To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 312

Jason and Ryan practically burst out of the car at the same time, both having rushed straight over from the office right after their meeting.

Ryan, desperate to beat Jason through the doors, was in such a hurry that he hadn’t even noticed his suit jacket was inside out.

He bounded over to Elara, clutching an enormous bouquet of sunflowers, his voice bubbling with excitement. “Made it just in time! Here—wishing you a future far away from places like this. May you always find the sunshine.”

Before Elara could even reach for the flowers, Jason stepped forward, placing a firm hand on Ryan’s shoulder and pulling him aside.

He then positioned himself in front of her, unhurriedly reaching into his suit pocket and producing a slim envelope. His tone was composed, almost amused. “Flowers are passé. People prefer something practical these days.”

The envelope was thin, but inside was a check.

Ryan shot him a look. “You’re the one who’s outdated! This is called having a sense of occasion, ever heard of it? Guys like you, who just throw money around, are the truly ‘empty’ ones.”

He added, almost under his breath, “Spiritually bankrupt.”

Jason raised an eyebrow. “Can’t argue with someone who doesn’t even know how to wear a suit properly.”

It was only then that Ryan realized his jacket was on inside out. He barely had time to feel embarrassed before Summer rushed over, grabbing Elara’s hand.

“There’s an emergency at the office! You need to come with me. Now!”

Before either of the brothers could react, Elara was swept off and hustled into a car.

Jason shot Ryan a disgruntled look. “You’re not the one being pressured to get married. Why do you always have to compete with me?”

Ryan arched an eyebrow. “Just trying to save another innocent woman from falling into the ‘Jason-style marriage trap.’”

Jason stared at him for a long second, eyes shadowed, then turned and headed back to his own car.

From a distance, Brian witnessed the whole scene, face tense as he climbed into his own vehicle.

Yves Caldwell leaned over and murmured, “The police have been trying to reach Lina to check her fingerprints these past few days. I’ve already got her settled at The Mirage Estate.”

“Drive,” Brian ordered coldly.

Meanwhile, in the back of a Rolls-Royce, Quincy Shelton glanced at the rearview mirror, feigning irritation. “Kids these days, fighting over the same woman before the old guard has even left the field—don’t they know how to show a little respect?”

Zane ignored him, pulling out his phone to send a message.

The moment Elara was bundled into the car, her phone buzzed.

A text from Zane.

With no time to go home and change, Elara made her way straight to The Atheneum.

It was their first time meeting at a set hour, and she was already a full hour late.

Internally, Elara was a storm of nerves.

Zane was waiting, sipping tea as a waitress in an old-fashioned maid’s uniform lifted the beaded curtain for Elara to enter.

She didn’t notice the five-centimeter step just inside the door.

Her foot caught on the edge, and she stumbled forward with a startled gasp.

Instinctively, she reached out to brace herself on the tea table—but it was so light, it nearly toppled with her.

Zane steadied the table with one hand, catching both it and Elara at the last possible second.

“Sorry,” she blurted.

As she looked up, she found herself caught in the depths of his gaze—so close, so intense, it seemed to hold a thousand unspoken stories just for her.