Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 81

The motion stopped, and the room was suddenly silent. Emma's knuckles whitened on the phone as she whispered, "Mom. Til call you back.

She hadn't even turned a step further when a loud, cheery "Surprise!" exploded from the kitchen.

Emma almost jumped out of her skin, clutching her chest as her twins, Emily and Ethan, burst into the room while Brandon followed them. Emily clutched a cake, wearing a very proud smile; Ethan was bouncing around beside her. "Oh my God, you scared the life out of me!" Emma exclaimed, bursting out laughing as her gaze shifted from her children to Brandon.

Brandon stepped forward, his eyes warm and sincere. "Congratulations, Emma. You've outdone yourself. I'm so proud of

your

Enuna's heart softened at his words, but suspicion flickered in her gaze. "Wait a minute. How did you get in here?" she asked. narrowing her eyes at Brandon.

Ethan piped up with a grin, "We let him in, Mom!"

but the thought of her children opening the door to someone without her knowledge sent a chill down her spine. She made a mental note to address this later. Brandon, not realizing her turmoil, began setting the table with the feast he had brought. The spread looked incredible, and as they sat down together, the tantalizing flavors only added to the joyous atmosphere. Emma savored the moment, her heart swelling with gratitude for the people around her. After breakfast, she sat back with her phone to check her messages, eager to see the world's reaction to

over the world. For once, the spotlight felt good, like a warm embrace rather than a blinding

then, her

Her chest tightened as she read

trembled as she clicked on

now culminating in this. Annie's pregnancy was a bombshell that threatened to override

fists up into balls and forced herself to take deep

her, she knew that she could

the comfort she was used to being enveloped in because of her sumptuous surroundings. The echoes of last night's revelation still ring through her head, filled with panic and disbelief. The words of Emma from the restroom confrontation replayed her mind, an endless melody that cut a little deeper with each reprise. Annie had taken them as empty threats then, but now, they felt

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more cunning than Annie had ever imagined. The realization hit Annie like a freight train: Emma wasn't

hoping it would take the edge off her frazzled nerves, did little to alleviate Annie's discomfort. Her chest tightened as she recalled the look in Emma's eyes last night: a mixture of confidence and