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.

the apartment, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. Her face was twisted with rage, her eyes. blazing as though fueled by a fire she could no longer

the way Alexander looked at 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

the effort. Annie was not one to cry; she hated the vulnerability it exposed. But she 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 comfort

as she grabbed a wine

floor like the pieces of her crumbling facade. She clenched

in the store wasn't just an insult; it 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

The shrill ringtone grated against her frayed nerves. Snatching the

snapped, her voice sharp

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

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Chapter 70

hasty," the man replied, his tone mocking. "Our business

П

the sound came out more strained than he intended. "I paid you what we agreed on. Whatever

the man said slowly, the menace in his voice chilling. But a woman came to see me a few days ago. She's offering ten times what you

on the phone tightening. "What woman?" she demanded, her voice trembling despite her efforts to

he said, a grin evident in