Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter

83

His phone buzzed, jerking him out of his reverie. Emma's name danced across the screen. She called once, then again, and again

Jaden stared at the phone, his emotions a tangle of anger, regret, and something he couldn't quite name. But he didn't answer. He couldn't.

When the ringing finally ceased, leaving only an unsaid silence in its place, Jaden put down the phone and leaned backward, closing his eyes. Emma shook his world to the foundation, and he was still not ready to confront that fact-or himself. Not

now

A couple of minutes later, Jaden's phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen-it was his mother calling. He let out

resigned sigh before answering, already knowing the purpose of her call.

Jaden, darling. Good evening. Where are you? We're all here waiting for you," her warm, familiar voice filled the silence in

his room

"Tam not coming Jaden said quietly. Why should he lie, most especially to her? She was his mother, who had been the only one by his side through the high and the low of times.

softly with a soothing voice that pleaded with him. I made

flatly, knowing what her answer

to make peace for so long, but the break between Jaden and his oldest brother, Jake Fernando,

the Fernando family, but he had never gotten along well with Jake. Jake was the eldest and the apparent heir, who had always felt threatened by Jaden's intelligence and magnetic

see your face," his mother said softly, her

his eyes. "All right,

him at fresh dose of dread-the reminder of just how much he detested these family

at the moment he entered. His father's smile that had

father inquired.

exactly what you told me to do last night, Dad, Jaden replied nonchalantly, completely disregarding the tension in the room. "I dropped her like you

rose in anger. I'm sure

to be. I'll leave right now. He turned

her later. Juand cat she implored,

be guided back to the table. He sat down, feeling the weight of five pairs of

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Chapter 83

other brothers, loyal to Jake, had always kept their distance from Jaden, preferring to align themselves with the family's golden child.

between bites louder than any words. His father occasionally cast disapproving glances in his direction, while Jake wore a smug smirk as if relishing the tension. Jaden ate in silence,

oppressive atmosphere. Just as he reached for the ignition, a shadow fell beside his window. He looked up to see Jake standing beside his car, his face