To Love a Shadow To Be the Sun novel Chapter 161

Lina weakly pulled off her oxygen mask, trying to say something, but Brian turned his back without a word and walked out of the hospital room.

At that moment, Mr. and Mrs. Gareth reached the doorway.

Nanette's eyes lit up when she saw Brian, her emotions barely contained.

"Brian, you finally made time to visit Lina. She heard Elara embarrassed you, so she ran out to look for you—and ended up getting hit by a car…"

Nanette broke down in tears, covering her face, but Brian remained stone-faced, his gaze fixed on Gareth.

"Was it you who arranged for her to be admitted here?"

Gareth's mouth twitched. "Lina's condition is very serious."

Brian's eyes darkened. "From now on, not a single cent of your family's medical bills goes on my account. That includes this time."

Nanette's sobs stopped abruptly.

Gareth seemed to stop breathing for a moment, as if someone had driven a scalpel straight into his heart.

This hospital stay alone had racked up thousands in unnecessary charges, and Nanette's illness was an endless pit. If Brian refused to pay, they'd have to shoulder the cost themselves.

"I'm your father, you—"

"You made your choices. Deal with the consequences yourself. Don't dump them on me."

Brian's words were ice cold as he walked away, not sparing a single word of concern for Lina.

"Darling, what's going on? Elara's nearly ruined him, and he still can't let go of that woman?"

Gareth's face darkened ominously, clouded by his son's words.

***

Mercy General Hospital, Intensive Care Unit.

Elara couldn't sleep—her mind was ragged with exhaustion, but she never drifted off.

No sooner had she been settled in than her eyes fluttered open again.

Charles checked the monitors and tried to reassure her. "You're safe here. Get some rest."

Elara's face was ghostly pale, and every word took effort. Even so, her lips trembled with a hatred that cut deep.

"You altered my records for him. You hid the truth about the emergency surgery—the abortion. Tell me, Dr. Calloway, do you sleep at night, knowing what you did to my child?"

Brian's jaw clenched. "This is none of your business."

Charles let out a derisive laugh. "Then why did you make me cover up the fact that she lost the baby because of your negligence?"

Brian pressed his lips together, silent. Charles drew a sharp breath, disgusted.

"Or did you know she was at risk, and let it happen on purpose?"

Brian didn't answer, only said, "I'll make it right. Everything she's suffered—I'll make it up to her."

Charles scoffed, as if he'd heard the punchline to some sick joke.

"That's the problem, Brian. You always think you can fix everything, so you never care how much you hurt her. Even if she survives every crisis, the scars will last a lifetime. When a heart shatters, you can scrape up every piece, but it'll never be the same again."

"I must've been out of my mind to go along with you."

With that, he walked away without a backward glance.

Inside the room, Summer gently brushed Elara's hair from her forehead.

"You did the right thing today—cutting him off for good. We'll figure out what comes next together. For now, you're still under observation, so rest up. I'll stay here with you."