To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 269

Victor let out a heavy sigh. “What a curse on this family.”

Mrs. Lawrence dabbed at her eyes, her voice sharp and trembling. “A curse? That’s nonsense. That shameless woman seduced my Jason, that’s what happened!”

In the far corner, Ryan sat peeling an apple, apparently detached, though his eyes took in every detail.

Zane spoke up, his tone cool and measured. “Jason’s always been careful in his dealings. He’s given everything for the company. The rest of the family shouldn’t jump to conclusions just because of a few rumors.”

Still kneeling, Jason shot a grateful glance at his second uncle, who hardly ever involved himself in the Lawrence family’s domestic disputes.

“You don’t understand what we’re talking about at all, Zane,” Mrs. Lawrence snapped.

Zane raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t it just that Jason used a little personal charm to win over a client? Everyone knows Mrs. Walker from Darcorp Group has a soft spot for him, especially when it comes to hotel meetings for business negotiations.”

Ryan’s long, curling strip of apple peel broke in his hands at that moment.

Jason felt like his scalp was on fire.

Victor’s face darkened as he demanded, “Mrs. Walker? What’s this about another woman?”

Zane shrugged. “If you want results, big brother, you can’t tie his hands.”

A cold silence settled over the living room.

Victor’s face turned from pale to purple. He roared, “Bring me the paddle!”

“Dad, it’s not like that—!”

Jason shuffled forward on his knees, desperate to explain, but Victor cut him off without mercy.

Zane slipped away upstairs, the faintest hint of a smirk playing at his lips.

In the end, the family discipline was swift: with Mrs. Lawrence shielding her son as best she could, Jason received two hard lashes before Victor finally relented.

But Victor was still seething. “From now on, the Helios smart energy project goes to Ryan.”

Jason and his mother stared in shock.

Everyone knew Helios was Blackstar Technologies’ biggest strategic investment. Whoever managed this project was all but assured to inherit the company.

“That wretch Elara—I’ll make her pay for this!”

The housekeeper’s voice answered, “Ma’am, you’ve always had a way with these things. Over the years, you’ve dealt with plenty of Chairman Lawrence’s women. She’s just one more.”

Mrs. Lawrence’s voice was cold, steely. “But this one is different. She has a special status. We need to wait—when she’s no longer the Vincents’ eldest daughter-in-law, then we’ll act.”

Ryan quietly stepped back, circling around to reach his own room by another route.

He couldn’t stand by and watch Elara fall into danger.

After a moment’s thought, he picked up his phone and canceled his flight for two days later.

Elara had no idea what was happening in the Lawrence house.

She was busy—the new product was about to enter testing.

Yves Caldwell stopped by Ignition Dynamics to hand her the trust contract, all the paperwork in order.

Elara pored over it, then looked up. “Where’s the notarized divorce agreement?”