To Love a Shadow To Be the Sun novel Chapter 76

Elara wrinkled her nose at the sharp scent of rubbing alcohol and pushed Summer's hand away, clearly annoyed.

"It reeks. I'm not putting that on me."

"Then don't complain when it hurts," Summer shot back, a little huffy as she stashed the bottle away.

"We had our DNA taken at Mercy General, right? Did they upload the data yet?" Elara asked, changing the subject.

Summer thought for a moment. "I'm sure they did."

Elara fell silent.

Summer understood—she was worried that there had been no progress in finding her birth family.

"Just give it a little more time, okay? It's not even been a week yet. Maybe they just haven't seen it."

There was nothing more they could do right now except wait.

Remembering what she needed to do, Elara gritted her teeth and pushed herself off the sofa. "I've got something to take care of. Heading out early."

Summer craned her neck after her. "Where are you off to this time?"

Elara didn't answer.

Summer called after her, "If your husband comes asking, should I say you're out on a date?"

"Go ahead."

Elara strode away without looking back.

Summer stared after her, scandalized. "Girl, are you really about to have an affair?"

…

An hour later, at the neighborhood animal rescue center.

Dressed in casual clothes and a bucket hat, Elara crouched in the corner, gently feeding a ginger cat that had just had a leg amputated.

Chuck stepped in, surprised to see her. "Mrs. Vincent…"

"Call me Miss Jules. I'd prefer that," Elara replied without looking up.

"Dr. Chamberlain, you rescue stray cats too? What a coincidence."

He hesitated, then added, "I'll go with you, just in case anyone actually questions you. I'll vouch for you."

They handed the ginger cat over to a volunteer and left together.

At the mall, Elara picked out a simple white dress and changed. When she came back out, she found Chuck at the pet store window, playing with a litter of kittens, his expression relaxed in the warm glow of the lights.

"Dr. Chamberlain, you really like cats, don't you?" she asked, walking up beside him.

Chuck pulled his hand away, looking a little sheepish. "Yeah. They're easier than people."

Elara nodded thoughtfully. "True. At least cats never make you do things you don't want to."

Chuck's gaze drifted to her, suddenly caught off guard. The new white dress shimmered under the mall lights, soft and luminous, making her look almost ethereal.

Realizing he was staring, Chuck blushed and turned away, but Elara pointed to a restaurant just outside. "It's dinnertime. Why don't we eat before we leave?"

Chuck hesitated, then nodded.

Over dinner, the conversation turned to cats again, and Chuck relaxed, talking animatedly. Elara rested her chin on her hand, listening, a genuine smile lighting up her face for the first time in days.

Outside the restaurant, Brian stood watching them, his gaze cold and unblinking.