To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 238

Zane continued, his voice icy: “Death’s too easy for him. Letting him rot in his own personal hell—that’s real punishment, don’t you think?”

Elara couldn’t hold back her tears; they streamed down, silent and hot. Zane’s chest tightened at the sight. He stood, pulling her into his arms, letting her bury her face against his waist.

He held her as she sobbed for a couple of minutes before murmuring in his low, rumbling voice, “Strange. How can women have so many tears?”

She’d cried all night yesterday, sweated through half the night, and now—more tears, like pearls spilling from her eyes.

Elara gave him a half-hearted punch—he wasn’t even sure where she hit him. He grunted and caught her hand before she could strike again.

Just then, Quincy Shelton hurried up the hallway. Spotting the scene, he instinctively tried to retreat, but Zane called out to him.

“What is it?”

Quincy stopped, a little awkward, and said, “Mr. Ryan is here.”

Right on cue, the elevator dinged open.

Elara shoved Zane away just as Ryan came rushing toward them in the corridor.

Zane’s brows drew together, just a shade.

“Elara, I just came from the morgue. I heard about what happened… Are you all right?”

Her eyes were still damp, but Ryan didn’t notice—the tears had soaked into Zane’s shirt.

“Now that my grandfather’s gone, you don’t have to worry about appearances anymore, do you?” Elara replied, her voice cool.

Ryan was caught off guard, momentarily speechless.

Zane arched an eyebrow and looked away.

At that moment, the doors to the emergency room swung open.

Brian was wheeled out on a gurney.

The doctor addressed the waiting group, “Fortunately, we administered the antivenom in time and treated the wound appropriately. We’ll move him to intensive care for observation. If blood purification or other measures are needed, we’ll assess that later.”

He relayed all this, but nobody answered.

A heavy, awkward silence filled the space outside the ER.

Elara met the old woman’s eyes, a frosty smile playing on her lips.

“If you have time, ma’am, you might want to start preparing for what comes next. Because twenty minutes ago, I leaked news of Brian’s critical condition to the press.”

Felice’s lips pressed into a thin line. She was suddenly, utterly silent.

Elara didn’t spare a glance at their reactions. She strode away, Ryan hurrying after her.

Zane strolled after them, hands in his pockets, unhurried.

At the elevator, Elara stepped in first.

Ryan moved to follow, but Quincy Shelton grabbed him by the arm.

Grinning, Quincy said, “Mr. Ryan, I have a few questions for you.”

Zane slipped into the elevator as the doors began to close.

He waited until the quiet hummed between them, then reached out, crossing the distance in a heartbeat. He caught Elara’s arm and pulled her toward him.