Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 31

Marina blinked, confusion overtaking her fury. "What are you trying to say? Get to the point, Derek

He took a deep breath, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully "I'm saying maybe there's more to this story than we realized, Maybe your aunt wasn't just playing favorites. Maybe there's something we missed."

Marina took a step back, her thoughts spiraling. She wanted to deny it

She wanted to reject the ridiculous notion Derek was hinting at, but something stopped her. She stared at him, dread creeping over her face as the words sank in. "Are you saying..?" Her voice trailed off as she shook her head, biting down on her finger as doubt clouded her mind. "No, that's impossible. I would have known. Someone would have told me... right?"

But her voice was unsteady, filled with a fear she couldn't shake. Her hands trembled as she fumbled for her phone. She dialed a number, her mind racing with questions and a terror that clawed at her insides. She couldn't let this go, not without knowing every last detail "Get me everything you can find about Emma Black she ordered, her voice steel. "I want every piece of information there is. Now!

Marina watched from across the street, her gaze filled with a hatred that simmered and burned as she observed Emma gently helping her two young children into their car seats. They had just come out of the preschool and Emma's face glowed with a warmth that made Marina's stomach turn. The file in her hand felt heavy, her fingers clenching it so tightly that the edges dug painfully into her palm. Last night she had finally received the information she had been waiting for, along with the results of the DNA test she had conducted illegally. The report was irrefutable, Emma was, in fact, Mrs. Walker's daughter.

gritting in defiance. None of it mattered. To her, Emma would always be an outsider... a usurper who had come to steal what was rightfully hers. She

The same way

had dealt with

as Mrs. Walker's sole heir, the only way she could keep the fortune

his hands on it is through the fool seated next to him. He has never loved Marina but was with her for her money and the power she could hand over

AMA

moments they had now, Mrs. Walker doted on Emma's children showering them with affection and gifts, and they adored her in return, reveling in the warmth of a grandmother's love they'd never known before. Emma's heart swelled each time she saw them together a piece of her finally feeling whole. Her 28th birthday was coming up soon,

number of times she'd rushed her to the hospital, her hands shaking as she watched the doctors fight to stabilize her mother. Each episode filled her with a dread she could hardly bear,

had been particularly rough, Mrs. Walker had another heart attack that left her weak and struggling for breath, her hand gripping Emma's as if afraid to let go. They'd stayed at the hospital overnight, Emina never leaving her side, her children curled up asleep

was

a matter

hold back. She clutched Mrs. Walker's hand tighter silently promising to make the most of whatever time they had left. The pain in her mother's eyes was unbearable, but there was also love, a deep warmth that reminded