Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 77

"Good evening, Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, and dear friends," she began with a firm tone, but her voice quivered due to the tension in the air. "It is an honor and privilege to stand before you tonight to see so many familiar and beautiful faces gathered here, for those of you who know me, I am deeply grateful for your support and encouragement. And for those of you who may not know me, let me formally introduce myself?

The room held its breath as she paused, letting the weight of her words sink in. "My name is Emma Black, and I am proud to be the CEO of W2 HOLDINGS.

Gasps rippled through the crowd, but Emma pressed on, her voice growing stronger. "This position is not just a title to me; it epitomizes four years of commitment, persistence, and an unrelenting passion for building an organization that esteems. integrity, innovation, and excellence. It has not been easy getting to this stage. Tonight, as I stand before you, I am grateful for every challenge, every lesson, and every opportunity that has brought me to this point."

She looked at Alexander, whose surprise was receding now, replaced by wariness. Of all things, she could feel a spark of gratitude toward him. Without his betrayal, without the divorce, she might have never started on this track. She might have never found her birth mother.

"But tonight's revelation goes well beyond business, Emma proudly rang on, clear-voiced. "It's also one of rediscovery-of finding the pieces that have been missing all these years. Most of you know Mrs. Elizabeth Walker, a woman with unparalleled strength and character. There's just one thing, though: what you might not know is how exactly this binds us as a familial

She paused again; her throat was beginning to tighten, emotion welling up and threatening to spill over. She swallowed hard and finally declared, "I am Mrs. Elizabeth Walker's long-lost twin daughter.

The silence that followed was absolute, as if the air had been sucked out of the room. She let the moment stretch, her eyes meeting the stunned gazes around her. Her voice fell, but did not lose its conviction as she proceeded. This will be quite surprising to many; it certainly was a surprise to me. What separated us- that is a story in itself, of pain, grit, and hope, fate - seems to weave threads at times through ways very unpredictable, and brought us back again, when I least expected.

only embrace this truth but celebrate it, for it has filled a void I didn't even realize was so

to Annie, whose pale, shocked face gave Emma a ripple of satisfaction. Her voice turned sharp as she said, "Being related to a person as remarkable as Mrs. Walker is not

silence or openly, I offer my deepest gratitude. To those who have doubted, insulted, or dismissed me, I thank you too, for it is through challenges and skepticism that I have found my strength. Tonight is not only a

you for this opportunity. I look forward to many more chances to y

work

the hall. Even those who had sneered at her minutes ago were now on their feet. clapping and cheering as if their earlier disdain had been erased. Emma took a deep breath, allowing herself a

her table, Brandon stood, enveloping her in a tight hug. "I'm so proud of you, Emma," he said, his

she murmured. her smile warm

hugs had only just died away when the peace at Alexander's table was ruptured by sudden activity. Emina turned to witness Antar splayed onto the floor in tune,

12

Dec Chapter

av Alexander carried Annie out of the room. Emma's heart

beat of her heart rattling with a mix of trepidation and hope. It had been a night of monumental proportions, and the thought of what the world was thinking

feed. Social media influencer journalists, and even some of the staunch business critics lauded her reveal as