Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 78 537

She sighed, glancing at the city lights streaming past her window. The silence was unbearable. Finally, she turned to him, her voice soft and worried. "Is anything the problem?"

"Nothing, Jaden replied curtly, his voice chipped and low. His hands gripped the wheel tighter, his frustration palpable.

Emma frowned, her worry growing. "Jaden."

He sighed heavily but didn't look at her. "Emma, it's nothing. Just drop it."*

But it wasn't nothing, and Emma could feel the weight of his anger bearing down on her. She watched him in the dim light. the lines of his face hard and unforgiving.

Inside, Jaden's emotions churned in chaotic storm. He felt like a fool. No, worse-a pawn. The woman he cared for, the one he had defended and admired, had played him. Or at least, that's how it

tfelt

He had talked for a whole week about the CEO of W2 HOLDINGS. marveling at her power and her vision. And Emma had sat there, quiet, listened to him ramble on, never once giving a single hint. He wasn't upset about her success-far from it. He did admire her ambition. How could she keep such a monumental thing from him? Can't she have trusted him enough to tell him even minutes before everyone else!

His mind had been racing as he pulled up in front of her apartment building. He didn't help her out of the car, he didn't even look at her. His heart felt heavy, but his pride wouldn't let him act otherwise.

"Goodnight," Emma murmured hesitantly, but Jaden didn't reply

standing on the curb-the soft glow of streetlights stretching out

eyes haunting her. She hadn't meant to hurt him. She hadn't even considered he would be affected much less how. Tears prickled her eyes, but she blinked them away. Regret was

take a call. His father was on the other end, his voice low and rumbling in anger. "You need to drop that girl,

had clenched around his phone, anger flaring. "Emma is my

scoffed. I've already found you a wife, someone who will bring strength to our family name, not drag it through the

loyalty to Emma never really called into question. "You don't ger to decide who I

up, and

the defense given to Emma against his father-but he couldn't shake this sting pressed onto his silence Eventually, he pulled up to a bar, parking his car with a jerky motion.

of the alcohol trrored the bitterness in his chest. He had believed in Emma. fought for

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Chapter 78

the sterile glow of ambulance lights flashing above her. The vehicle was speeding, the wailing siren a faint echo in her disoriented mind. She blinked

I she croaked, her voice hoarse and tinged

ma'am. We're on our way to the nearest

as fragments of the night came rushing back to her. She remembered standing-rising to her feet, clapping stiffly for that insufferable, manipulative Emma. It had been for the cameras, nothing more than a forced gesture to maintain appearances. But then came the smile. That victorious, smug smile Emina had thrown her way as she strode

of pain. "No! This can't be happening!" she spat, her face twisting into a mask of

to restrain her his hands firm yet gentle as he pressed her back onto the