Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring Novel

Chapter 114 Sitting in the dim glow of his bedroom , illuminated only by the television light , which cast flickering shadows across the walls , Brandon Kings sat watching the news .

The news played on but he wasnt listening to the anchors voice anymore ; all he was focused on was the replaying footage of Emma and Jaden kissing at the coffee shop .

It was the hundredth time he had watched , his chest tighter each time the scene unfolded .

The kiss wasnt a peck , wasnt fleeting ; it was passionate , undeniable , with emotions that twisted a knife deep into Brandons heart .

The image of radiant and happy Emma in the arms of Jaden played repeatedly on every news outlet and social media platform .

This was no ordinary news ; this was the number one trending topic worldwide .

Brandons hand crashed down onto the arm of his chair , and suddenly , he was angry .

But beneath that anger was something much stronger ; hurt , jealousy , and a bone deep ache he hadnt felt in years .

He ran a hand down his face , trying to steady himself , but it didnt stop the anger .

With a shaky breath , Brandon reached for the framed picture on his bedside table ; a photo of him and Diana Walker , taken just weeks before her life was cruelly stolen .

The sound of her laughter echoed in his mind , the sparkle of her eyes with love and mischief .

She had been his world , and when Marina took her away , she destroyed him in ways he was still trying to recover from .

Tears brimmed in his eyes and flowed over , running down his cheeks as he stared at the photo , his fingers trembling , outlining Dianas face .

Im so sorry , Diana , he whispered , his voice breaking .

I couldnt save you .

I failed you .

The guilt and the grief just seemed to close in around him , like some immovable weight .

For over five years , he had been a shadow of the man he once was , picking up the shattered pieces of his life while trying to keep the rest of the world from seeing how broken he truly was .

Another thought rushed across his brain and he wiped his tears dry .

Diana wouldnt want this .

He whispered .

She wouldnt want me living in this eternal pool of pain and regret .

He had felt a stir at the sight of Emma during the function at the Wings of Hope .

Her face had caught his attention immediately .

Emma reminded him a lot about Diana ; and that appalled him .

So hed kept his distance , stayed away , convincing himself it was for Emmas sake .

Shed already gone through so much pain , and the last thing he would want was adding to that .

But maybe just maybe , hed stayed a bit too far away .

Now , in front of the whole world , Jaden was about to steal her away forever .

He placed the photo back on the table , his resolve hardening .

Emma wouldnt slip through his fingers without a fight .

Brandon picked up his phone , booking the earliest flight out of the country the following morning .

His heart pounded as he confirmed all of the details .

There was no guarantee that Emma would listen to him , much less choose him .

Yet he had to try .

He leaned back in his chair , staring at the confirmation email when doubts began to creep into his mind .

Was he doing the right thing ? Was he capable of giving Emma the love she deserved , or was he just chasing a ghost of the past ? Brandon shook his head and shook the doubts away .

This wasnt about Diana anymore .

It was about his future and happiness .

AAAAA Annie had been flipping through the news aimlessly , her emotions churning in a storm inside .

The headlines about Emma and Jadens public display of affection had been screaming at her in mockery , images of them kissing , images of them being happy plastered everywhere .

It seemed all anyone had been speaking of was Emma and Jaden , the golden couple of the season .

Annies lips pressed into a thin line as she continued to scroll .

In her chest , relief mingled with bitterness .

On one hand , Emmas budding relationship with Jaden might finally shift Alexanders focus back to her , something she had been 1/2 111 11:10 Tue , Dec 24 GGG Chapter 114 desperately trying to achieve .

But on the other hand , the sight of Emma so joyful , so radiant , was filling Annie with a bitter resentment she couldnt swallow .

She let out a soft hiss under her breath , her fingers tightening on her phone .

As Annie was about to close the news app , a notification popped on her screen .

Her stomach flipped when she saw it was an email .

Curiously , she opened it and instantly froze .

It wasnt just an ordinary email .

It was a bombshell .

A video clip stared back at her , with a chilling message : Pay me $10 million , or Ill send this to your man .

Her heart stuttered , and a cold sweat broke out on her skin .

Blood drained from her face as she clutched the phone tighter , her breath hitching in her throat .

She glanced at Alexander , ensuring he was asleep , before slipping out of bed .

Her legs felt like jelly as she tiptoed into the bathroom , locking the door behind her .

Annies shakingly turned the volume down on her phone and hit play .

The video started , and it was as if the world was caving in around her .

There she was , unmistakably her , tangled up with a man she had been seeing a few weeks ago .

Her heart dropped into her stomach as she recognized every damning detail .

She began breathing in short , panicked gasps .

She wanted to deny it , to convince herself this was some deepfake or cruel joke , but she couldnt .

The evidence was simply irrefutable .

Even with her putting on a face mask , the gunshot scar to her shoulder , that unfortunate reminder of the day her first wedding to Alexander got ruined , was quite clear .

Tears pricked her eyes as she stared at the screen .

How had it come to this ? How had she been so careless ? She had only accepted to fuck the man all in the name of getting pregnant but now , he was using it against him even thoughy she had paid him handsomely for his service .

Annie felt her chest tighten as the realization set in .

It wasnt just her reputation on the line ; this was everything she had fought for .

Alexander would ruin her and all she had put into it if he were to see this .

Her mind began to race with possibilities on how she could get the money he has asked for .

Ten million dollars was a huge amount for her .

Even one million dollars she couldnt provide , but to Alexander ten million dollars was merely a chicken change .

She began to wonder how she could pull it off without making Alexander suspicious .

She cursed under her breath .

Her breathing thickened and her sight blurred as she replayed that video again and again for any way to deny the truthfulness of it .

Hopeless , in too deep .