To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 320

Elara tried to wrench free from his grasp, her voice tight with anger. “None of your damn business!”

Brian’s tone turned colder. “As far as I know, he’s married.”

Elara snapped, “Exactly! That means being with him comes with no strings attached for either of us.”

“Elara!”

His hand tightened on her cheek, pain flickering in his eyes, barely held at bay.

“You know everything already, so why can’t you just give me a little more time? How could he possibly know you better than I do, or care for you more than I do?”

“What do I know?” Elara forced back. “What I know is that, time and again, you’ve hurt me for someone else. Brian, I must have been blind to ever fall for you. Now I hate you. I wish you’d just disappear.”

Brian froze.

So this was how much she hated him. But hate—wasn’t that just love’s other side?

Slowly, the fury drained from his eyes. He let go of her, and even gently helped her steady herself.

“You still love me, don’t you?”

Elara shrank into the sofa, refusing to look at him, refusing to answer.

But Brian just laughed, soft and bitter. “My Elara would never do anything reckless. You hate me for choosing others over you, for all the times I hurt you. So now you’re using Zane to get back at me. But once I’ve sorted everything out, you’ll come back to me—won’t you?”

Just then, the doorbell rang again.

This time, it had to be Zane.

Her phone was on vibrate, and she’d ignored his calls—of course he’d come up himself.

Elara sprang to her feet, heading for the door. Brian caught her arm.

“Think about what you really want before you open that door.”

His words gave her pause.

So that’s why he’d come today? To talk about ending things for good?

Outside, Zane waited about ten seconds. Inside, there was only silence.

“You’re really all right?” he asked, voice laced with concern.

“I’m fine.” Elara’s calm was almost unnerving.

“Sorry to bother you.”

No accusations, no hesitation.

He turned and walked away, his retreat composed and dignified, not a hint of disorder in his posture.

When the door closed, Elara rounded on Brian, voice shaking with anger. “Happy now?”

Brian caressed her cheek, smug satisfaction on his face. “Of course.”

A man as proud as Zane would never come back after being humiliated like that. Whatever spark there had been between him and Elara—Brian had just crushed it, snuffed it out completely.

That’s what he wanted: to personally sever all her ties, until he was the only one left.

But Elara shoved him away, voice trembling with restrained fury. “Are you done? Can you leave now?”