Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring Novel

Chapter 180 Chapter 180 The insult came out in broken gasps , but Annies expression remained unreadable .

She watched as his head lolled to the side , his body trembling in its final moments .

His defiance , though weak , made her lips curl in disgust .

Loser ? she repeated , her voice low and deadly .

I think youve got that backwards .

She didnt hesitate , but raised the dagger one last time , her grip sure and unwavering .

In one swift , calculated movement , she plunged it into his chest right through his heart .

His body jerked once and lay still .

The room was silent except for the sound of her breathing .

Annie stepped back , wiping the sweat from her brow as she took in the grim scene .

Blood was everywhere : on the couch , the floor , and even splattered on her clothes ; yet she was bothered by none of it .

Night turned into a marathon of cleaning for her .

She dragged his lifeless body out into the backyard to a shallow grave .

She finally left the house , and the weight of her actions finally settled over her , but she did not feel any remorse .

Jim was gone , and with him , whatever leverage he had once enjoyed over her .

For now, she was free to reclaim her life , to rise above even the Blacks .

ΔΑΛΛΑ Annies phone buzzed as her phone signal came back .

It had been hours since shed last been connected .

It wasnt until now that she realized how dependent she was upon the internet , keeping her connected with everything in her life .

She took an abrupt breath inward and unlocked her phone , began to scroll .

Her pulse rapidly quickened on her notifications poured in .

Her fingers moved faster and faster , her heart sinking with each passing second .

The internet was ablaze , but not in her favor .

Comments riddled her posts , dripping with venom .

People were cursing her out , calling her a liar , fraud , and worse .

She muttered under her breath , What the hell is this ? in a shaking voice .

She kept scrolling down the page until a video caught her eye .

Her breath hitched .

Emma .

She tapped the video , and Emmas face filled her screen .

The press conference from the night before played out in vivid detail .

Annies jaw clenched , and her hand tightened on the phone as Emmas calm yet powerful voice echoed through the speakers .

Annies heart pounded inside her chest as her brain wracked her mind to register what she was saying .

A string of swearwords left Annie , echoing off in the little car .

The fist of her free hand was still clenching and relaxing , shaking with her anger .

Emma wasnt anything like the girl she grew up with , sitting there listening innocent faced and timidy , head lowered , shed no matter how much agony get .

This Emma was fiery , bold , and unapologetically strong ; her voice carried authority while her eyes burnt with conviction .

Annies blood boiled when Emma talked of the three fools that she has sent to her five years ago .

Her thoughts went haywire .

Those men were her only connection .

Or , actually , not directly traceable to her at least , something that easily gave her out but then police were something , and too professional by their own kind .

She knew they would dig , and they would keep on digging until something came out of it .

With time against her , she felt defeated in those moments .

17:43 Sat , Feb 1 BO Chapter 180 Then again , neither was she here to lose .

Every next possible move ran through Annies mind .

Public speech ? No , that was out of the question .

She had faked her own kidnapping .

She couldnt go out in public for now .

180 % Perhaps .

she thought aloud , her voice laced with desperation .

Perhaps I can make it look like I have just escaped .

just barely .

But even as the words had left her lips , she ruled it out .

Too much at stake .

The internet was bloodthirsty , and what had happened in daycare poured grease on this fire .

Netizens hated her now .

Her cell phone buzzed again , and she glanced over at the screen .

Another update the police had analyzed her kidnapping video in their labs and found glaring discrepancies in stupid , unexpected mistakes she had overlooked .

They had dubbed it a setup .

Her chest constricted ; short , sharp gasps of breath escaped her .

She began hitting her fists into the steering wheel over and over , each thud finding its echo in her ragged breathing .

Damn it ! she screamed with her voice cracking with frustration