To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 34

"Do you even have a permit to tear down this house?"

The blond guy puffed up with arrogance. "My dad's the mayor. His word is the only permit I need. Who the hell are you?"

Elara stayed perfectly calm. "I've already called the police. Let's just wait until they get here."

"The cops?" Blondie sneered. "My uncle runs the police department. We'll see if he comes to arrest me—or you."

Elara met his gaze, steady and unafraid. "I refuse to believe your family owns the entire law."

The blond thug, drunk on his own swagger, suddenly grabbed her wrist.

"Where'd this pretty girl come from? Why don't you come have a little fun with me out back?"

"Get your filthy hands off her, you animals!"

Elara's grandfather, seeing what they meant to do, hobbled forward on his cane, shaking with rage as he swung at them.

The gang of punks swarmed in. One kicked the old man to the ground, another yanked at Elara's clothes.

"Enough!"

Suddenly, several men in crisp suits burst onto the scene, instantly separating the thugs from their victims.

One of them dipped his head respectfully to Elara.

"Ma'am, Mr. Vincent sent us to protect you."

Elara barely registered the words. She stumbled to her grandfather's side.

He was already lying on the ground, trembling violently, white foam at the corner of his mouth. Yet even through the seizure, he mumbled, "Animals… let go of my Elara…"

Elara pried open his mouth and shoved two emergency heart pills inside, her composure finally breaking as she screamed, "The hospital! Someone get him to the hospital, now!"

…

Meanwhile, at Vincent Manor—

Later, Felice tracked her down and paid her a generous reward. Elara accepted without fuss.

Grandmother had assumed a girl her age would keep some of the money for herself. But when she left the hospital, she saw Elara crouched on the cafeteria steps, eating nothing but a plain roll.

A little digging revealed Elara had given all the money to the foster parent who'd raised her—someone she wasn't even related to by blood.

"She seems gentle, but she's smart and knows her own mind. Keep her close, and she'll never turn against you, not as long as you treat her well. Do you understand now why I chose her for you?"

It was the first time Brian had ever spoken so honestly with his grandmother about Elara.

He lowered his head. "I'll treat her right."

"Then stay out of Lina's affairs," Grandmother shot back.

But this time, Brian was silent for a long while.

Yves Caldwell decided it was time to interrupt. He knocked quickly, then stepped inside to report, "Mr. Vincent, there's a situation with your wife."