To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 204

Brian frowned in frustration.

He hadn’t come unprepared today. If Elara got hurt right under his nose, what kind of man would he be?

Gareth, watching the two opposing groups of bodyguards, turned to Brian and said coldly, “As long as you keep protecting this woman, I’ll do everything in my power to help your brother take your place—and make sure you lose everything.”

Brian’s answer was simple: he pulled Elara protectively into his arms.

The funeral parlor was cramped, and the bodyguards from both sides began to shove and jostle, tension rising.

Shielding Elara, Brian started leading her toward the exit.

In the chaos, a glint of steel flashed—a knife shot toward Elara’s side.

Before she could even react, Brian caught the blade with his bare hand, then drove his fist into the attacker with brutal force.

As the assailant stumbled back, Elara caught a glimpse of scars on Brian’s hand—three jagged marks, barely healed. She recognized them instantly. She’d left those wounds herself, once.

She tried to get a better look at the attacker’s face, but he turned and vanished into the crowd before she could focus.

So… the person who wanted her dead was from the Vincent family?

The Maybach pulled away from the funeral home. Only then did Elara notice Brian’s injury.

He really needed stitches.

But Brian just wrapped his hand in a makeshift bandage and asked where she lived, insisting on taking her home first.

Elara didn’t want him getting the wrong idea, so she didn’t offer to go with him to the hospital.

When they reached her apartment building, Elara paused with her hand on the car door. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Ignition Dynamics already made their position clear: we won’t work with SiliconCrest Group. That’s not going to change—we have a reputation to protect.”

Brian waved her off with a small smile. “That was just instinct back there. Don’t read too much into it.”

“I’m not.”

With that, Elara stepped out of the car and walked away.

She’d barely set foot inside her place when her phone rang—Summer calling.

“You okay?” Summer asked immediately.

Elara kicked off her shoes and didn’t mention the divorce papers. “I’m fine. I was just at Nanette’s memorial service. Things got heated—Brian got hurt protecting me.”

Summer’s voice sharpened. “Don’t let that get to you! My brother said Gareth has teamed up with Vincent’s second son to push Brian into a corner. Brian’s planning to sink everything he owns into saving the electric truck project, but he’ll probably lose it all. Teaming up with us is his fastest way out. This whole ‘self-sacrifice’ act is just for your benefit!”

Spotting Elara, she beamed. “Your husband finally came to his senses—he just transferred me a big sum of money, said it was to make up for all the years he neglected us.”

Elara frowned. “How much did he give you?”

“Fifteen million. Should cover your grandpa’s medical expenses for a whole year.”

Remembering what Summer said, Elara felt a creeping unease about Brian’s sudden generosity.

She stayed quiet, but her grandfather was furious. “Send it back! We don’t want his money. Tell him to finalize the divorce with Elara right away.”

Rose hurried to calm him down. “Dad, if Brian hadn’t stepped in, Gareth would’ve cut off your medicine a long time ago. Now he’s giving us money on his own—let’s not start a fight, even if we’re not grateful…”

His eyes flashed with anger. “No, let’s fight. Let’s burn every bridge if we have to!”

Rose fell silent.

Brian still had one last trump card: Mrs. Archer’s pregnancy. It could be used to threaten Gareth. But aside from a vague mention to Nanette, Elara had told no one about it.

Her phone rang.

Mrs. Archer’s panicked voice came through. “Ma’am, someone just came to check my prenatal records. This hospital isn’t safe anymore—I want to leave. Can you help me?”