To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 86

Nanette glanced anxiously at her daughter after hearing his words.

Lina sat quietly, almost as if everything was up to her father and brother to decide.

Gareth, seeing how determined Brian was, slammed his palm on the table.

"A biopsy is way too invasive for Nanette. I'll only agree to a blood test. If the results show she actually has a platelet problem and can't undergo surgery, then you all have no reason left to accuse your aunt of faking her illness."

Brian paused for a couple of seconds. "Fine."

"But if it turns out Nanette's not faking—" Gareth deliberately let the words hang in the air.

"Then I'll have Elara's bone marrow drawn to treat her."

A cold light flashed in Brian's eyes. "Is this Dr. Chamberlain's recommendation?"

Gareth's jaw tightened. "You're not going to humiliate me over a woman, are you?"

Brian walked over to the window and stared out, calm and unreadable.

Lina's gaze lingered on his back, her eyes glinting with a hidden sharpness.

A moment later, Brian turned around and said quietly, "Alright."

At ten o'clock, a nurse came into the hospital room to draw blood.

Chuck was there too, keeping his head down the whole time, not daring to make eye contact with anyone.

They drew three vials in total.

One was for testing, two were backup, labeled 7016wA/B/C.

The samples were placed in a temperature-controlled container, locked with a code, and handed over to the staff from the testing center.

Elara sat in her new car, her eyes fixed on the small white van ahead, "Rigel Testing" stenciled on the side.

Summer, never having done anything like this before, was visibly nervous.

"Are you sure Lina will try to swap out the samples?"

Elara said nothing.

Summer took a deep breath. "I can't believe Brian actually agreed to retest Nanette. He must really trust you."

"He doesn't trust me," Elara replied, perfectly clear-headed. "He's always had doubts himself. He's just using my suspicions as an excuse to have Nanette retested."

"That bastard…" Summer muttered angrily.

The two staffers got out and went inside, leaving the van doors unlocked.

"They're waiting for someone to come switch out the blood samples," Elara said.

"Should I take a photo?" Summer asked, already pulling out her phone.

Elara shook her head. "A photo won't prove anything. Stay in the car."

With that, she got out and walked up to the "Rigel Testing" van, standing right beside it until the men finished their meal and came back out.

The two of them were visibly surprised to see her.

"Ma'am, can we help you?" one of them asked.

Elara replied casually, "I noticed your van wasn't locked, so I decided to keep an eye on it for you."

They instantly understood—there would be no way to swap the samples now. After thanking her, they continued on to the testing center.

Elara followed them inside and up the stairs.

It was only then that the two men realized something was wrong.