To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 265

Both Zane and the man sitting across from him fell silent.

Elara, limping slightly, made her way over to the man who’d just rolled across the floor. She pressed her cane against his throat, leaning in, her voice cold and clear.

“So, you thought you could take advantage of me because my leg’s not up to par today?” she said, eyes narrowed. “Hayden Everly, let me remind you—back when you and Gregory cornered me in the lab, it wasn’t for lack of motive that I didn’t finish you off. I simply wasn’t capable enough yet.”

She pressed the cane a little harder. “This whole bait with the new truck battery? I set the stage just to lure you in. Your so-called ‘miracle’ battery—if it passed inspection, that was pure luck. Only an idiot would treat it like a goldmine.”

She straightened, glaring down at him. “If you’re so eager to be Gregory’s pawn, then by all means—keep at it. I’ll be watching, waiting to see how you crash and burn under his hand.”

Hayden Everly stayed sprawled on the floor, not daring to get up, afraid she might really jab the cane right through his neck.

“So, all this scheming... No wonder Brian dumped you. You’re nothing but a—”

Before he could finish, Elara jabbed the tip of her cane against his mouth.

“What I am isn’t yours to judge,” she said, voice icy. “And since you’re dying to know, let me give you a parting gift—the data you and Gregory forced me to leave behind during graduation? It was fake. Now, be a good little assistant and keep serving Brian. I’ll be watching to see just how far you two get.”

With that, Elara finally noticed Quincy Shelton standing off to the side. She glanced toward the private dining room and caught sight of Zane, as composed as ever, along with—

Her gaze darted away. For a split second, she actually looked startled, patting her chest as if to calm herself.

Just then, the restaurant owner rushed over, drawn by the commotion. He took in the scene: Elara, clearly struggling with her leg, and a disheveled man in a suit sprawled on the floor, looking anything but dignified. He hesitated, unsure whom to address, or whether to call the police.

“Um... about the mess, should I—do you want me to call someone?” he stammered.

Hayden Everly waved him off from the floor. “No need for that. Just help me up—I’ll cover the damages.”

Elara shot Hayden a frosty look, making it clear she didn’t care for his gesture. She turned and walked away without a word.

Hayden, unwilling to let it go, shouted after her, “Elara, you ruined his daughter—Gregory won’t let this go! If you don’t work with me, you’re as good as finished!”

Elara didn’t so much as glance back.

It had started to rain again.

Quincy called out, “Miss Jules, can we give you a lift?”

Elara waved her phone and smiled. “Thanks, but I’ve already called a car.”

As she turned down the offer, her gaze naturally settled on Zane. She didn’t avoid his eyes, but her polite smile carried a quiet, unmistakable distance—a wall between strangers.

Zane said nothing and got into the back seat.

Quincy closed the door, nodded a brief goodbye to Elara, and slid into the driver’s seat.

The car eased away from the curb. Elara was already looking off toward the far side of the street.

Watching through the rearview mirror, Quincy couldn’t help but ask, “I thought you always had a thing for Miss Jules. Is it because she’s married? She’s about to get a divorce, you know.”