To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 249

Both Brian and Elara froze for a split second, then turned their heads in unison.

Brian’s gaze at Elara simmered with barely contained frustration, but he said nothing.

Lina, after several days confined and a harsh scolding from Yves Caldwell, had learned to behave herself.

She quickly withdrew her hand from Brian’s arm, trying to read the room.

“Elara, I’m just Brian’s assistant now. Don’t go calling me things you shouldn’t,” she said, forcing a smile.

Today’s signing ceremony had attracted all the most prominent business figures in Kingston City, and Lina, for all her bravado, still cared about her reputation.

A faint, knowing smile played at the corners of Elara’s lips. “You’re one to talk—I have no intention of joining your family, so don’t get ahead of yourself. As far as I know, the only people allowed in tonight, besides those listed on the invitations and their partners, are guests cleared by the company. And I don’t recall seeing your name on that list.”

Lina’s mouth opened, but no words came out.

She’d suspected something was off when Yves Caldwell had abruptly summoned her here this morning. It wasn’t that she thought Yves was conspiring with Elara against her—no, it was that Elara had suddenly become intimidating, and Lina realized she needed to keep her guard up.

“Elara, there’s nothing going on between Brian and me. You’re being paranoid again. Just because you and your husband are having issues doesn’t mean you can drag me into it—”

She was gearing up to squeeze out a few tears when one of Ignition Dynamics’ staff hurried over, cutting her off with a loud call.

“Mrs. Vincent, you dropped something!”

Lina’s words died in her throat.

It was cocktail hour, and the guests—previously engrossed in their own conversations—now turned to watch the scene unfold.

The tension was palpable.

“Do I know you? Why are you calling me that?” Lina replied, voice wavering.

The staffer hesitated, then smiled politely. “When you checked in earlier, you said you were Mrs. Vincent. That’s why we let you in. I have a good memory—I wouldn’t get that wrong.”

Before she could plead, Ingrid forced herself between Lina and Brian, cutting off any chance for appeal.

“Will you ever shut up? You sound like a squawking hen. Your mother’s gone, the Vincent family’s kicked you out, but you’re still clinging to him, pretending to be so pure and innocent. Do you really think every man in the world is going to fall for your act?”

With a quick glance, Ingrid signaled her friends.

They immediately closed in, surrounding Lina.

“Stop embarrassing yourself. Come with us!”

Lina knew all too well—if she was dragged out of Brian’s line of sight, things could get ugly.

She resisted, but with Brian offering no support, she couldn’t stand against the determined women. In the end, she was forcibly “escorted” out of the party.

Ingrid didn’t linger with Brian; instead, she squared her shoulders and gave Elara a brief, queenly nod. “I have no tolerance for people like her. Leave this to me.”