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

off into the night, and left Emma standing on the

watched as the tail lights of Jaden's car disappeared into the darkness. Her heart pained at his reaction, the cold in his eyes haunting her. She hadn't meant

Jaden had stepped outside to take a call. His father was on the other end, his voice low and rumbling in anger. "You need to drop that girl, Jaden!" his father growled. "She's nothing but trouble, a magnet for bad luck. Do you wait

is my girlfriend, Dad. And one day,

a wife, someone who will

"You don't ger to decide who I love.

up, and

volatile cocktail. It wouldn't be taken back-he couldn't regret 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

of the alcohol trrored the bitterness in his chest.

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Chapter 78

ambulance lights flashing above her. The vehicle was speeding, the wailing siren a faint echo in her disoriented mind. She blinked hard, her vision blurring as paramedics leaned over her,

am I she croaked, her voice hoarse

our way to

furrowed 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 confidently down the podium. The memory made Annie's

the sting of pain. "No! This

a paramedic was at her side, trying to restrain her his hands firm yet gentle as he pressed her back onto the stretcher. "Ma'am, please relax.