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

Emma standing on the curb-the soft glow of streetlights stretching out long shadows

front of her apartment and 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 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 not

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 her ruining your reputation? Our

phone, anger flaring. "Emma is my girlfriend, Dad. And one day, I intend

father had scoffed. I've already found you a wife, someone who will bring strength to our family name,

steadfast loyalty to Emma never really called into question. "You don't ger to decide who I love. The line had still been throbbing in his ears

up, and

while driving through city streets, the conversation replayed before his mind, anger mixing into a volatile cocktail. It wouldn't be taken back-he couldn't regret the defense given to Emma against his father-but he couldn't

trrored the bitterness in his

111

21.18 Tue Dec 17

Chapter 78

eyes fluttered open to the sterile glow of ambulance lights flashing above her. The vehicle was speeding, the wailing siren a faint

croaked, her

way to the nearest hospital," one

feet, clapping stiffly for that insufferable, manipulative Emma. It had been for the cameras, nothing more than a forced gesture to

ignoring the sting of pain. "No! This can't be happening!" she

side, trying to restrain her his hands firm yet gentle as he pressed her back onto the stretcher. "Ma'am,