Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 117

Chapter 117

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The force of the slap sent Alexander's head sideways, and for a moment, time just froze. His cheek stung from the sting, but it was nothing compared with the searing pain of rejection that cut deeper than he wanted to admit.

"How dare you?" Emma's voice cut, laced with anger and incredulity, while her eyes blazed like hot coals. Her chest heaved as she fought for control of her emotions. For one brief second, she had almost fallen into his trap again. Almost! But she was grateful she had reacted at the last second.

lexander slowly turned his head to face her, his expression unreadable, though the tension in his jaw betrayed the storm brewing inside him.

"You have no right to me anymore! None!" Her words cut through, each sharper than the other, hitting him like blows. "You made your choice, Alexander! We are strangers now, and I won't let you keep dragging me back into your chaos."

Her heart ached as she wrestled to keep her dignity intact. "How many times must I remind you of this? You have moved on, and so have I!" She glares at him, her eyes blazing with a feral determinacy. "You cannot eat your cake and have it, too. The next time you try this nonsense on me, Mr. Black, I will get you arrested and I mean it."

She had that ring of finality in her tone that would brook no arguments, and the word 'Mr. Black' struck something in Alexander.

She stood straighter, her hand out to indicate the door. "Now leave. This may be your hospital, but I am paying a fortune to stay in this room. You have no place here."

Alexander's jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides as he absorbed her words. He knew he had crossed the line, but he could not stop himself. His emotions, jealousy, anger, and a desperation he refused to name-raged within him, tearing apart what little self- control he had left.

"Was kissing Jaden your way of getting back at me for what happened two nights ago?" His voice was low and bitter.

For one brief, bright moment, Emma's eyes went wide with surprise; then she exploded into a scornful snort. Crossing her arms over her chest, she leaned backwards, cocking her head in a way that really dramatized just how riotously funny he must sound. "What are you talking about?" she sneered. "You don't actually think I am that shallow? That crazy?

She took a step closer to him, her voice growing harder with each word. "I meant it when I signed those divorce papers five years ago, Alexander. I'm done with you. Done with your games. You're nothing but my past now, and that's all you'll ever be."

Her words hung in the air, heavy and relentless, a blade cutting through tension. For the first time, Alexander didn't say anything. He just stood still, rooted to the floor, as if the weight of her declaration had glued him to the floor.

"Mommy." a small, sleepy voice burst into the air, cutting the tension that filled the room.

Emma immediately turned away from Alexander, her gaze softening as she walked to Emily's bedside. "I'm here, sweetheart," she said gently, brushing her daughter's hair back.

"If you'll excuse me," she said without looking at Alexander, dismissing him with a tone that left no room for argument.

Alexander's chest tightened as he watched her move, her attention fully on Emily now, as though he no longer existed. It wasn't just her words that stung, her complete dismissal of him hurt even more.

He turned and walked towards the door, his hand reaching for and tightly grasping the handle. The door opened to a tall figure stepping inside..

Brandon Kings.

Brandon was a towering presence and immediately swept the door out of Alexander's hand in one cocky move into the

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Chapter 117

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room, his confidence carrying him as though this were truly his own private quarters.

"Uncle Brandon!" Emily's tone was joyful even though she was groggy. She began making a lame attempt to prop into a seated position until Enima laid a reassuring hand over her shoulder. herself

Alexander's stomach twisted from the scene happening right in front of him: the way Emily's face lit up for Brandon infuriate him to the core. Even though Emily had clearly noticed him in the room. She hadn't called out for him not even acknowledged his presence with the smallest gesture.

The sight of Emily smiling at Brandon was a blow Alexander wasn't prepared for. His heart twisted painfully, jealousy and regret mixing into a bitter cocktail of emotions.

He quietly stepped out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

AAAAA

Jake Fernando sat in his living room of his luxury penthouse. His gaze was steadily fixed on the TV screen on which headlines were shouting: "Skyrocketing Success: Fernando Corp's Stock Prices Hit All-Time High!"

To anyone else, this would have been a moment of celebration, a victory worthy of champagne and applause. But for Jake, the success tasted bitter, tainted by a name he hated seeing in connection with HIS future company's glory.

Jaden.

The name had been enough to spark off a quick burn of anger in Jake's chest. He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, his fingers laced together tightly as he watched a clip of Jaden speaking at a press conference. There was undeniable charm to Jaden.

Jake clamped down his jaws as his neck tendons tightly strained to let out heavy sighs one after the other.

He'd always known Jaden was a green snake that was hiding in the green grass, a predator only waiting for that opportune moment to strike. Jaden had always been sharp, ambitious, and insatiably greedy, qualities Jake had once admired when he was younger. But admiration had long since turned to distrust, and now, to rage.