To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 252

“Who sent you?” Zane demanded, his eyes cold.

One of the thugs sneered, “Your old man.” The rest surged forward, fists raised.

Even with one arm wrapped protectively around Elara, Zane barely seemed hindered. In just a few swift, brutal punches, he laid all of them out on the ground.

He pressed the gleaming toe of his shoe against the face of the thug who’d mouthed off, gradually increasing the pressure.

The thug yelped, unable to take it. “Alright, alright! Someone hired us to rough up the woman from the photo.”

With trembling hands, he fished out his phone and awkwardly held it up to Zane.

The screen showed a candid photo of Elara, taken in the gardens at Platinum Bay. She looked younger, her eyes clear and unburdened, a gentle warmth in her smile—the sort of innocence she’d had as a newlywed.

This had to be from a few years ago. And the only person who could’ve taken that photo was Brian.

But Elara’s suspicion didn’t fall on Brian. Instead, she thought of Lina. Of course. Lina must have secretly copied her photos from Brian’s phone long ago.

Zane’s voice cut sharply through her thoughts. “Who hired you? How do you communicate?”

He was focused on the interrogation, oblivious to Elara’s distraction.

The thug whimpered, “We don’t know who they are. We just take jobs anonymously, no questions asked. All contact is online, through burner accounts. After the job’s done, we pick up payment at a drop spot. We never meet face-to-face.”

At that moment, Quincy Shelton pulled up alongside them in his car.

Zane turned, giving him a pointed look. “Nice timing.”

Quincy stepped out, looking sheepish. “I just thought you two could use a little alone time, you know? Didn’t expect to attract so many party crashers.”

Zane confiscated the thug’s phone and, leaving Quincy to deal with the aftermath, ushered Elara into the car and drove off.

As they pulled away, Elara glanced back at the battered thugs in the rearview mirror. A chill ran through her. Ingrid’s knife had slipped back into Lina’s hands.

…

Meanwhile, in a hotel room—

Lina had just ended a phone call, nearly hurling her phone across the room.

Lina scoffed, “You’re here, letting her poison your mind against me, and meanwhile, she’s cozying up to Brian again. She’s using you as a stepping stone—can’t you see? She pretends it’s all for your benefit. Pathetic.”

Ingrid’s expression hardened. She slammed her fist against the mattress.

“If she wants to play games, I’ll show her just how nasty this can get. Making a woman’s life hell? That’s what I do best.”

She snatched up her phone and dialed a number.

…

Inside the Lincoln, Elara sat in the passenger seat, sneaking glances at Zane.

She really had dragged him into quite a mess tonight, but somehow, the words “thank you” just wouldn’t come out.

After catching her stealing looks for a while, Zane finally spoke, his tone relaxed. “You don’t have to thank me.”

Elara raised an eyebrow, not buying the sudden display of generosity.

“All I want is for you to—” Zane began, but her phone started ringing before he could finish.