you following me? What do you want?"

Stella could see he was annoyed. She fished the card he'd given her out of her purse.

"If you don't want any ties to me, just say so," she said, her voice cool. "No need to blow me off with a bank card that doesn't even work. Here—take it back."

Gareth accepted the card, his expression darkening.

"I wasn't blowing you off. All my cards were just frozen. I only found out a moment ago."

Stella's hurt expression melted into disbelief. "Really? Then I'm sorry—I misjudged you. I wasn't following you, I just came to pick up the medicine. Last night, you were just… you were—"

Her voice trailed off, growing softer and softer until embarrassment made her turn away before she could finish.

But after just a few steps, she doubled back, stopping in front of Gareth. She dug out her own card and pressed it into his hand.

"Here. This is all my savings from working odd jobs—what was supposed to be my dowry. It's not much, maybe a couple thousand, since most of it went to pay for my mom's treatment. But take it. Use it to get through this, and pay me back when things get better."

She turned to leave, but Gareth caught her wrist, pulling her through the side door nearby.

From the shade of a distant tree, Elara watched their tangled figures disappear behind the door. A faint, knowing smile played on her lips as she turned away and left.

It was over two hours before Gareth made it back to the hospital room.

He slumped wearily onto the edge of the bed, looking utterly defeated.

Nanette clutched her hand, her grip desperate. "Don't let her take Gareth from me. Help me get rid of her. Kill her for me… please, kill her…"

…

The next day, Elara and Summer went to the Aurora Energy entrepreneurs' mixer in Kingston City.

The event was held on a riverside lawn, and most of the guests were industry leaders with deep connections.

Ignition Dynamics, having just made a breakthrough in heavy-truck battery technology, should have been the brightest new star at the gathering.

But as Elara stepped onto the grass, all she received were cold, scornful stares.

"Isn't that the technical director from Ignition Dynamics? After the scandal yesterday, she's got guts showing her face here."

"Technical director? Please. I bet she just slept with some research bigwig and stole the tech. Ha!"

"Poor Brian. He's a decent guy, but with a wife like that? What rotten luck."