Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 84

Alexander sat at his desk, the article staring back at him from the screen of his tablet. His jaw clenched, and his fists ineluctably curled into balls as he reread the headline: "Alexander Blackthorn and Annie Expecting Their First Child!" The words swirled in his mind, taunting him. He had not expected Annie's announcement, let alone the speed at which it would spread like wildfire. Within hours, it was an unstoppable ringing of telephones, from relatives, colleagues, and even the press inquiring and congratulating But deep down, this happiness he should feel was far beyond his reach, just a murmur of an echo. It was like the congratulatory words all flowed in and just dug a well in his stomach. Shouldn't he be happy? A baby was supposed to be a blessing, and yet all Alexander could feel was his chest tight with unbearable constriction.

The drive home was a blur; his mind was racing, flitting between confusion and frustration. By the time he got home, he was hanging on by a thread. He burst through the front door; the sound of his footsteps ominously echoed through the house. Annie lay on the couch, her smile wide and bright, lapping up the attention the news had brought her.

What gave you the right to tell the world about the pregnancy without coming to me first?" Alexander asked without preamble. "Were you even planning on coming to me, or was this just your decision to make?"

Annie's face froze. Her eyes welling up with tears, she leapt up as if clutching her tummy would protect the baby from the blow of his words. "How can you say that, Alex? How could you even think I would keep my baby from the world? Don't you understand? This is joyous news!" Her voice finally cracked with emotion as the dam finally broke, sending streams cascading down her cheeks. "I thought you'd be happy. I thought we'd be happy. Don't tell me." Her voice dropped to a whisper, shaking with accusation

"Don't tell me you're having second thoughts about our baby."

Alexander stood rigid, her words lashing against him like a tempest. He said nothing. Instead, he spun on his heel and made for the bedroom in long strides without so much as a backward ance. Behind him, Annie's sobs began to ring out, but he slammed the door shut, blotting out her cries.

Once inside, the room's walls tended to move in on him. What used to be known as his home was both claustrophobic and suffocating. As of late, everything in life seemed out of control, and decisions weighed larger and stronger on his shoulder bones.

clasping his face between his palms. Alexander hadn't been sleeping for days now, ever since that night. Whenever he shut his eyes, Emma's face loomed before him-her shining smile, her gait full of confidence as she strutted up to the podium as the enigmatic CEO of W2 Holding. The image tormented him with what

was a memory that came unsolicited: the moment their eyes met across the room that night, the slight trembling of her lips before she turned away. She had seemed untouchable, invincible, yet her presence stirred something

in his

if to try and drown emotions clawing at him. He leaned back in his chair, looking blankly up to the ceiling. His mind roamed back to Emma, how she had looked at him

hard tightened on the bottle as his emotions wrestled with each other-guilt, regret, longing. He had everything he was supposed to want: Annie, a

intermittent sound of Annie.... getting restless

soft morning light bathed the office, Alexander slumped in his chair, having forgotten the

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the alcohol, but so different was the ache in his chest. He looked down at his phone- dozens of messages lighting up the screen from well-wishers. There was only one that would