Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 109

Emma gripped the steering wheel tighter as she pulled win her Artveway she was on the verge of tears

The memories of the evening haunted her. How Alexander has defended Annie in de preserve of everyone.

Her heart burn with an unbearable pain.

As she turned off the engine, she noticed another car parked next to hers

Her heart skipped a beat is she realized it was Jaden's car

She took a shaky breath and stepped out of her car, her knees feeling weaker than they should

Jaden emerged from his car at the same time, his brow furrowed with worry. He had been calling her phone for hours barat

no reply.

"Emma," he whispered, his voice steady. "I called you. So many times. You didn't answer, I was worried?

Emma barely heard him.

Her heart burn with too much pain.

Without thinking, she closed the space between them in a second and wrapped her arms around his waist, pressing ber forehead against his chest. The pain she'd been holding all evening broke and her body trembled as her tears began to roll down her cheeks. Jaden froze for a moment, shocked by what was going on.

He could feel her shaking against his body. His heart ached at the thought of her suffering alone.

She clutched at his shirt. Her voice was muffled, broken by sobs. "L... I can't... I can't do this anymore."

Jaden didn't need an explanation. Her pain spoke volumes. He pulled her closer into a hug, wrapping his arms gently around her until no space was left between them, his chin resting lightly on her head, his hand stroking her hair in slow, sooths motions.

The walls Emma had carefully built around her heart crumbled. Now, it was obvious that she had held on to the foolish hope that Alexander would choose her someday. That Alexander would fight for her love, see her worth. But tonight had shattered that hope beyond repair. The image of Alexander defending Annie with a fierceness he'd never shown for Emma, replayed in her mind like a cruel nightmare.

Her sobs was loud.

Her body was heaving with pain,

Jaden's jaw tightened, his chest squeezing painfully.

her struggle, hiding her torture behind the mask of strength, but at this very instant seeing her finally break down, he wanted so much to take the pain away from her and to shoulder

them fading into silence. The warmth of his embrace, the steady

while, Emma allowed herself to believe that maybe, just maybe,

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Chaper 108

More than to hold onto love that only brought her pain.

know that womeone was in her

Her wbs quieted

against her back, soothing, without demanding anything in return.

need a drink tonight, Emma

her tears away. Her eyes

sight of her, Jaden's

trailed off, his voice thick with

pain in alcohol wouldn't ease her suffering,

shaking. "I need this. Just for tonight.

He nodded reluctantly.

deny her this, not with the pain written all over her

he escorted her to his car, his hand

off into

the wheel tightly, the muscles in his jaw taut as he tried to steady his own

blankly out the window. Her eyes were

in front of a small

quiet and preferable considering the

stepped inside, the smell

hum of conversation and faint music filled the

her

robotic, as though her body was running on autopilot. Jaden followed,

voice steady

two glasses, but Jaden didn't