To Love a Shadow To Be the Sun novel Chapter 332

Still, if his death could serve the Vincent family in some way, maybe that was enough.

Gareth forced out the words, his voice trembling. “Brian, I’ve spent my whole life backing the wrong horses. But I never thought I was mediocre. You all look down on me, but Nanette Winters… she was the only one who ever took me seriously. The only one who made me feel like I mattered.”

Felice, who was unharmed, had wanted to see her son one last time, but after hearing these words, she stopped in her tracks.

Gareth’s lips were drained of color. He took a couple of ragged breaths before continuing. “I don’t have any favors to ask of you. But since you’re divorced now, marry Lina. Treat her well, for the rest of your life. That’s all I want. You have to promise me.”

Brian scoffed coldly. “So because I’m the Vincent heir, I’m supposed to cover up your disgraceful messes? I’m expected to clean up after your one-night stands, to protect the family name at the cost of my own marriage—even my own child? And what about you, Gareth? You plotted against me with Ellis, and then tried to force me to take in the woman you attacked. Do you even deserve to be called a father?”

Gareth felt icy cold seep into his bones. He couldn’t utter a word.

Brian’s tone turned even sharper. “Since you’re down to your last breath, let’s just end this father-son relationship right here.”

He turned away, refusing to look at Gareth again.

Felice’s heart was torn between anger and heartbreak.

“The son you did everything for ended up being your undoing. Now, with no one else left, you’re trying to cling to the only child who ever endured all your burdens—and for what? What kind of creature did I bring into this world? Gareth, you’re neither man nor ghost. You don’t deserve to be called a father…”

Felice’s harsh words echoed through the room as Gareth exhaled for the last time, unable to draw breath again. His body fell completely still.

Elara had no idea how long she’d been unconscious. When she finally woke, she found herself in the back of a battered, foul-smelling van.

The van rattled along a rough, winding mountain road.

Her senses snapped back quickly. Her wrists and ankles were bound, leaving her unable to move.

She glanced around. Besides her, only Neely was in the van.

“Where are we going?” she managed to sit up, her voice rough.

Neely glanced at her in the rearview mirror but didn’t answer.

“You’re on the run, aren’t you? Your boss Ellis must’ve abandoned you, so now you’re hiding out in these woods. Look, if you let me go, maybe I can help get you a lighter sentence. Or, if you’d prefer sharing a cell with Ellis, I can pull some strings…”

The villager warned that a heavy rain was coming, and crossing the river tonight would be too dangerous.

But Neely was adamant—someone was chasing him, and he had to get across the border before dawn.

Elara’s heart plummeted. He was planning to smuggle her out of the country.

Night was already falling. Judging by their conversation, anyone hoping to rescue her tonight probably wouldn’t make it in time.

She racked her brain, trying to think of a way to stall for time. Just then, the local man turned, scooped a ladle of water from a rain barrel, and walked over to her.

He peeled the duct tape from her mouth and held the ladle out.

Was he offering her a drink?

Elara’s throat was parched, but as she accepted the ladle with her bound hands, she caught sight of three tiny words scrawled inside with pencil: “Don’t drink it.”