To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 217

“It was my fault Mrs. Archer ended up in danger. I can’t just walk away from her now.”

Elara finished speaking and was about to hang up.

Ryan’s voice came quickly. “Let me go with you, at least as far as Breezewood City. If anything happens, I can help.”

“Ryan,” Elara’s voice turned cold and flat, “Four years ago you faked your own death and vanished without a word. You left me to pick up the pieces for Grandpa and for Rose. Grandpa was on the brink, and Rose… she almost did something desperate.”

Her voice caught in her throat.

“It was hell, but I still got us through it. If your coming back is only going to bring them more trouble, then maybe it’s best if we cut ties for good.”

There was only silence on the other end of the line.

…

Half an hour later, at the north gate of Pine River Amusement Park.

Mrs. Archer stepped out of Ryan’s car and, within moments, climbed into Elara’s.

The quickest escape from the city was to get onto the highway overpass.

Just as the ramp appeared up ahead and Elara was about to merge, two cars suddenly swerved in from either side and boxed her in.

The back window of the car to her left rolled down, revealing Gareth’s face.

He shouted, “Willow Archer! I want that child! Elara, let her out right now!”

Mrs. Archer instantly tensed, her fingers digging into the seatbelt.

“Please… I don’t want to go with him… I don’t want the baby, either…”

Elara ignored Gareth’s shouting and stayed icy calm. “Focus on your health. Whatever happens, you need to keep your stats stable for surgery. Leave shaking him off to me.”

Mrs. Archer took a few deep breaths, wrestling her emotions back under control.

They missed their first chance to get on the overpass, but Elara slammed her foot on the gas, swerving sharply and breaking free from the cars flanking them. She sped toward the nearest shopping plaza.

At the mall’s parking complex, Elara eased the car into a multi-story garage.

The structure was built into the hillside, and on the third floor, she knew, there was a little-known emergency exit.

A few minutes later, Gareth’s car screeched to a halt at the main entrance. His men fanned out, searching the lot, but soon returned, empty-handed and frustrated.

Within minutes, the three SUVs fanned out in a wedge formation, boxing them in. The one on the left rolled down its window, revealing a small, round opening—the end of a gun barrel.

Elara’s eyes narrowed and she gunned the engine even harder.

“He… is he trying to kill us?” Mrs. Archer asked, voice shaking.

Elara’s heart pounded wildly, but her mind only grew sharper.

“That’s the plan. But the people chasing us now might not be Gareth’s crew.”

Even as she spoke, there was a sharp crack.

A steel pellet ricocheted off the windshield.

When Elara had bought this car, she’d paid three times its value to have it armored from top to bottom.

“Just stay calm and hold it together. As long as your health is stable, that’s all that matters right now.”

Their pursuers fired twice more, but the bullets bounced harmlessly away. Realizing brute force wouldn’t work, the SUV swerved, aiming to ram them off the road.

Elara jerked the wheel; metal screeched as the SUV’s grill scraped against their rear fender, sending up a spray of sparks.