Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 85

Her assistant promised to start searching as soon as possible. Till then Emma closed all the curtains so that even a small crack was not available for poking eyes. In her home, she acted very cautiously and she knew each step and every movement "catches other's attraction. While getting breakfast for her kids, she thought of Jaden. He hadn't called or messaged her since yesterday and had been avoiding her. The silence was a heavy weight on her, filling her chest with a sense of foreboding she couldn't shake off. Jaden had been her anchor in so many ways-a friend who stood by her when others had turned away. She cherished his presence in her life more than words could say, and she wouldn't bear losing him.

But deep inside, at that very moment, she knew she had made a mistake. She should have let him know in advance. Her reasons for not being able to do so included threats, leaks, and attempts at minimizing risks, but by not telling him, she had caused him further pain. She put the breakfast tray aside, reached for her phone, and typed another message: "Good morning, Jaden. Plz pick my

calls. Let's talk."

Her fingers hovered above the screen as she hit send. She stared at the message, hoping and praying for a reply to come through. She could not stand this rift between them, especially now, when she needed his presence more than ever.

Emma set her phone down and leaned against the kitchen counter, closing her eyes for a moment. The weight of the last 24 hours pressed down on her, threatening to pull her under. Between Emily's condition, Ethan's health, the media frenzy, and now Jaden's silence, it felt as though the world was collapsing around her.

she couldn't fall apart. Not now. Not when her children needed her strength most of all. She straightened up, took a deep breath, and plunged her

much as she had expected, no message came from Jaden. Her composure, which she refused to show, chipped with each minute of his silence. Inside her heart was screaming for reassurance so much, though for the kids, she put up a face. All she could now do

her.

of furious comments and headlines regarding Adam Hershel. The Internet had blown up overnight, the world was cursing him a monster. Terms such as "criminal," "heartless," and "danger to society" flooded the

The gnawing of regret inside her was twisting her stomach into knots She hadn't wanted things to get so completely out of hand. All she'd intended was to make Emma jump-some harmless little move, just to make her remember who was really the boss in this twisted game the two played.

a matter of time before someone made the connection between her and Adam Hershel. The threads of their association may have been slight, but they were still there, hanging precariously in the open for anyone who was determined

to expose her. The possibilities spun before her mind: how long did she have before someone pieced it all together a

her head from side to side No. That's not going to happen.

clicking shly on the floor. Her head was a turbulent mess, but

21:20 Tue, Dec 17

Chapter 85