To Love a Shadow To Be the Sun novel Chapter 187

Elara drifted back to consciousness, her mind still foggy. Rubbing her temples, she forced her eyes to focus on her phone screen, just in time to see the latest trending headline explode across social media:

**#Vincent & Co. Tarnished! Billionaire CEO's Wife Caught in Secret Rendezvous With Heir to Rival Conglomerate—Photos Leaked#**

Her pupils contracted sharply.

Two photos.

In one, Elara was holding the man's hand, their foreheads pressed together, both staring intently at his palm. The blurred background revealed a hospital room.

The other showed last night—outside a bar. Elara was leaning into the man's arms.

Both shots had been snapped at just the right moment and angle to make the pair look impossibly intimate.

But faces were kept deliberately out of focus—especially Ryan's. Even someone who knew him well would have to squint to be sure.

Clearly, the person behind these leaks had no intention of crossing the Lawrence family.

"Who's trying to mess with you this time?" Summer asked, peering over.

Elara thought of Nanette's recent little drama and let out a cold laugh. "Some people just can't help themselves, even with one foot in the grave."

Summer caught on instantly. "So, what now? Want me to call someone and have the post taken down?"

"I'm still Mrs. Vincent for now. There are people a lot more anxious than you."

Summer hit refresh.

Sure enough, the trending topic had vanished.

But almost immediately, a new one took its place:

**#More Than Just Lunch? CEO's Wife and Young Tycoon Spotted Alone in Private Booth—Eyewitness Report#**

"This is ridiculous!" Summer shot to her feet in frustration.

Elara looked over the new photos.

It was from the day she and Ryan had lunch together.

How good was Nanette at tracking people, anyway?

One more refresh, and even that post had disappeared.

Now, you couldn't even search for it.

Just then, Ryan called.

"That last photo was taken by someone passing the private room that day. I asked the restaurant manager for security footage, but it's already been wiped."

"You had your suspicions at the time—why didn't you warn me?" Elara asked.

Ryan sounded frustrated. "I thought the guy might be Jason's informant, but then Jason called and didn't seem to know we were together, so I dropped it. Elara, I'm worried someone who knows me well might still recognize us from those pictures."

Elara understood what he was getting at.

But her grandfather didn't use the internet, and Rose only watched soap operas on her phone—chances were, neither had seen the trending posts.

"Then do it."

—

Elara tried calling Jason, but he didn't pick up.

She went to Blackstar Technologies, but the receptionist refused to announce her.

She got the message loud and clear—he was punishing her.

So she stepped aside and called Summer.

"Tell Manager Chamberlain that Blackstar Technologies is out—they're cut after the first round."

Barely five minutes later, Jason called.

"Miss Jules, eager to get your divorce over with? Angry I haven't made a move yet?"

Elara lounged on the café sofa, sunlight filtering through the glass roof, casting dappled patterns across her dress. She swirled her coffee lazily. "I'm next door to your office, at the café."

A few minutes later, Jason came in. Without a word, he circled the table and sat down across from her.

A subtle scent of sea salt and mint drifted over to Elara—a cologne popular with plenty of men, but on Jason, it seemed to take on something unique.

"Why are you staring at me?" Jason asked, a hint of curiosity in his tone.

Elara's smile didn't quite reach her eyes. "You're handsome, no doubt. Pity about your heart, though."