To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 236

The crisp, spotless shirt and the cold gleam off his wristwatch announced, in every detail, that their owner was not a man to be crossed.

“Sit.”

Zane’s chin tipped upward in a subtle command. Elara took the seat across from him.

Though both bowls held soup, they were hardly the same.

Zane’s serving was impossible to identify at a glance, but a few bright berries floated at the surface.

Elara’s, on the other hand, was laced with expensive delicacies—ingredients no hotel would offer for free. He was generous, at least.

She pushed away her thoughts and quietly sipped her soup.

“I heard you’re the adopted daughter of the Lindens. Where are you originally from?” Zane asked.

Elara paused a moment. “I don’t know.”

His gaze darkened. “And your birth parents? Did you get lost, or were you… given away?”

She took another sip. Years spent searching for her real family simmered inside her, a quiet anger.

“Are birth parents supposed to be important to everyone?”

His eyes deepened, unreadable. “Did you ever try to find them?”

She swallowed a mouthful. “I did. They didn’t want me.”

If they’d been searching too, the DNA data she uploaded ages ago wouldn’t have gone unanswered.

Zane’s brow twitched. “Have you ever been badly hurt?”

Elara set down her spoon, dabbed at her mouth with a napkin, and stood up.

“Sorry, that’s your three questions.”

Zane let out a faint sigh.

“Your grandfather’s body is still at the hospital morgue. Your adoptive mother is arranging the memorial at the funeral home. I’ll have Quincy Shelton take you over in a bit.”

At that, Elara’s hand—dangling at her side—tightened, then slowly relaxed.

“No need to trouble Secretary Shelton. I can get there myself. Whatever I owe you, I’ll repay it. No matter how long it takes.”

With that, Elara left his suite.

Zane turned her words over in his mind, a frown slowly knitting between his brows.

…

Two hours later, Elara had covered her puffy eyes with careful makeup, grabbed her medical kit, and headed to SiliconCrest Group.

She still had the status of Mrs. Vincent, so the receptionists let her through without question.

Ah. She smelled like hotel soap.

Brian’s face clouded over. He seized her wrist. “Were you alone, or with someone?”

Lina piped up, “Brian, watch your arm.”

“Get out!”

He hadn’t snapped at her like that in ages.

Lina flinched, glancing back at every step as she hurried out.

Brian’s gaze was cold as steel as he faced Elara again. “Alone, or with someone else?”

Elara raised an eyebrow, her tone cool. “So you’re allowed your little harem, but I can’t have a bit of fun myself?”

Brian was nearly frantic. “Who—who is he?”

Elara brushed his hand off her shoulder, then gave him a sharp push for good measure.

Suddenly, Brian’s strength failed him. He stumbled back, collapsing into his chair.

A cold, resolute smile curved across Elara’s lips.

“Thought you could control me, Brian? The medicine I just used on you—it’s laced with poison. You’re dying.”