To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 7

The sorrow swelling in Elara's chest was instantly swept away by the matriarch's sharp words.

She'd never even killed a fish before, and now they wanted her to do this.

Gareth grew frantic. "Mom, it's just a misunderstanding—there's no need to go that far."

The old woman snorted. "And what has our family home become under my nose? A place of filth and scandal. A brother sleeping with his own sister—if word gets out, what will become of the Vincent family's century-old reputation?"

"Grandma, Aunt Lina is delusional. That's not what happened," Brian interjected.

The matriarch's anger only deepened. "Then what did happen? Are you planning to bring her back here and force me to accept this so-called reality?"

"I never intended to bring her back," Brian replied, his voice flat. After a pause, he added, "Besides, she's never said she wanted to come back."

"Impossible!" Nanette broke in. "Lina was so depressed abroad she tried to take her own life—of course she wants to come home! Brian, don't let them scare you into abandoning her. Elara would never actually go through with it!"

"If you really cared about Lina, you'd keep your mouth shut for once," Brian said, his face clouding over.

Watching him so desperate to defend that woman, Elara felt her turbulent emotions freeze into something cold and hard.

She picked up the knife from the floor.

"Grandma, if I do this, you won't blame me if the Vincent family line ends with me, will you?"

Felice glanced at her grandson. "The Vincent family legacy won't die out. Just do it."

Elara looked at Brian. For the first time, she brandished a knife in anger—her hand trembling.

Brian met her gaze for two seconds, then suddenly undid his shirt buttons, revealing his solid chest.

"Go ahead—right here. Cut out my heart and see for yourself if I'm telling the truth."

He was bold, and Elara was just as serious, pressing the blade to his chest.

Nanette sprang to her feet, screeching, "Elara, you're a curse on this family! No wonder your parents abandoned you—you bring disaster wherever you go. Brian was right to divorce you! You can't hold a candle to my Lina—"

Her words were cut off by a sharp crack as the matriarch's cane landed on her.

"Shameless woman! If Brian divorces Elara, you'll be the ruin of the Vincent family!"

Elara stared down at the knife, her mind cooling.

"Mrs. Vincent, you'd do well to quit while you're ahead."

Quit? Did he really think she was playing some twisted game of push and pull?

Fury rose in Elara's chest.

She was about to retort when Nanette sneered, "Once again, you get your way. Waving a knife around like some drama queen, just waiting for a man to come comfort you. Good thing your parents aren't here to see how low you've sunk—they'd be rolling in their graves."

A flash of cold light shot through Elara's eyes. She snatched up the knife and lunged at Nanette.

The blade skimmed past Nanette's ear; only when a bundle of hair tumbled to the floor did she realize what had happened, reaching for the back of her head in shock.

Elara set the knife down. "Did you really think I wouldn't dare cut out your tongue?"

Nanette crumbled on the spot.

"My hair! I just spent a fortune having it done! Honey—!"

Gareth lost his temper. "Elara, how could you cut your mother-in-law's hair? Get down on your knees and apologize!"