To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 261

He quickly shifted to his familiar mentor’s smile. “Elara Jules, Summer Calloway, glad you could make it.”

Elara smiled and stepped forward with Summer.

Ingrid Goldsmith looked at her with concern. “What happened to your foot?”

“I twisted it, that’s all,” Elara replied.

Ingrid frowned. “It looks pretty bad. You need to take care of yourself.”

Elara just nodded, keeping quiet.

At that moment, a waiter standing by the door called out, “Vice President Vincent has arrived!”

At the announcement, Ingrid abandoned her own father without hesitation and rushed out.

Gregory Goldsmith, ignoring Elara’s presence, shook his head with a laugh and turned to his friends. “You see that? Daughters will always run off sooner or later.”

With a chuckle, he hurried after his daughter.

Watching the pair, Summer was amazed. “So this is what they mean by ‘like father, like daughter.’”

Elara let out a quiet laugh. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

They were about to head further inside when Mrs. Goldsmith suddenly swept past them, clearly in a hurry to greet someone.

When she caught sight of Elara, Mrs. Goldsmith’s face tightened for a moment. Then she quickly raised her chin, put on a dazzling smile for her companion, and said, “If my Ingrid weren’t so talented and self-respecting, do you think Mr. Vincent would dote on her so much? Once she gives birth to the Vincent family’s first grandson, the whole family will be hers!”

A woman about her age standing beside her chimed in with a laugh. “Absolutely! Much better than some people who just occupy space and do nothing, wasting everyone’s time.”

Mrs. Goldsmith looked even more pleased. “Lucia, our families go way back. When we’re rich and powerful, don’t worry, we won’t forget yours.”

Summer was about to retort, but Mrs. Goldsmith barreled right between them, going out of her way to shove Elara sharply with her elbow.

Thankfully, Elara had her cane—otherwise, she would have fallen.

Summer rushed to steady her, scowling. “What is wrong with that woman—?”

He looked as though he was about to approach, but Elara turned away, cold and unyielding, and walked off in the opposite direction.

Summer didn’t notice any of this. She caught up with Elara and whispered, “On a day like this, doesn’t it feel like someone’s missing?”

Elara nodded. “Lina’s not here. Ingrid is her weapon. To avoid suspicion, she’d never show up in person.”

The two had just settled into chairs out on the terrace when they nearly collided with Brian.

Summer glanced at Ingrid at his side and couldn’t help but grin. “Well, if it isn’t the Goldsmiths’ star son-in-law. Nice to see you.”

Brian’s expression was icy. “Does your brother know you talk to people like this?”

Elara turned her gaze away, refusing to look at either of them.

Ingrid quickly stepped in. “Brian, why don’t you go chat with my dad? He’ll introduce you to some of his favorite protégés. I just need a quick word with Miss Jules—then I’ll find you.”

Brian’s eyes lingered on Elara, then dropped to her injured foot.