Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 123

Annie's fingers shook as she held onto her phone, her eyes skimming the message over and over. This was the third email in less than one week.

'I will be expecting my money in one week's time. If not, Alexander will know about your dirty, kinky side!

She clufched harder, her knuckles turning white as she wrestled her rage. The audacity!

Each passing second felt like a ticking clock, with her running out of time. If she did not do sotnething soon, all that she had fought for would crumble.

Annie clenched her jaw as her mind ran with the many possibilities. She had no idea where this coward was hiding. The email was so far untraceable, routed through multiple servers in different countries. Whoever was behind such routing was smart, too smart. But Annie just couldn't afford to lose this battle, not after everything..

Taking a deep breath, she started typing on her phone, her fingers moving with a deliberate steadiness she wasn't feeling inside. 'Where should I put the money?' she sent, swallowing hard as she hit 'send.' Her throat was dry, and her heart pounded against her ribs like a war drum. The reply came almost instantly: 'I will send you the location once the time is due.'

Annie let out a sharp, resigned breath. She had expected this. Of course, the blackmailer wouldn't give her any concrete information just yet. But she had tried, if only to confirm it.

The anger that had been simmering just below the surface of her calm exterior began to boil over. Her hands shook from both fear and anger. Angry at herself for not seeing this coming. She thought about Alexander. She couldn't let him find out.

She let out a sharp intake of breath as she dialed the number of her private investigator. It rang a couple of times before the now-familiar voice answered.

"Hello?" the man on the other end said cautiously.

waste a second. "I need results. Have you found

it," the investigator replied, his tone

email. If not." She allowed herself a stop, to let it sink in. "You wouldn't like what happens next. The line went dead, and

began, and a note of panic seeped into his tone, but Annie didn't give him the chance to finish.

had always prided herself on staying ten steps ahead, but now

a tired sigh as he dropped his keys on the counter. He reached for the light switch, and the room was suddenly bathed in light. His heart almost stopped as his gaze fell upon Jake, who sat confidently on his couch. Jake's arms sprawled arrogantly across the armrests, his legs crossed, and his piercing glare carried the weight of a thousand accusations. It felt like

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a step backward, shock momentarily gripping him before he forced himself to recover. He straightened his back, trying to mask his unease, and returned Jake's cold stare with

the hell are you doing in my apartment?" Jaden demanded, his voice even despite the anger bubbling beneath the surface. He walked toward the fridge, yanked it open, and grabbed a bottle

here to give you one last warning,"

warning Why waste your time tailing me when you could use your precious time into securing your would-be empire?"

said slow and deliberate. "I try to

someone who actually cares," Jaden fired back, his voice cold. "Perhaps your

capable of piercing through steel. "You will regret going against me,

to Jake, his own anger finally breaking through. "Tell the world what I did if you're so confident your precious company can survive the fallout. Go ahead and tell them

tall stature exuding anger, his voice was even and cold, almost menacing. "Leave

keep composure. "That's not something you can order me to do," he replied