Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 139

Brandon pulled up in front of Emma's apartment, the weight of the day heavy upon his shoulders. He got out of the car with Emily in his arms, taking a deep breath to steady himself, she clung to him, her small fingers clutching his shirt. commendable, it left Brandon helpless.

He had been following the news relentlessly since the incident that afternoon, desperate for any updates about Emma, but the media remained frustratingly silent about her condition. Alexander Black had done a great job keeping Emma's health status, but while it was

Like the rest of the world, Brandon had been in shock as he had watched footage of Alexander running into that burning skyscraper to save Emma. It was an act that no one would have ever expected, least of all from a man with Alexander Black's icy reputation. And the image of Alexander carrying Emma in his arms had replayed on every news outlet throughout the day.

Entering the apartment, Brandon was struck by the silence. The house felt eerily cold, as though it, too, was mourning Emma's absence. Gone was the usual warmth and liveliness, oppressed by a heavy sadness that seemed to hang in the air. Ethan came out of the living room, his eyes wide with concern. Brandon had asked Nurse Kelly to fetch him from school earlier to protect him from the whispers and speculations that were sure to spread out.

"Uncle Brandon!" Ethan wailed, running to him.

Brandon fell to his knees, balancing Emily in one arm as he pulled Ethan into a tight hug. "Hey, buddy," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "How was your day?"

Ethan buried his face childishly. Brandon held both children close, their tiny forms pressed against him.

But as the evening wore on, the sense of responsibility weighed heavier on Brandon's shoulders. He tried to distract the kids with their favorite stories and generally playing with them, but his mind was consumed by Emma. Each time he glanced at his phone, hoping for an update, the silence was deafening.

When the children finally slept, Brandon sat in a darkened living room. He could not bear the thought of Emma not pulling through.

for his phone and dialed a number he'd acquired earlier through his

was Alexander's private

rang and rang, each unanswered call fueling Brandon's frustration. Desperate, he kept calling again and again; after all, all he needed was assurance that Emma would be just fine. But as he had expected, Alexander

down, his hands shaking. He leaned back in his chair, looking up to the ceiling

the dark of night, Annie readjusted her face cap, tugging it low to keep her

closer to Blackthorn

had been following the news obsessively, keeping tabs on every update since the accident. But since Jaden had arrived at the hospital, everywhere had been quite, and it was driving her mad. Her lips curled into a deadly smirk as she thought about the news that

Tue, Jan 7. D

Chapter 189

of

satisfaction through her veins She convinced

and wealth. Beneath the surface, she felt they all harbored a

Hundreds of paparazzi were present outside the hospital. The crowd was thick, and they were all waiting for a chance

better. She could not afford the risk of just walking into the hospital now amidst the sea of cameras; the last thing she needed or wanted was her

waiting to hear the ringing of the call Of course, it was Kevin

huffed through his side. "I'm not in a position for me to tell you. I'm sorry." Annie's jaw clenched, her grip on the phone tightening. "You expect me to believe that after everything I've seen?