Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 104

Chapter 104

Less than a dozen filled the room, just as she had guessed, their ughter like sharp needles pricking at her composure. Each guest held a glass of wine, cloaked in designer clothes and enveloped in an aura of self-importance. Her eyes scanned across the crowd.

These were Alexander's relatives, but none of them was in good terms with Emma the last time she checked, and so she wasn't interested in playing nice too.

She took a cautious step forward, hoping to slip into the background before anyone noticed her presence. But fate wasn't kind to her.

A high-pitched, all too familiar voice rang out across the room, piercing through the conversations like a blade.

"Emma? Emma, is that you?"

Emma froze, stomach dropping as she turned slowly. Her eyes landed upon a frame of Samantha Irvin, Alexander's distance cousin, perfectly coiffed in her expensive gown that shone bright under the chandelier light. Samantha smiled, widely, like a doll, her eyes glinting. "Well, well," Samantha drawled. Sweetness dripped from the edges of her tone like poison. "I can hardly believe it's really you!"

Emma bit her jaw, keeping her face neutrally set. Memories of Jane taunting her alongside Vivian years ago flashed in her mind.

She pasted a polite smile on her lips. "Hello, Samantha." Smooth tone, detached.

Samantha's eyes narrowed, her smile faltering. "You look different," she said, her gaze roaming over Emma with full blown jealousy. "I almost didn't recognize you."

"Thanks." Emma replied with softness but a firmness that left no room for arguments.

Before Samantha could say a thing, Emma turned on her heel, her heart bucking against her rib cage as she walked away.

She wasn't here for Samantha or the rest of them, Alexander included.

She was here for Brianna, and that's the only reason Emma hadn't walked out of the door.

Emma's fingers curled tightly around the small, wrapped box in her hand, her thumb tracing the delicate ribbon as if it were her lifeline.

The plan was simple: she would give Brianna the gift, offer polite smiles, stay for thirty minutes at most, and leave as soon as an opportunity presented itself.

She repeated the plan in her mind. It was her plan for protection against the painful memories clawing at the edges of her resolve.

But her heart wasn't listening, and the walls of this estate, the air inside, felt suffocating.

She went straight to the hallway, where soft, warm light spilled into the hallway, and guiding Brianna was Vivian.

Brianna walked stiffly, her face a mask of composure.

Emma's swallow was audible as she moved closer, her heels clicking softly on the tile floor. Brianna's frame was so much frailer than before, her silver hair styled neatly, her face lined with years of sickness. But the instant Brianna's eyes landed on Emma, those lines softened, and her face shone with unmistakable joy.

11:08 Wed, Dec 18

Chapter 101

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Her lips trembled into a smile. "Oh, Emma," she whispered, her voice fragile but filled with warmth, "I'm so happy you showed up."

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Emma forced a smile, blinking back the tears that threatened to blur her vision. "I wouldn't miss it," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Vivian cast a glance her way, her eyes cold and measuring, but Emma refused to let it pierce her.

Instead, she stepped forward, gently taking Brianna's other arm. Together, she and Vivian guided Brianna down the hall.

As they entered the decorated room, a soft hush fell over the family members gathered. The air was rich with the scent of roses and vanilla, and from the ceiling hung golden fairy lights like tiny stars. Brianna's presence drew the attention of everyone in the room. A wave of joy washed over the crowd, and as she took her seat, applause and cheers filled the air. Brianna's eyes glistened, her smile trembling as she took in the sight of her family who had missed her.

Emma stepped back, the corners of her eyes stinging. She wished she could share in this happiness fully, but a part of her remained locked behind a door she had no key for.

As the guests poured drinks and fell into excited chatter, Emma retreated to the back of the room.

She placed her gift gently on a nearby table, the weight of it symbolic of everything she couldn't say.

Memories clawed at her, relentless shadows. It was at this very room where she had told Brianna about the divorce in the first place. The air went still as she remembered that awful afternoon-the sight of Brianna's face crumpling, the heavy weight of guilt afterwards that had settled into Emma's heart. Her heart twisted in remorse; at times, she blamed herself for the failing health of Brianna, convinced that if she had found out sooner, she could have done something to prevent it. Perhaps, she reasoned bitterly, it had all happened as it had been meant to.

Murmurs of conversation and laughter continued on, until suddenly the air shifted. The room hushed, all conversations reduced to mere whispers. Emma's gaze snapped up in time to see Alexander step inside, his presence commanding silence The air grew thick, tension so palpable it made her skin prickle.

He walked with that confident, effortless grace of his, each step bringing him nearer to Brianna. In his hands, he carried a carefully wrapped gift.

His cold expression softened only when he reached his mother. He leaned in, whispered something Emma couldn't hear, and placed the gift in Brianna's frail hands. The tenderness of the gesture made Emma's throat tighten.

From her spot at the back of the room, Emma watched everything unfold, her pulse a wild rhythm in her ears.

why just the sight of him could stir feelings she had She didn't understand why his presence still affected her this way- desperately tried to bury. Her heart raced, betraying her with every thud, her palms damp despite the icy composure she tried to maintain. She pressed her teeth together, frustrated boiling inside her.

Before she even knew it, she put her wine glass to her lips and threw its contents down her gullet in one gulp. it bitterness hardly masking the whirlwind inside her.

She slowly turned her head away from the scene, hailing Alexander to disappear there and then.

"Emma," Brianna called softly but commandingly.