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.

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

Alexander's

Brandon's frustration. Desperate, he kept calling again and again; after all, all he needed

to the ceiling as pent-up emotions he had been trying to hold back all day

cap, tugging it low

Blackthorn Hospital,

accident. But since Jaden had arrived at the hospital, everywhere had been quite,

Tue, Jan

Chapter 189

of

rush of twisted satisfaction through her veins She convinced herself she wasn't alone in

were hypocrites, pretending to care because of her societal status and wealth. Beneath the surface, she felt they all harbored a secret wish to see Emma

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

to walk into that hospital, but she knew 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

umpteenth time that night, she tapped on Alexander's number. The pale glow illuminated her face as she held her breath, waiting to hear the ringing of the call Of course, it was Kevin answering again. "Miss

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? I