Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Jaden lingered at the far end of the hallway, his sharp gaze fixed on Alexander as he stepped out of Emma's room. For days now, Jaden had noticed Alexander's erratic behavior, his coldness crumbling to reveal his raw, unfiltered emotions. His actions had got Jaden thinking if he was truly the one that was meant for Emma.

Jaden's chest tightened with conflicting emotions. He loved Emma deeply; there was no doubt about that. But seeing Alexander like this stirred that nagging question in his mind.

He watched as Alexander and his people turned down another hallway, and he waited until they were gone. Once he was certain, he headed straight to Emma's room.

He had only stepped out earlier to give Brandon an update of what was going on in the hospital as well as check up on Emily and Ethan.

Thankfully, the twins were doing fine, and they were not aware of what was going on regarding their mother, but he knew it was only a matter of time before they started asking questions.

Pushing those thoughts aside, Jaden quietly entered the room. Emma was asleep. She looked too pale and vulnerable. He approached her bed and sank into the chair beside her, his heart aching at the sight of her in such a vulnerable state. Emma's eyes snapped open as he took his seat.

"Emma." He called softly.

She had only been pretending to be sleeping earlier when Alexander had showed up unexpectedly. His eyes had been filled with too much emotion that made her heart ache with emotions she wanted to erase forever once Alexander was involved. She was also desperate to avoid conversations she wasn't ready for. But her act had backfired.

Through her lashes, she had watched Alexander's emotions pour out, raw and unguarded. His gaze had been filled with so much pain, regret, and something else she didn't want to name, something that made her heart ache in ways she didn't want to admit. "How are my twins doing?" She asked. She needed to push Alexander out of her mind, and focusing on her children was the only way she knew how.

"Fine. They will like to see you soon." Jaden replied.

Emma's lips curved into a faint smile.

Emily and Ethan warmed her heart, but she knew she wasn't ready. She could barely speak without wincing in pain, and the

Alexander on my way here." Jaden said, leading the

to suppress. She bit her lip, refusing to meet Jaden's eyes as she replied, "He came to see how I'm doing."

The chaos, the flames, the overwhelming heat. it all felt like a nightmare she couldn't wake up from. And she still found it hard to believe that she had made it

He had hoped Alexander would have told her himself, but it was clear that he hadn't. He has no idea why Alexander has decided not to tell her, but Jaden believes that Emma deserves to know the truth. Jaden pulled out his phone and went online; he clicked on a video of Alexander forcing his way into the burning

heart aching at the storm of emotions he knew

The video started playing.

an emotion that

up in her eyes. She had convinced herself that the memory of his voice calling her name, his arms

Weal. Alexander had openty

for the past five years, and he had fought tooth and nail to

save her

her cheeks. Her stomach hurt, and her head throbbed from the intensity of her emotions, yet

the phone from

clicked on another video that had been captured by

broke was standing in front

unconscious body. His face was pale, his expression a mix of relief and anguish as he cradled her like

tears rolled down her cheeks. Alexander had risked everything, his safety, his life, to save her. And yet, when he'd come to check