Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter

114

Sitting in the dim glow of his bedroom, illuminated only by the television light, which cast flickering shadows across the walls, Brandon Kings sat watching the news. The news played on but he wasn't listening to the anchor's voice anymore; all he was focused on was the replaying footage of Emma and Jaden kissing at the coffee shop.

It was the hundredth time he had watched, his chest tighter each time the scene unfolded. The kiss wasn't a peck, wasn't fleeting; it was passionate, undeniable, with emotions that twisted a knife deep into Brandon's heart. The image of radiant and happy Emma in the arms of Jaden played repeatedly on every news outlet and social media platform. This was no ordinary news; this was the number-one trending topic worldwide.

Brandon's hand crashed down onto the arm of his chair, and suddenly, he was angry. But beneath that anger was something much stronger; hurt, jealousy, and a bone-deep ache he hadn't felt in years. He ran a hand down his face, trying to steady himself, but it didn't stop the anger.

With a shaky breath, Brandon reached for the framed picture on his bedside table; a photo of him and Diana Walker, taken just weeks before her life was cruelly stolen. The sound of her laughter echoed in his mind, the sparkle of her eyes with love and mischief. She had been his world, and when Marina took her away, she destroyed him in ways he was still trying to recover from.

Tears brimmed in his eyes and flowed over, running down his cheeks as he stared at the photo, his fingers trembling, outlining Diana's face. "I'm so sorry, Diana," he whispered, his voice breaking. "I couldn't save you. I failed you."

The guilt and the grief just seemed to close in around him, like some immovable weight. For over five years, he had been a shadow of the man he once was, picking up the shattered pieces of his life while trying to keep the rest of the world from seeing how broken he truly

was.

Another thought rushed across his brain and he wiped his tears dry.

"Diana wouldn't want this." He whispered. "She wouldn't want me living in this eternal pool of pain and regret."

function at the Wings of Hope. Her

himself it was for Emma's sake. She'd already gone through so much pain, and the last thing he would want was adding to that. But maybe just maybe, he'd stayed a bit too far away. Now, in front of the whole world, Jaden was

back on the table, his resolve hardening. Emma wouldn't slip through

picked up his phone, booking the earliest flight out of the country the following morning. His heart pounded as he confirmed all of the details. There was

email when doubts began to creep into his mind. Was he doing the right thing? Was he capable of giving Emma the love she deserved, or was he just chasing a ghost

This wasn't

affection had been screaming at her in

season.

to scroll. In her chest, relief mingled with bitterness. On one hand, Emma's budding relationship with Jaden might finally shift

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Chapter 114

But on the other hand, the sight of Emma so joyful, so radiant, was filling Annie with a bitter

a soft hiss under her breath, her fingers tightening

app, a notification popped on her screen. Her stomach flipped when she saw i I was an email. Curiously, she opened

an ordinary

video clip stared back at her,

$10 million, or I'll

a cold sweat broke out on her skin. Blood drained from her face as she clutched the phone tighter, her breath hitching in her throat. She glanced at