Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 56

"What happened to my son?" Emma asked, her voice hoarse from panic and anger.

"Ma'am, your son has been involved in an accident. We're taking him to the hospital now."

Her hands were trembling as she held onto her phone. "What happened to him? Where are you now?"

"A truck crashed into the daycare building. The driver has been apprehended, and we're heading for the nearest hospital.

A sob broke loose, and tears ran down her face. Her hand clutched at her chest as the weight of fear leaned on her, eyes darting to the hospital doors. Emily was still inside, and she couldn't just leave her to herself. She had to protect both of her children, somehow, without neglecting either one of them. Her bind began to race, looking for a plan as she ran back inside, features hardening in determination.

She didn't waste another second on the line, dialing the head of her security team. "I want every one of you at the hospital immediately. I need maximum protection, and any suspicious movement or packages are to be brought to my attention at once."

"Yes, ma'am," he promptly replied.

Hanging up, she dialed back in to the man who'd broken the terrifying news, "Which hospital are you taking him to?"

It's

said, a desperate prayer escaping her lips as she begged for her son's safety. She couldn't bear losing either of

was then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Annie standing across the lobby, laughing and chatting with a group of people as though she hadn't a care in the world. Annie's words, which were so chilling during their last encounter, suddenly of bile into Emma's throat. Annie had warned her to leave, threatened her even, and

from onlookers around them. Annie looked up at her with feigned innocence,

have dared cross,

replied, blinking up at her,

my son's daycare. Convenient, isn't it?"

shook her head in feigned confusion, "I don't understand

to take-in. It was a grotesque mockery that furthered her rage. She lifted her hand and slapped Annie in the face. The contact reverberated around the lobby as Annie stepped back, reaching to cup her cheek while tears welled

1/2

Chapter 56

minutes later, she was horrified when she watched the hospital staff wheel her son Ethan through the emergency doors. He lay unconscious, his tiny body frighteningly still. Em's heart seized as she sprinted to pace the gurney, a spiral of fear and

way

stood at the entrance to the

universe for mercy on her son. Her heart was racing while she prayed that Ethan might just survive the horrific attack and silently vowed that if he did, she would fight back with everything she had. This was beyond anything she'd faced so far, Annie had crossed lines in the past that Emma had tried desperately to overlook, but this, targeting innocent children for reasons of jealousy and spite, was unforgivable. Her son's life, among other children, had been put in danger, simply because of Annie's need