Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Alexander let out a long, weary sigh; he was utterly confounded at the storm of emotion and sensation whirling around him. The room was filled to the point of near-suffocation with tension and familiarity. He sat, stock-still, feeling that he was being pulled under by some

fathomless current, down into the darkness he had striven so desperately to rise above.

Smell hit him first: that faint, unmistakable cologne wafting ghostly and intoxicating through the room. It was a smell he hadn't encountered in years, and yet the instant he caught a whill, something visceral and primal flared within him. His heart thundered painfully, and he let out a low, involuntary grow-a sound full of longing and frustration. He'd never imagined he'd miss that scent, miss her, so deeply. And yet, the yearning was undeniable.

And then, as if the room itself had a hand in conspiring against him, she spoke. Her voice, like a viper, slithered into his ears, a sound he'd tried to despise, tried to erase from his mind a thousand times, but it seemed it was etched there permanently- a scar that refused to fade. He fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat, his fists clenched as he strained to focus, yet with every word she uttered, memories he wasn't ready to battle surfaced. Anger ached through him, mixed with unquenchable curiosity-a need to expose the truth buried beneath the polish of her words. She was hiding something; he could feel it behind each guarded response, each slight hesitation.

And then she almost slipped. When he'd asked her that question-so innocent, so probing-she'd faltered, almost letting slip something about him, something private, something only she'd know. That sealed the deal, finally. A red-hot conviction surged through him; whoever this girl was, she wasn't just this nameless CEO she made herself out to be. She kept secrets, harbored memories, and for reasons he couldn't fathom, something in every cell of his body insisted that he find those out. But her voice, that tone-it taunted him. And as they continued talking, his mind began to wander, attacked by glimpses of Emma, by memories he had worked so hard to push into the darkest recesses of his mind. He could almost see her face, the way she'd laughed, the way she'd looked at him before it all broke. His fists clenched further, the knuckles white from the force of his grip as he fought to push Emma back into the past, where she belonged. But every word this woman spoke pulled her closer, making her harder and harder to keep at bay.

His mind snapped to the present the moment she uttered the words, "Mr. Black. The inflection of his name from her mouth-omonotonous, it was just like Emma used to say it, her voice laced with that damned combination of bitterness and defiance. His patience broke, snapping in two. He just couldn't take it any longer.

In one sudden, careless moment, Alexander shot to his feet, heart racing, as he stormed toward the door. Protocol and rules and agreements meant little. He had to know who this woman was. He chose to ignore the warnings buzzing in his head and yanked at the door handle, but it refused to budge. Locked.

From inside, he watched her rise, her silhouette sharp and poised as she turned toward him. Her voice sliced through the air, oozing disdain. "What do you think you're doing? People were right about you-impulsive, reckless. I'm leaving. This meeting is over, and W2 Holdings will reconsider any dealings with Blackthorn Holdings. Good night."

Her words left him fuming, helpless fury coursing through his veins as he just stood there, shocked. He had blown it completely, taken a whole deal and thrown it away in an instant driven by something he could hardly explain even to himself. His frustration overflows, and his fist slams against the door. Yet, when she was gone, a thought suddenly lit up-a last glimmer of hope.

He ran down the stairs, racing into the car park, hoping against hope to catch a glimpse of her, to finally see her face. By the time he reached there, she was well gone-and-speeding her way out of his sight into a modest car that had nothing on the sophistication of her presence. Full of regret, he could only stand and watch, cursing his Tuck under his breath as she disappeared into the night.

He clamped his jaws shut in a mix of regret and resolve, stalking back to his car. As soon as he climbed inside, he barked at Kevin, I want the hames of everybody who entered the country in the past week. Every single one. By land, air, and sen

turned to him alarmingly. "Sir, why? Has

growled. "But

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Tue, Dec Chapter 41

reading the agency

a minute. Whoever she was, she held the key

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having paid the restaurant staff that extra fee for locking the door, Alexander would have been onto her identity in a heartbeat. She let out a shaky sigh, her mind replaying the scene in vivid detail-the way she'd bolted toward her car, knowing full well he was right behind her, chasing her down with that

her shoes as she looked around. The dim lights of the quiet home were balm, and the babysitter waved hi, slipping out with a quick smile. Her kids were already sound asleep, peaceful, oblivious to the tension that had just

peered in on them, their small bodies curled up under the blankets. Because of Alexander, she mused with a hint of relief and defiance, I will never have to deal with him again. She'd taken advantage of the opportunity to dissolve the business arrangement between their companies, thus severing

in its place an assured calmness. She was here for them, and nothing-least of all Alexander-would get in the way of that. She would stay in the city long enough for Emily recover her health, and then they would be free to go, free to begin anew, somewhere far from the ghosts of a past

soft, regular breathing like a lullaby soothing around her. It was their presence wrapped around her, balm to an ache in her heart. For the first time in ages, Emma felt at peace. With her children close, she finally slept, their gentle heat giving her some of the strength

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contain secrets of one's lifetime in it. Both of them had never seen such a huge

requested last

frustration and exhaustion that seemed to build up inside. He had not slept a single wink, the mystery of last night chewinght him, the endless what-ifs that would not let him rest, leaving him sour and bitter. He wanted confirmation, a sign that his instincts were

was pressing in, and

He couldn't help but think of Alexander's behavior following the meeting-the fidgeting, the urge to compile this highly detailed report. Alexander was normally stoic, stone-faced, but this-this was