To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 227

“This bottle’s fruit-infused—perfect for a lady.”

The manager said this as he walked over to Elara.

“Mrs. Vincent, please accept it with my compliments.”

As soon as he spoke, a wave of shocked whispers swept across the room.

A woman in a cocktail dress stared in disbelief. “There must be some mistake—Mrs. Vincent is over there.” She pointed straight at Ingrid.

The manager handed the wine to Elara, shooting the woman a withering look. “And who are you supposed to be? I deal with VIPs every day. You think I’d make a rookie mistake?”

He gestured to Elara. “This is Mrs. Vincent. So what does that make Ingrid…?” Gregory’s old friend found himself totally bewildered.

Elara offered a faint, amused smile. “His mistress, obviously. Or does the term ‘side chick’ ring a bell?”

Suddenly, everyone’s gaze toward Ingrid shifted—except for the group of hangers-on she’d brought.

One persistent man piped up, “And how exactly do you expect us to believe you’re Mrs. Vincent?”

Elara gave a cold, dismissive laugh and looked across the room at Brian. “Well, why don’t you tell them who I am?”

Brian’s face was thunderous. “Enough. This circus ends now.”

He turned to leave, but Elara slammed the first aid kit down at his feet with a resounding crash.

“Oh, you’re free to parade your conquests, but when you say it’s over, we’re all supposed to leave quietly?”

Everyone jumped at the sudden noise.

But that was proof enough—who else would dare throw something at Brian’s feet except Mrs. Vincent herself?

Brian’s jaw tightened in warning, but Elara stared him down.

“Brian, I’m done—with you, and with this filthy marriage. Go file the divorce papers and stop dragging your feet. Have a little dignity for once.”

Then she turned her glare on Ingrid’s friends.

“Some of you used to bully poor kids in the cafeteria, and now you strut around in tech company polos, calling yourselves elites? Please. Have your bosses offered you champagne pedicures yet?”

The group fell silent, as if their mouths had been sealed shut.

Gregory and his daughter looked as though they’d been tossed from the penthouse straight into the gutter—utterly stunned.

After her tirade, Elara seized the moment. Before Ingrid could recover, Elara strode over and slapped her across the face.

Ingrid staggered back, nearly collapsing into her father’s arms.

Lina blanched. “Ingrid, I swear, I wanted nothing more than for you to be my sister-in-law.”

A calculating gleam flashed in Ingrid’s eyes. She grabbed Lina by the throat.

“If you had the guts to drag me into this mess, you’d better have the guts to clean it up. Make sure your brother is a widower within three days, or you’ll regret it.”

Lina froze, stunned.

She’d invited a wolf in, and not only had it failed to bring down Elara—it had turned and bitten her instead.

…

Elara had no intention of tending to Brian’s wounds—not today, not tomorrow, not ever again.

She was far too busy.

Gage was headed to pay respects at Ryan Linden’s grave, planning to stay in their hometown for a couple of days. But the old family house had long since been demolished, so Elara rented a farmhouse nearby and supervised as it was thoroughly cleaned inside and out.

By the time she returned to Celestial River Estates, it was late.

Rose was still up. She’d twisted her ankle and couldn’t go out, so she was folding clothes for the old gentleman instead.