To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 222

Elara didn’t say another word. She turned on her heel and walked straight to her room.

Brian swayed, nearly losing his balance.

Yves Caldwell rushed up to steady him. “Mr. Vincent, your fever hasn’t broken yet…”

He hadn’t realized just how many injuries Mrs. Vincent was carrying.

For a moment, he couldn’t find anything comforting to say.

Brian clutched his chest, eyes fixed in the direction Elara had gone, a blaze of red flooding his gaze.

…

Meanwhile—

A Lincoln was winding its way smoothly up a mountain road.

Quincy Shelton glanced at the rearview mirror for perhaps the tenth time, unable to contain his curiosity any longer. “So… do you think their marriage is really falling apart or not?”

Zane massaged his temples, exhaustion clear in his posture.

“Whether it is or not, Brian was right about one thing: they’re still married.”

Quincy caught the implication in his tone. “Boss, if I may—sure, we found her blood sample, but after all this searching, there’s been no real progress. Maybe it’s time to prepare for the worst. And strictly speaking, you only married the Grove family’s legacy, not the lady herself. Without a marriage certificate, you’re still single in the eyes of the law. It’s not every day you meet someone who suits you. Maybe you should… take matters into your own hands?”

“Who says she suits me?” Zane cut him off.

“Then you…” Quincy started, then caught himself, a knowing smile tugging at his lips. “Understood.”

Zane rolled down the window, letting the wind rush through his fingers. “Don’t force anything… For all I know, she might be the one who can’t stand me.”

…

Elara sat alone in her room through the long, lonely night.

The next morning, Yves Caldwell knocked and entered, a gentle smile on his face.

“Ma’am, Mrs. Archer’s procedure is over. She’s stable now.”

Elara thought she must have misheard. “What did you say?”

“Come here and watch. From now on, changing my dressings will be your job.”

Elara lingered in the doorway. “If you die, I’ll make sure you get a proper funeral as your widow. That’s all you can expect from me.”

“Is that any way to talk to your husband?” Ingrid stood up, indignant.

Elara ignored her.

A chill flickered in Brian’s eyes. “If you want to see Mrs. Archer, you’ll come here every day to change my bandages until I’m healed.”

Elara took a deep breath and walked in.

Lina immediately smiled up at her. “Come here, Elara, you’ll get a better view from this side.”

Elara moved closer. Lina’s voice softened to a gentle murmur. “You have no idea—yesterday, when I took my brother to the hospital, I was scared half to death. Thank goodness he’s okay. I even practiced how to wrap the wound just right—”

She didn’t get to finish. With a loud clang, most of the iodine bottle spilled over Elara’s hand. She jerked reflexively, and some of it splashed onto Brian’s skin as well.

Ingrid gasped, feigning shock. “Oh my, I didn’t mean to knock over the iodine. But Mr. Vincent is so precious—how could you get him dirty?”