To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 42

"Lina…"

Nanette shrieked. Her face had gone ghostly pale with fear.

But Elara had no intention of backing down.

"Ms. Winters, the reason my grandmother dislikes you isn't because of your scandalous past. It's because your values are as rotten and toxic as rancid oil—filthy, poisonous, bubbling up everywhere you go."

"Who are you calling scandalous?"

Gareth stormed in, grabbing Elara by the shoulder and spinning her around to face him.

His hand shot up, ready to strike, but Brian was faster, catching his father's wrist mid-air.

Brian's voice was low and steady. "Father, she's my wife."

Gareth's hand trembled in his son's grasp. After a moment, he yanked it free, his voice shaking with rage. "She insulted my wife. And you're still going to defend her?"

Just then, the matriarch descended the staircase. Seeing the chaos in the living room, she frowned in disapproval.

Noticing her audience had arrived, Nanette's wailing grew even louder.

"Lina, are you alright? That was a heavy plate she threw at you—if it were me, I'm sure I'd have broken a bone!"

Gareth's glare at Elara was so full of hate, it was as if he wanted to tear her apart right then and there.

Brian quickly pulled Elara aside and strode over to Lina, crouching down to brush crumbs off her back.

"Are you okay?"

Elara was finally out of Gareth's reach, but she stumbled before she could steady herself.

It was the first time she'd ever seen Brian speak so gently to a woman who wasn't her.

Her heart didn't ache. Instead, she felt an unexpected hollowness.

Lina's face was a little pale, but she shook her head. "I'm fine. My sister-in-law… she just slipped, that's all."

Covering for Elara only made her look guiltier in everyone else's eyes. Elara lowered her gaze, already considering how to handle this venomous attack that left no marks.

"Should we take you to the hospital?" Brian asked, helping Lina to her feet.

There was no hope of salvaging the family dinner.

Nanette was rushed to the hospital, and Brian took Elara back to Platinum Bay.

She was silent the entire ride. Not once did she ask why he'd given the shortbread he'd bought for her to Lina instead.

She'd reverted to the well-behaved Elara he'd always known, but Brian couldn't shake the discomfort that gnawed at him.

They entered the living room in silence.

Suddenly, Brian stopped short. Elara walked straight into his back and nearly bounced off.

"Did that hurt?" Brian turned, reaching to touch her forehead, but she sidestepped his hand.

He froze, his hand hanging awkwardly in the air.

Elara forced a stiff smile. "Sorry. I wasn't watching where I was going."

Brian's expression darkened, shifting rapidly from confusion to frustration.