Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 28

pulling the bottle away from her lips

Marina stormed into the wine cellar, fury burning in her eyes as she yanked a bottle of her favorite wine from the rack Without hesitation, she pressed it to her lips, taking desperate gulps straight from the bottle. She didn't hear Derek enter. but suddenly he was there, "Give that back! Give it back, Derek!" she shouted, her chest heaving, every word trembling with rage.

"Getting drunk isn't going to fix this, Marina" Derek replied, his voice steady, though concern flickered in his eyes.

Her gaze wavered, and tears pooled, spilling over as her voice cracked. "Derek, you know what I've done to get here. You know! And that bastard just shows up, trying to steal my place! The sacrifices I've made... the lines I've crossed. You remember what we had to do to get Diana out of the way, don't you? And now Veronica thinks she can just walk in and take my spot without a second thought? Everything I've fought for is slipping through my fingers!"

Derek's eyes darted around the room, tehse. "Keep it down, Marina. Someone might hear."

"I don't care!" she shouted, hot tears streaming down her cheeks None of it matters if I lose the only thing I care about!" Derek pulled her close, his embrace familiar but not reassuring They'd been together since university, partners in both lovi and ambition. She'd used her influence to secure him his law job at their company, and together, they had schemed and manipulated for years, laying the groundwork for their eventual rise to power. They hadn't hesitated to orchestrate Diana's death, staging it as a suicide when it looked like Mrs. Walker might not die in time. It had been their darkest secret

"We'll find a way." Derek murmured, running his hand down her back. "I'm here for you, Marina. Whatever you need, I'm yours." He pressed a soft kiss to her lips, his touch grounding her for a moment. "Come with me, baby

her hand. She'd tried everything else, this time, she'd do it the legal way. But as

a word, Mrs. Walker opened the file, her gaze skimming over the evidence Marina had gathered on Veronica Moore. She took her time, flipping through the pages, but when she looked up, her face was void of the reaction Marina had anticipated Marina felt her pulse quicken, and she couldn't hold back. "I've brought information about Veronica Moore," she began, her tone dripping with disdain. "She isn't who you think she is. Her real name is Emma Black. She was married to Alexander Black, the CEO of Blackthorn Holdings. Alexander divorced her two years ago, and whatever she did must have been scandalous enough for her to flee the country and change her name. Someone with

months, Marina. This is nothing new to me" Her

had known all along and had chosen to do nothing. The betrayal, the humiliation... it was suffocating. Her face burned, and her hands clenched into fists as she fought back a

behind her, hot tears stung her eyes, and she bit down on her lip hard enough to taste blood. Shame twisted in her gut, and she wished desperately

AAA

up to the preschool that afternoon, she found her thoughts lingering on Emma's past. Now that Marina knew, the secret Emma had kept hidden seemed ready to burst into the open. Mrs. Walker had done her own quiet investigation months ago, uncovering who Emma really was. She'd hoped Emma would confide in her

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her own once she felt secure. But as time went on, it seemed

the way Emma held the children, a fierce love that was hard to miss. Mrs. Walker had thought she'd lost everything, but fate had granted her a second

up, and she wriggled with excitement. Her voice was like a song to Mrs. Walker's ears, and she couldn't help but beam back, opening her arms to the child. "Hello, my darling Emily, Mrs. Walker cooed as she took her from Emma's arms, holding her close. Emily squealed again. resting her

"Mrs. Walker murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to Emily's forehead, he