Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

COMMENT 1715

Chapter 30

As the weight of these revelations bore down on her, Emma wondered what her life might have been like if she had grown up with her true family. She thought about the fateful day she had met Mrs. Walker. Perhaps this was all part of God's mysterious plan, leading her back to where she truly belonged.

Her thoughts were interrupted as Mrs. Walker's door slowly creaked open and the older woman stepped into the room. Emma rose to her feet, her eyes swollen from crying. She took tentative steps toward Mrs. Walker, her voice breaking as she whispered, "Mother..." The word hung in the air, filled with years of longing and heartbreak

Mrs. Walker's own tears fell freely as she opened her arms. "I'm so sorry for not recognizing you sooner, my daughter. Forgive me"

Emma shook her head, pulling her mother into a tight embrace. "You're not the one to blame, Mother" she whispered through her tears. They held each other close, feeling the years of separation melt away in the warmth of their embrace.

Time seemed to stand still as they stood there, bound together by shared grief, love and the bittersweet reunion they never could have anticipated. Emma wished she could have come sooner, just to have had one moment, even a second, with Diana

AAA

Presently.

with tension as he forced himself to breathe slowly, trying to keep his voice steady despite the simmering rage beneath his calm exterior. He was still at the office, surrounded by sharp-eyed colleagues, so he had to keep his tone low and measured, though every word seemed to seethe with barely

got a problem," he growled into the phone,

face was taut with worry. She knew Derek well enough to recognize that he never lost his temper without good reason. For him to summon her home like this, something had to have gone terribly wrong. The moment she stepped

happened?" she

a moment to gather his thoughts, struggling to keep his voice from rising. "Your aunt... she changed her

relieved. "Oh, is that all? I don't see why that's a

head slowly. "We underestimated Emma," he said in a low growl, barely containing his anger. He stood up suddenly, his face shadowed by an anger Marina had rarely seen before. "Your dear aunt decided to leave eighty percent of her fortune to that good for

Marina like a blow. She staggered back, feeling sick, twisting dread in her stomach. Her mind spun, scrambling to make sense of what Derek had just said. Veronica Eighty percent? How could

barely a breath. Her body trembled as the shock set in, her hands rising unconsciously to her mouth as tears began to slip down

hard, his fists clenched at his sides. Believe it, Marina. She left nearly everything to Veronica. Everything

head, desperately clinging to disbelief. Her chest tightened, and her throat felt raw, a mixture of betrayal and desperation clawing at her insides. This was

1/2

Tue, Dec

Chapter 30

it wasn't enough. She turned, her vision blurred with tears, and stormed toward the television With one swift motion, she grabbed the edge and flung it to the ground, watching it crack and splinter into pieces, sparks briefly flickering from the broken screen. Yet, her heart still throbbed painfully, twisted and hollow with betrayal and loss. Nething she