To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 98

The butler, ever attentive, had already inquired about Elara's situation by the time Gage arrived.

He knew full well that while Mrs. Prescott's questions seemed directed at Gareth, she was really concerned about what he might have done to Elara.

So John Prescott relayed what he'd learned.

"After work every day, the young mistress heads straight to the hospital to take care of Ms. Winters. She eats and sleeps there, hardly getting any rest. I heard that in last night's heavy storm, she was sent out just to buy some soup."

Felice's grip tightened around her teacup. "And Brian? What's he doing?"

The butler lowered his head. "Mr. Vincent seems to be teaching her a lesson on purpose."

Felice closed her eyes, her voice weary. "The men in the Vincent family…"

***

Elara, weak and barely conscious, was dragged back to the hospital and forced to undergo a physical examination.

The results showed she now met the criteria for a bone marrow extraction.

Gareth, holding the report, was visibly pleased. He immediately barked orders at the bodyguards.

"Take her to the blood draw room and make sure the nurse gets that bone marrow as fast as possible."

"Gareth…"

Elara was in agony, her mind clouded. She tried to speak, but her tongue wouldn't obey her. Somewhere in the haze, she realized it must be the drugs.

In the end, she was hauled away like a piece of cargo, unable to resist as the bodyguards dragged her down the hall.

The nurse in the blood draw room was startled by the scene.

"Bone marrow extraction should be voluntary. You can't just force her!"

Gareth waved her protests aside and had Elara strapped to a hospital bed, his voice cold and sharp. "My wife needs her bone marrow to survive. If you delay her treatment, you'll have my family's blood on your hands."

Terrified, the nurse's hands shook as she reached for the long, thick biopsy needle.

He turned furiously to Gareth. "What did you inject her with?"

Gareth's gaze darted nervously. "N-nothing serious, just something to get her blood levels up fast."

"Mom," Gareth clung to his last shred of hope, "Nanette really is sick. Having Elara donate her bone marrow could save a life—it's a good deed."

"A good deed?" Felice gave a bitter laugh. "Saving your wife—someone like that—what kind of virtue is that supposed to be?"

"Take me to see that wretched woman!" she snapped.

***

Meanwhile, in the hospital room, Lina and Nanette were waiting anxiously for word from Gareth.

Once Elara had been forced to donate her marrow, she'd be left half-dead. She'd resent Brian for it, and the old lady would despise her for being too frail to bear children for the Vincent family—eventually, they'd press for a divorce.

Nanette took a deep breath. "Lina, feel my heart—it just started pounding out of nowhere. Do you think something's about to happen?"