Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 106

Chapter 106

Emma's breath caught; her heart was pounding painfully in her hest. It felt as though the room was closing in, the walls inching closer. She clenched her hands together, her nails digging into her palm, willing herself to be strong, but the words cut deep, reopening old wounds with a fresh pain.

Vivian, her body shaking with anger, stepped forward. Her voice raged, though she worked hard at control it. "You have no right to come here, Annie, You...

Annie cut her off, voice sharp and cold. "I have every right, Vivian! I'm going to be the mother of your niece or nephew. Watch the way you speak to me! And if there is anyone who doesn't belong here, it's her!" She thrust her finger toward Emma, venom dripping from her words.

Gasps echoed around the room. The accusation hung in the air like poison.

Brianna's eyes flashed dangerously her voice low and even. "You are a homewrecker. You destroyed my son's home but you can't destroy my home. This is my home," she said, each word loud and clear, and I choose my guests wisely. You were not invited, Annie. And you have no right to decide who belongs in my family!

A tremor of anger crossed Annie's face. She swallowed hard, her eyes darting around the room before reaching into her bag. She pulled out a diamond wristwatch with too much confidence. It was gleaming under the chandelier's light.

"I got this for you, Mother," she said, forcing sweetness back into her voice. "A welcome home gift from the designer you adore so much. Please... take it.

The room quiet. All eyes turned to Brianna, whose expression twisted with disgust as she looked at the gift. Her lips curled, the disgust and anger she felt etched into every line on her face.

Then, with a sudden, shocking movement, Brianna snatched the watch from Annie's hand. Without hesitation, she hurled it onto the tiled floor.

The delicate crack of the diamond sounded like a gunshot; the room collectively gasped as this supposedly very expensive and indestructible watch shattered into irreparable fragments. Small pieces of diamond scattered across the floor, glittering like remnants of a broken lie.

Annie's face paled as her eyes widened in disbelief. She opened her mouth, but no words could come out. Her well-structured plan was falling apart, and she had no idea what she could do.

Vivian stepped forward, her eyes ablaze. Scorn laced her voice. You even have the audacity to bring a fake diamond watch to my mother's sight! How dare you!?

"It must have been some kind of mistake..." Annie stammered, her voice cracking, her cheeks flushed with shame. "They must have duped me." Panic flickered in her eyes, her earlier bravery now replaced with humiliation.

Brianna's frail body shook, but her voice was steady and unwavering. "Enough!" she thundered, the force of her command silencing the room. "Get out of my house. Now!

Annie flinched as if struck, her eyes darting around the room, searching for at least a shred of support from one of the bystanders.

Annie's shoulders sagged under the crushing weight of humiliation, her gaze falling to the floor as she prepared to leave. The shame curled around her like a suffocating cloak. But before she could turn around, a strong hand shot out, gripping her wrist.

The room en masse froze; hearts stopped in their tracks. Alexander stepped forward from the shadows, his jaw clenched, eyes ablaze with defiance. The silence was deafening as he leveled a cold, unwavering glare at his mother and sister. His grip on Annie's wrist tightened.

11:08 Wed, Dec 18 Y@G

Chapter 108

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"Mother," he said, ice dripping from every word, sharp and deliterate. "It's high time you accept her as the one I chose"

His words cut through the air, leaving behind wounds that would never heal. The sense of betrayal in Brianna's eyes was palpable, the disbelief etching deeper lines into her face.

Without another word, he steered Annie toward the door, his stile confident, uncaring of the devastation he left in his

wake.

Emma stood frozen at the back of the room, her heart twisting painfully in her chest. The scene played out in front of her like some crazy nightmare she couldn't seem to wake up from, The same Alexander who was now standing up for Annie before his family had cornered her a week ago. He'd shoved her gainst the cold, cold wall, his lips tracking fire down her neck as his tongue tangled with hers in a desperate, fevered kiss hat had left her short of breath.

For one fleeting moment, she had thought that perhaps she was more than a memory to him. But now... now that illusion was shattered into a thousand sharp-edged pieces, each piece slicing deeper and deeper into her heart.

$5

A tremor ran through her body as tears welled in her eyes, but she blinked them back, refusing to let them fall. Her nails dug into her palms, the pain jerking her back to the reality she could no longer deny.

She had been nothing but a momentary escape for Alexander, a vessel for his pent-up sexual urge. She was never someone he'd fight for, never someone he'd claim in front of the world.

Brianna slowly sank back into her chair, the strength that had kept her upright now gone. Her face, which had once shone with the fierce fire of defiance, crumbled into a mask of grief. The betrayal from her own son struck deeper than any physical pain.

Vivian rushed immediately to her side, her eyes flashing with panic. She tenderly took her mother's trembling hand, speaking low in a pleading tone, "Mom, are you okay? Please, tell me you're okay."

Brianna looked at Emma; her gaze softened the minute she spotted her. After taking a shaky breath, she whispered, "I'd like to retire to bed now, Emma."

The words were soft and weak.

Emma nodded silently and stepped forward, slipping her arm around Brianna's shoulder for support. Vivian did the same.

The walk was slow, the air heavy with a silence that pressed down on all three of them.