To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 6

Elara wasn't the least bit surprised that every word of her and Brian's argument in the hospital room had reached the old matriarch's ears.

There was no need to mince words with someone like Grandmother Vincent.

"Grandma, four years ago—was it because he fell for someone he shouldn't have, and you wanted to break them up? Is that why you found me?"

The old woman's eyes were as sharp as ever, her expression unreadable.

"Who's been filling your head with nonsense?"

Four years ago, desperate to keep Nanette away from Brian's marriage prospects, Grandmother had "accidentally" run into Elara at the hospital, just as Elara was scrambling to pay off her father's medical bills. With a generous offer, she'd set this marriage in motion.

No one had expected that Brian, always so aloof and hard to please, would fall completely for Elara at first sight.

Especially after the wedding—his devotion to her was obvious to everyone. Even Grandmother Vincent herself had started to believe she'd arranged a perfect match.

But who could have predicted that just four years later, everything would unravel?

"Before Brian married you, he had neither a girlfriend nor a fiancée. These past years, I've seen how well he's treated you. In marriage, trust is what matters most."

Elara heard the evasion in her voice. "But what if… all of that was just for your benefit? A performance?"

Grandmother's face darkened. "Impossible! As long as I'm alive, I won't allow any scandal to sully the Vincent family name!"

But this was Brian they were talking about—a man who never betrayed his thoughts and played his cards close to his chest.

If he wanted to do something, who could possibly stop him?

Elara dropped her gaze and said nothing.

Felice, the old lady, understood her temperament well.

The girl looked gentle on the outside, but there was a stubborn streak buried deep inside.

If her doubts weren't dispelled, she'd never rest easy by her grandson's side.

Without another word, Grandmother stood and called the butler.

Gareth stared at her in shock.

"Lina and Brian may not be related by blood, but step-siblings are still siblings. How dare you say something so shameless?"

Nanette, not realizing the bomb she'd just dropped, pressed on. "I'm not making things up. Lina was so depressed she tried to take her own life, and Brian flew to Aalborg to watch over her day and night, but nothing helped. He's determined to bring Lina home. Wasn't marrying Elara just a way to help Lina in the first place? They—"

"Are you out of your mind? Enough!" Gareth clamped a hand over her mouth.

But the damage was done. The things that should and shouldn't have been said were all out in the open now.

Brian, always the dominant one, usually refused to explain himself. But this time, Nanette's words had dug him into too deep a hole.

He turned to Elara, ready to explain, but she didn't so much as glance his way. Instead, she lowered her head to the old lady and said, "Grandma, if you can't stop any of this, then could you—"

She never finished her plea for freedom. With a sudden clang, Grandmother Vincent tossed a gleaming dagger onto the table in front of her, face set in stone.

"Neither of them is worth a damn. If you want, take this—cut out her lying tongue, and then castrate your husband!"