To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 92

"You," Nanette pointed to the door, "go out and get me some pumpkin soup."

Elara frowned. "It's the middle of the night. Where am I supposed to find pumpkin soup at this hour?"

"I don't care. If you let me go hungry, I'll tell my husband—and trust me, he knows how to deal with you."

And Elara knew exactly what that meant: Gareth's way of dealing was to cut off her grandfather's medication.

Suppressing her anger, Elara forced herself out of bed.

Technically, she wasn't supposed to leave the hospital, but with Nanette's order, the two bodyguards standing watch let her go.

But luck wasn't on her side. Just as she stepped outside, a downpour broke loose, drenching her within seconds.

Already running a fever, she barely made it back with the soup, but by the time she reached the hospital's main entrance, she couldn't hold on any longer.

Chuck was on duty that night. He stepped out of a patient's room and spotted someone staggering in the rain below. Without a second thought, he dashed down the stairs.

He swept Elara up in his arms, startled by the burning heat of her skin.

He hurried her to the ER.

Her temperature: 103.6°F.

"How could they let someone get this bad?" Chuck was furious.

Soaked to the bone, Elara sat on a hospital bed, her expression distant and cold.

"Just give me the meds," she said flatly. "She'll be looking for me soon."

A pang of guilt pricked Chuck. After a moment's hesitation, he finally spoke the words he'd been holding back.

"Miss Jules, the technician who ran your mother-in-law's lab test is Peter Brown. According to Rigel Authentication Center's regulations, there are still two backup samples stored in the archive—ID 7016w. If you have a valid reason, you can request a different technician to retest the samples…"

That was as much as he dared say.

Elara's eyelids fluttered. Feverish and exhausted, she didn't have the strength to reply.

A nurse came in with fresh hospital clothes and handed them to Elara, urging her to change out of her drenched things.

Chuck excused himself to "check on patients" and slipped out.

As soon as Elara finished changing, the nurse returned to give her an antipyretic shot.

A figure passed by the door, paused, and stepped inside.

Charles entered, his white coat still marked by fresh stains from a recent emergency.

Lina, who'd just started to relax into his embrace, was abruptly shoved out of the bedroom.

She sat on the floor, stunned.

"B-Brian…"

"How did you get in here?" Brian's voice was tight.

"I came to see you. You weren't answering my texts, and I was tired, so I took a shower and planned to sleep. I didn't have pajamas, so I borrowed Elara's… I didn't expect you'd come back now."

But Brian's expression didn't soften at her explanation.

"Next time, call Yves Caldwell if you need anything—don't come here. And Elara doesn't like people wearing her clothes."

Lina dug her nails into the floor, but kept up her helpless, pitiful act. "I understand. I'm sorry, Brian."

She tried to stand, but the fall had been rough, and she slipped back down.

Brian frowned and reached out to help her.

She was wearing Elara's silk nightgown—the one Elara only wore for him.

The snowy, clinging fabric was Lina's secret weapon, her most trusted way to lure a man.