To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 231

Elara Jules suddenly tensed up, at a loss for words.

“Dad, what are you talking about? There’s no way you’re going downstairs—you won’t see Ryan,” Rose Linden said, trying to keep her voice steady.

But the old man ignored her. “What, you think I don’t keep up with the news just because I’m old? That story that was trending a few days ago—I just saw the photos, but when I tried to look again, it was all gone.”

Elara stared at him, shocked.

He went on, “I just can’t understand why you’d keep this from me. Then yesterday, some woman comes by with a picture and asks if I recognize the boy in it… I told her no, but I knew who it was. That’s my Ryan, isn’t it?”

A tear slipped down the old man’s weathered cheek.

Elara rushed to speak, “Grandpa, he… I’ll bring him right now—”

Rose’s eyes went wide, speechless.

But the old man just closed his eyes, shaking his head. “No, don’t. Don’t disturb him. You must have your reasons for hiding this from me…”

Rose recovered from her shock and shoved Elara’s shoulder. “When did you find out? Why didn’t you tell me either?”

“If you’d known, you’d only have made things worse for your son. You know what you’re like, don’t you?” the old man snapped.

Rose stopped pushing Elara and slumped into a chair, sulking.

“Elara,” the old man squeezed her hand with all the strength he had left. “Those people came to the village and asked where you’d gone. I didn’t tell them. One of them said they’d come without Eli’s knowledge…”

“Eli?” Elara frowned.

The old man struggled for breath, gasping.

“Ryan is kind and loyal, but he’s not nearly as clear-headed as you… Please, I’m begging you, keep the Linden family’s bloodline alive. I’m trusting him to you…”

“Grandpa…”

Elara tried to help him with his oxygen, but he pushed her away.

“My dear girl, I’ve only been a burden. If not for you, I’d have been gone long ago. You may have been adopted into our family, but you’ve more than repaid us over the years. And now I’ve made you look after them, mother and son… I’m so ashamed…” He was gasping now, each breath a struggle. “But I have no other choice—I have to ask you.”

Her resentment toward the Lawrence family was plain as day.

Quincy Shelton glanced at Zane’s expression and wisely kept quiet.

“Elara,” Ryan’s eyes were red, “I didn’t care about wealth or status. It’s just… life was so hard for us. I wanted to make a place for myself in the Lawrence family, and then—”

Elara cut him off, “If a family is together, what’s so hard about life? Look at the old man lying in there—can you really say you have a clear conscience?”

Ryan hung his head in shame.

Elara didn’t bother with him anymore. She wandered out of the hospital, numb, not even noticing when she lost a shoe.

It was raining, but she didn’t feel it.

The wind drove cold rain against her skin, but she barely noticed the chill.

Sharp stones cut into her bare foot, but the pain was oddly comforting—like penance, and she welcomed it.