Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring Novel

Chapter 31 Marina blinked , confusion overtaking her fury .

What are you trying to say ? Get to the point , Derek He took a deep breath , his eyes narrowing thoughtfully Im saying maybe theres more to this story than we realized , Maybe your aunt wasnt just playing favorites .

Maybe theres something we missed .

Marina took a step back , her thoughts spiraling .

She wanted to deny it She wanted to reject the ridiculous notion Derek was hinting at , but something stopped her .

She stared at him , dread creeping over her face as the words sank in .

Are you saying ..

? Her voice trailed off as she shook her head , biting down on her finger as doubt clouded her mind .

No , thats impossible .

I would have known .

Someone would have told me … right? But her voice was unsteady , filled with a fear she couldnt shake .

Her hands trembled as she fumbled for her phone .

She dialed a number , her mind racing with questions and a terror that clawed at her insides .

She couldnt let this go , not without knowing every last detail Get me everything you can find about Emma Black she ordered , her voice steel .

I want every piece of information there is .

Now ! Marina watched from across the street , her gaze filled with a hatred that simmered and burned as she observed Emma gently helping her two young children into their car seats .

They had just come out of the preschool and Emmas face glowed with a warmth that made Marinas stomach turn .

The file in her hand felt heavy , her fingers clenching it so tightly that the edges dug painfully into her palm .

Last night she had finally received the information she had been waiting for , along with the results of the DNA test she had conducted illegally .

The report was irrefutable , Emma was , in fact , Mrs.

Walkers daughter .

Marinas fingers tightened around the file , her teeth gritting in defiance .

None of it mattered .

To her , Emma would always be an outsider … a usurper who had come to steal what was rightfully hers .

She was a thief , a blight on Marinas carefully constructed future and there was only one way to fix things The same way she had dealt with Diana Emma and her children had to disappear .

Permanently .

It was the only way Marina could claim her place as Mrs.

Walkers sole heir , the only way she could keep the fortune and power she had spent her life fighting for .

Derek sighed .

He was sitting next to her and his mood wasnt any better .

He wanted the power and money and the only way he could get his hands on it is through the fool seated next to him .

He has never loved Marina but was with her for her money and the power she could hand over to him .

He planned to take her out of the game once hes gotten in hands on what he needed .

He was done being the small fries , he craves power too .

AMA Over the weeks , Emma and Mrs.

Walker grew inseparable , their bond deepening as if they were making up for all the lost years in the brief moments they had now , Mrs.

Walker doted on Emmas children showering them with affection and gifts , and they adored her in return , reveling in the warmth of a grandmothers love theyd never known before .

Emmas heart swelled each time she saw them together a piece of her finally feeling whole .

Her 28th birthday was coming up soon , but she hadnt given it a second thought , discovering her true heritage and having a family was the greatest gift she could ask for .

But not everything was bright .

Mrs.

Walkers heart condition had worsened over recent months , the attacks coming more frequently and striking without warning .

Emma had lost track of the number of times shed rushed her to the hospital , her hands shaking as she watched the doctors fight to stabilize her mother .

Each episode filled her with a dread she could hardly bear , a fear that her newfound happiness might be ripped away just as quickly as it had come .

The thought of losing her mother again , especially after they had finally found each other , haunted her every day Last night had been particularly rough , Mrs.

Walker had another heart attack that left her weak and struggling for breath , her hand gripping Emmas as if afraid to let go .

Theyd stayed at the hospital overnight , Emina never leaving her side , her children curled up asleep on the hospital couch .

When the doctor came to check on Mrs.

Walker in the morning , his face was grim , He warned Emma that her mothers health was rapid declining , and though they were doing all they could , It Chapter 31 was is only a matter of time .

Emmas chest tightened as the doctor spoke , her vision blurring with tears she tried to hold back .

She clutched Mrs.

Walkers hand tighter silently promising to make the most of whatever time they had left .

The pain in her mothers eyes was unbearable , but there was also love , a deep warmth that reminded Emma of how precious every second was The next morning despite Emmas protests Mrs Walker was determined to go to the company .

There are things that must be done , she insisted , her voice gentle but resolute .

Emma reluctantly agreed , keeping a close eye on her mother as they made their way into the office , That afternoon Mrs.

Walker summoned an emergency shareholders meeting .

Emma helped her mother to the boardroom , intending to step back as usual , but Mrs.

Walker caught her wrist I want you here with me today .

Take a seat .

Her tone left no room for argument so Emma hesitantly sat down beside her , confusion evident in her eyes .

She had never been involved in company affairs … finding her birth mother had been more than enough .

A wave of whispers swept through the room as the shareholders exchanged curious glances , but silence fell when Mrs.

Walker slowly rose to her feet , clearing her throat .

Thank you all for gathering here on such short notice , she began , her voice steady Today , I have called this meeting to discuss the future of W2 Holdings The shareholders leaned forward in their seats a mix of curiosity and tension filling the room .

Mrs.

Walker paused , looking around letting the weight of her words sink in Effective today , will be stepping down as CEO of W2 Holdings A wave of murmurs erupted around the table , faces growing tense with speculation .

And by the authority vested in me I will be appointing my successor Maring sitting at the far end of the table , inhaled sharply , barely holding back the tears pricking at her eyes .

She had been confident of her claim to the company but now , in a single unexpected moment her dreams were slipping away before she even had a chance to grasp them