Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 70

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Pulling himself free, his hand gripped the length of his throbbing desire. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back, the image of Emma flooding his mind. Her smile, her laugh, the way she moved-it all played on an endless loop in his head.

His hand moved rhythmically, seeking relief from the torment, but it wasn't enough. No matter how much he tried, the pleasure was hollow, a poor substitute for what he truly craved.

He wanted her. Needed her. No one else could make him feel whole-no one else could

d fill the void she had left behind.

Just as he was beginning to lose himself in the sensation, the shrill ring of his office phone jolted him back to reality.

"Damn it," he hissed, cursing under his breath as he reached for the phone, his frustration reaching a boiling point,

He answered with a terse, "What?" his voice rough and uneven, bis emotions barely contained.

"Sir, it's Kevin," came the steady reply. "I've got the details on the man you asked about

Alexander straightened, his breathing still heavy. He tucked himself away, composing himself as best as he could. "Il call you back." he said curtly before slamming the receiver down.

by a fire she could

Emma, his gaze lingering, soft, filled with something Annie hadn't seen directed at her in a long time, if ever. It was maddening. The humiliation of it all churned in her gut, the memory of how even the store staff had seemed to

had wielded tears as a weapon for years, a means to pull Alexander back into her orbit whenever she felt him drifting. Now, her usual tricks seemed useless. He hadn't even spared her a glance, let alone the

as she grabbed

fleeting, the shards glittering on the floor like the pieces of her crumbling facade. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as

was a warning. A message that she could no longer ignore. Emma was a threat-no, more than a threat. She was the embodiment of everything Annie had fought so hard to keep. Alexander was hers. He always had been, and she

ringtone grated against her frayed nerves.

she snapped, her

sinister voice replied, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. "At last, you've decided to pick up my call." Her heart skipped a beat as she pulled the phone away to check the screen. The name glowing on the display made her blood boil even more. She clenched her jaw, wishing she'd ignored the call altogether. "What the hell do you want? Annie growled, masking the unease that pricked at her insides. She wouldn't give

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Chapter 70

tone mocking. "Our business isn't over until I say it

П

though the sound came out more strained than he intended. "I paid you what we agreed on. Whatever yout think you're owed, you're

man said slowly, the menace in his voice chilling. But a woman came to see

on the phone tightening. "What woman?" she

grin evident in