To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 253

It was Rose calling.

Elara answered.

Rose sounded flustered.

“What do I do, Elara? I just met with Ryan, and Mrs. Lawrence happened to catch us. She probably suspects Ryan’s memory loss is just an act now.”

Instinctively, Elara glanced at Zane beside her, then quickly lowered the volume on her phone.

“I told you to be careful. How did this happen?”

Rose’s voice trembled with tears. “I just missed him so much.”

Elara couldn’t say much with Zane there. “Don’t panic. I’ll come find you soon.”

She hung up and looked at Zane.

He drove on, calm and collected, giving no sign he’d overheard any of her conversation.

“What was it you just said you needed from me?” Elara asked.

Zane was about to reply when his phone rang—Quincy Shelton was calling.

He switched to Bluetooth.

“Boss, we found your wife.”

Zane paused.

Quincy continued, “Someone just went to Mercy General Hospital asking about the results of a DNA test. The staff got suspicious and asked which day. Turned out it was the same day your wife came in for bloodwork—and she was the only one that day. They’re holding her now.”

“Understood,” Zane replied, voice steady.

He ended the call and slowly pulled the car over to the curb.

Sensing he had urgent business to attend to, Elara offered, “I’ll just hop out here.”

But Zane, unfazed, pulled a bill from his wallet. “Get me a bottle of water.”

Elara blinked at him.

He tilted his head, almost teasing. “Don’t know how to shop?”

She frowned. “Are you bossing me around?”

He only smiled and nodded.

Realizing she’d overthought things, Elara snatched the money and got out.

“Elara,” he said—her full name, maybe for the first time—“I’ve got something urgent. I need to head out now.”

She instinctively looked out the windshield at the gathering clouds, then shot him a look that clearly said: Why didn’t you mention that earlier? It’s about to pour.

But within moments, she regained her composure. “My car’s still parked at the gala. Since we just left, could you drop me off there?”

Zane buckled his seatbelt. “Hand me your keys. I’ll have someone bring your car over. Just send me the location.”

She eyed him, then—with a polite smile—slipped out of the car without handing over her keys.

“Thanks for everything today,” she said, suddenly formal.

Zane accepted her gratitude as if it were his due.

“The Vincent family’s a tangled mess. Ellis isn’t nearly as easy to deal with as his brother thinks. Try to avoid meeting with Brian if you can…”

Elara cut him off. “Mr. Lawrence, do you make a habit of meddling in everyone’s private affairs?”

He ignored the jab, turning to start the car.

Outside, the rain began to fall.

Elara muttered, “Jerk,” under her breath, found some cover, and ordered a ride on her phone.