To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 289

Inside the Jaguar, Jason handed Elara a bottle of water.

She took it, tipped her head back, and drank. Drops of water escaped her lips and shimmered in the sunset.

Jason’s hand hovered on the steering wheel for a moment before he let it fall back down.

There was something wild and untamed about Elara—a kind of fierce vitality, like a tree thriving on the open moor, refusing to bend yet still radiant in its own right.

“Is your back any better?” he asked.

She swallowed, only then seeming to remember he was the one driving.

“So you’re still worried about my injury?” He chuckled softly.

“I was just making conversation.”

Elara turned her face away, gazing out the window.

Whenever she didn’t care for someone, she had a way of using small, silent gestures to keep them at a distance.

Jason fell quiet.

The car wound its way up into the hills.

As the sun slipped beneath the horizon, the light outside faded.

Jason unclipped his seatbelt, but the motion tugged at his wound and he drew in a sharp breath.

Elara ignored him. Once she got out, she found a bare rock and leaned against it.

“So, you brought me all the way out here for a barbecue in the wild?” she asked.

Jason handed her a box of sandwiches and sat down beside her.

Elara didn’t fuss—she opened the box and started eating.

Jason lit a cigarette.

“The Blackstar Smart Home System’s battery unit really did have a design flaw. Thanks for your technical input this time.”

Elara was focused on her sandwich. “I crashed your launch event. Take this as my apology.”

“No, Lina was able to cause trouble on my turf because I wasn’t paying attention,” Jason replied.

Elara didn’t argue. “So a box of sandwiches is enough to make it up to you?”

The speed of her shift made Jason laugh.

“Whatever you want, just name it.”

She paused, thrown off by his words. Then, suddenly, fireworks exploded in the distance.

The sky had just darkened, and a bloom of crimson roses lit up overhead.

Elara watched for a couple of seconds, then smirked. “Who’s trying to confess their undying love? It’s so cheesy.”

Jason didn’t take offense. In fact, he admitted easily, “My assistant set it up.”

Jason stubbed out his cigarette and stood, his face unreadable.

—

Meanwhile, in the Lawrence family’s garden—

Zane watched the fireworks in the sky, his jaw clenched so tightly the muscle jumped.

Quincy Shelton came out, luggage in hand. “Sir, since you’re returning to the city on such short notice, do you want to say goodbye to Miss Jules?”

Zane didn’t even look over, just replied coolly, “Why would I need to do that?”

Quincy wisely stayed silent.

—

At the SiliconCrest Group executive offices—

Brian was still working late.

Yves Caldwell pushed open the door. “Mr. Vincent, Hayden Everly just turned in his resignation.”

Brian frowned, about to respond, when Gareth Vincent walked in.

“Aren’t you going to do something about Lina?”

Brian’s expression smoothed out. “The lawyers are on it. She was caught red-handed this time—once the police finish questioning her, I’ll bail her out.”