Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 47

Annie stood in a daze, watching the door close behind Emma, the whole scene seemingly like a nightmare come to lit thought of Emma here, so close to Alexander, so in his life, turned a twist in her stomach. Angry thoughts raced throu head, with her heartbeat running wildly while she tried to process exactly what she was seeing. It couldn't be. She shoc head as she thought. Emma was supposed to be out of their lives for good.

She tried to control her anger with a sudden intake of breath, and stepped forward. She needed to have some answers. she needed to have them now.

"What is she doing here, Alex? Annie took a step closer, her voice low and shaking with accusation and fear.

Alexander's face clouded as he turned to her; his words were cold, warning. "I don't owe you an explanation, Annie. Go home. You have no business being here, and you know it," he snapped.

The instructionfrom Alexander and his sister Vivian had been loud and clear over the years: Annie was not allowed in t hospital. Their mother, suffering from dementia for the past four years, had become unsettled on more than one occasi by Annie's presence, and they didn't want to risk her getting upset again. But Annie suspected that there was more to it, especially now.

"Now I see, she spat, the volume of her tone escalating with each syllable. "This is why you did not want me here. You wanted freedom, freedom to sneak around your ex-wife like some cheap affair. I knew you could never be trusted, Alex! How dare you betray me like this?"

"Annie, enough, Alexander growled, his voice tight as he fought for control over his temper. "We will talk about this at home.

"Oh, I'm not going anywhere," Annie shot back, crossing her arms in a defensive manner. Her voice echoed shrilly downt quiet hospital hallway "I won't leave until you tell me what's really going on. Why is that woman here, in your office? I was worried about you, thinking you were unwell or overworked because you haven't been eating breakfast, and this is why?"

tide of frustration and shook his head. Without another word, he turned and strode out of his office, leaving her fuming. He needed air, something to get away from the now cloying weight of the hospital walls that threatened to close in on him with the scent of Emma still lingering on the air. He could still hear

Annie flung at him still rang in his ears, but most of all, his heart ached with the turmoil of

Emma turned round almost in slow motion, as if she had been expecting it; her face was composed but wary. She knew Annie wouldn't take seeing her here at al lightly, and she was well-prepared for whatever

carrying Emma's children seeped to enrage Annie even further. Her fists clenched, her body taut with barely restrained anger. She was livid, desperate to lash out at

unmistakable in her gaze. Eminu was a reminder of all she dreaded losing, and she

Annie's hand flew across her face in a loud ringing slap. Gasps echoed from plisersby, their eyes wide in shock as

raised her hand without a secol thought and slapped Auntie three times in a row.

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Tue, Dec

Chapter 47

and always ready to walk away from a conflict. This was not Emma at all; unflinching, fierce in her Th Emma was someone Annie

eyes.

composed, but cold. "He was mine long before you stepped in and stole him from me, Annie." face didn't project anything; on the inside, there was anger that bubbled beneath the surface. Annie's face colored with just a little embarrassment, but she was angrier. She moved in close to Emma, so close they we almost touching noses. "I won't let you take him away from

the point of you being here? Emma's expression did not change. "Why I'm here is none of your affair. But let me assure you, it has nothing

narrowed while her tone became a low