Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 79

53%

Annie waited until she was alone with the doctor. As he turned to leave, she shot her hand out, wrapping it tight around his wrist. Her nails sank into his skin as her wild desperate eyes locked with his. "I need you to do something for me," she said. Her voice had trembled but with a growing determination. The doctor frowned; he hesitated. "Ma'arn, you need to rest-

"No, Annie cut him off sharply, her grip tightening. "Listen to me. I don't care what it takes. I don't care what it costs. going to help me fix this. Do you understand?"

You re

Her voice shook, but her desperation gave it an edge that could not be ignored. Already her mind was working, already planning. She couldn't let Emma shame her. Not now. Not ever.

Alexander sat slumped in the sterile hall, fluorescent lights and the hushed murmur of conversations falling from his troubled mind. Events of this evening swam in a spiral in his head as some surreal scenario which wasn't happening. It felt just like an obnoxious dream that he wished to wake up from.

Emma's face-innocent, disarming-flashed before him, and his jaw clenched. How could he have been so blind? He had always prided himself on being perceptive, on seeing through deceit. Yet Emma in her quiet way and unassuming charm had fooled him completely. He gritted his teeth-the realization hit him like a freight train. All this time, all this time, Emma was the CEO of W2 HOLDINGS-the same enigmatic figure he had invested so much time discussing being in awe of from afar, unknowingly conversing with Every strange interaction, every subtle care she'd ever shown towards the company made full sense in an instant. It explained why the CEO seemed to care about her struggles, why their interests all seemed to run so intertwined. He clenched his fists tightly, digging his nails deep into his palm as frustration boiled over. She had played her part so well, made him believe she was just a weak woman finding her way around a world that was too cruel for her. But the truth? She was as powerful and calculated as he was, if not even more so. Alexander breathed a little faster, feeling the walls of the great hall closing in on him. He had to have answers; he had to hear this from Emma herself. How could she not have told him such a huge secret? Did she not trust him enough to tell him? Or worse, had she just been playing him all along?

A voice cut into his tumultuous thoughts, pulling him back to the present. "Sir, I have great news," the doctor said. approaching him with a bright smile.

Alexander stood, his expression dark and unreadable, waiting for the man to continue.

"Your girlfriend is pregnant," the doctor announced, his tone almost celebratory.

The words hit Alexander with the force of a left hook from behind. His heart leapt, his carefully constructed mask of control deserting him. In one frozen second, emotions he hadn't allowed himself to feel burst to life: shock, deniz-and something understand.

"Congratulations, sir," appended the doctor, the grin on his face growing.

Alexander gave a curt nod, swallowing the storm of emotions threatening to break loose. He followed the doctor silently into the room where Annie lay, her face lighting up the moment he stepped inside.

he couldn't

She beamed at hun, her hands instinctively moving to her stomach, cradling it as if the life inside her were already tangible. She beamed at him, her hands instinctively moving to be "We're finally going to be parents," she said softly, her voice trembling with excitement. Alexander's eyes flicked to her hands, then back up to her face, Jay was oozing from her expression, but he still couldn't shake the weight in his chest.

21 18 Tue, Dec 17 V

Chapter 79

53%

Annie reached out, tugging on his wrist to pull him closer. "I cant wait to see our baby," she whispered, her gaze locked on

his.

For a moment, Alexander just stood, his mind at war. The truth of Emma and the revelation of Annie's pregnancy collided in him. Shouldn't he be filled with joy? Wasn't this supposed to be good news to them?.

Yet, as he looked down at Annie's glowing face, something felt off. The words of celebration she offered didn't resonate with him. They hung in the air, hollow and distant.

Alexander forced a smile, masking the turmoil beneath the surface. "Yes," he said, his voice even. "We're going to be parents"

But even as he said the words, a question gnawed at him relentlessly.

The ringing of her phone was relentless, and Jane Manson woke up with a jolt. She had hung up a few times, hoping the caller would get the hint, but whoever it was seemed insistent. Frustration bubbled as she grabbed the phone, her voice laced with anger. "Who the fuck is this?" she yelled into the receiver, her patience hanging by a thread.

The other voice was cold as ice, calm, commanding, and threatening. I want you in my office right now," he said.

Her heart arrested its beat at mid-thump. It was her father.

Panic surged the form of fear as she stuttered. Her bravado from just a minute ago yes, sir. Right away." turned to fear as she stammered out, "Y-

The line went dead, and jane flung the phone across the room, releasing a groan of frustration. She enveloped her face in her hands, regret weighing heavily within her. She had known this was coming. After what she had done last night, the fallout was as sure as the sun rising each morning. But she'd foolishly hoped to be able to sleep it off, pretend it was merely a bad dream.

With a heavy sigh, she fetched her phone and opened all her social media apps, her heart sinking with each swipe. The backlash was well and truly worse than anticipated: their stocks were in an alarming nosedive, and the outrage from the public was relentless. Hate comments swamped her pages, a tidal wave of vitriol eclipsing any praise she'd basked in all the years that she had. been using social media. Her followers had fled from her in masses; what few remained did so only to mock her. Jane clamped down hard on her lip, the metallic taste of blood grounding her in chaos.

I

SEND GIFT