Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 103

Annie's chest heaved with anger and anguish. Her voice rose, desperate and raw. "She's going to be a grandmother, Alex! Don you think she deserves to know? To be part of her grandchild's life? This is our chance to finally bridge the gap, to start fresh, all three of us. His eyes opened, glacial, cold, and unyielding; each word a nail the coffin. No room for arguing, no conciliatory hint in his voice. "You are not welcome in the hospital," he stated.

The silence afterward was deafening. Annie's face crumpled, and her tears flowed freely now. Her fingers curled into the sheets, clutching them like they could with anger. "Why!?"

He didn't answer. He couldn'nchor her. "Why are you doing this to me?" she whispered, though she was burning

But Annie wasn't done. Her sobs slowed; her eyes went cold. She took a deep breath, fortifying herself. If he wouldn't give it to her, she would take what was rightfully hers. He might think he could close the door on her, but she wasn't going to be so easily written out of his life. This baby, real or not, would be the key to claim what was her. AAAAA

Emma stepped through the doors; her heart was pounding with each beat, as if it carried a thousand unspoken words. Her palms shook as she grasped a bunch of roses, deep red petals.

The sterile scent of the hospital corridors did little for her frayed nerves. Last night's conversation with Alexander had kept her awake, his voice lingering in her mind like a ghost she couldn't banish.

As she entered the room, her eyes automatically fell upon Brianna. The frail, yet strong, elderly lady sat by the window; the sun shone softly upon her face. To see the soft smile on Brianna's face was a sight that soothed her in a manner that words couldn't explain. Emma didn't hesitate but hurried forward, throwing her arms around Brianna in a careful yet fervent hug,

She pressed a warm, lingering kiss on Brianna's cheek.

"I'm so sorry for being so far away recently," Emma whispered, her voice thick with sincerity. "I've been... busy."

eyes, soft with love and understanding, crinkled at the corners. She accepted the bouquet, bringing the roses to her nose and inhaling deeply. "It's fine, dear.

look good too," she said, though her heart clenched at how fragile Brianna

like some specter of doom. Vivian crossed her arms. On her face, disdain oozed from her eyes, resentment and hatred that Emma knew all too well. The corners of her lips had curved down almost imperceptibly, the

hard and

in open disdain, turning away to get Brianna's bags,. The rejection stung far more than Emma would care to admit.

very hopeful: "Vivian is preparing a welcome home party

of stepping into the Black family's life again, of reopening some of those wounds she had taken years trying to heal, almost made her want to turn and run.

Dec 18 \ @

pter 103

dancing on the tip of her tongue. She wanted to decline graciously, to protect herself from falling back into the world that had almost destroyed her. But before she

around," Vivian said, catching her by

at Brianna-the hope in her eyes pure,

kindness and present when everything was collapsing, and everyone else turned against her.

made Emma forget the ache in her heart, and

gaze firmly set on the magnificence of

wrought iron, opened like silent sentinels to the