To Love a Shadow, To Be the Sun novel Chapter 99

That day, Nanette's joints ached first; soon after, a throbbing headache set in.

Chuck stopped by twice, but each visit was brief and wordless.

Nanette's gut told her it was the new medication. She latched onto Lina, peppering her with questions.

Lina, truth be told, was starting to lose her patience, but she bit her tongue and kept her temper in check.

"Lina, you're all I have. Remember how your no-good father left us drowning in gambling debts? I gave everything I had so you could have a better life. Now I'm faking illness for you, even urging you and Gareth to make things hard for Elara. You can't turn your back on your mother."

"Alright, I know you love me, but—"

Lina's voice sharpened.

"But if you hadn't dragged Elara out for soup in the middle of the night, made her fever spike again, we'd have taken her bone marrow by now. Thankfully, Uncle Gareth believes you, so Elara got the medication. Otherwise, you'd be suffering a lot longer."

Nanette's face fell. "If you keep pushing your uncle away, the bond between us will fade."

Lina's tone was harsh. "Gareth will never be more than the Vincent family's kept fool. If you want a better life, you need me. As long as I can get Brian to commit, you're set for life. You could have any man you wanted."

Nanette understood the reminder: Lina was her only hope.

"But, Lina, I really don't feel well right now…"

Before she could finish, the hospital room door swung open.

An elderly woman stood in the doorway.

Both Nanette and Lina froze—Felice hadn't come alone. Brian and Dr. Chamberlain were right behind her. Elara, too, was wheeled in, pale but present.

Nanette's eyes darted. "Mother, what brings you here?"

She tried to sit up, but Gareth rushed to support her.

Lina, standing beside the bed, pinched her hard—out of sight of the others—a silent reminder of who she depended on.

Nanette went numb.

"Is all this true?" Gareth's voice trembled with disbelief.

Chuck stepped forward. "The hospital lab tech already confessed. He admitted to taking a bribe and altering the test results. He's being dealt with by the hospital. She—she came to me too, but I refused. She threatened me, so I went along with the lab's report and gave my diagnosis accordingly."

"Nanette," Gareth's voice shook, "you made me give Elara medication, made me risk everything—break the law—for you. Was it all a lie?"

Nanette, pale as a sheet, scrambled out of bed, grabbed his hand and dropped to her knees.

"I'm sorry, darling. It was me. I did it all. I lied to you and to our daughter, but I had no other choice…"

Elara, listening, knit her brows in silent dismay.