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.

of seeing Emily and Ethan warmed her heart, but she knew she wasn't ready. She could barely speak

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

beat, Alexander's name pulling her back into the emotions she was desperately trying to suppress. She bit her lip, refusing to meet Jaden's eyes as she replied, "He came to see

the day of the attack. 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

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

he hesitated for a moment, his heart aching at the storm of emotions he knew

The video started playing.

watched the short clip with an emotion that she could

convinced herself that the memory of his voice calling her name, his arms carrying her, was a dream, created out of desperation. But

Weal. Alexander had openty

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

her

more tears rolled down her cheeks. Her stomach hurt, and her head throbbed from the

took the

clicked on another video that had been captured by a

broke was standing in

smeared with soot and dirt. In his arms, he carried her unconscious body. His

more tears rolled down her cheeks. Alexander had risked everything, his safety, his life, to save her. And yet, when he'd come to check on her earlier, he hadn't