Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 121

Chapter 121

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Derek stepped into the abandoned warehouse, the weight of the explosives in his backpack pulling down on his shoulders like the weight of his ruined life. Dim light barely lit the space, but that didn't matter; he had grown used to the darkness, both around him and within. He'd spent the last four years in hiding, his name like a stain in every utterance where it came up. The world hated him, despised him, and Derek had long since stopped trying to prove them wrong.

He opened the bag and stared at the neatly packed explosives. His hands shook slightly as he traced his fingers over the wires and detonators. This wasn't the life he had planned for himself, but life had a way of ripping apart even the best laid plans. Derek was the ghost of his former self, a man once filled with ambition and dreams, now reduced to nothing more than a bitter shadow.

His mind spiraled back to when it all began to fall apart. He had been at an advantage, working his way to lift his family name and claw his way out of the mediocrity he was born into. Then she came into the picture: Emma. She had ruined everything, turning the whole world, his colleagues, his friends, even his family against him.

He had fought back in the beginning, but every attempt had ended in failure, each one plunging him deeper into the abyss. Now he was a wanted man, an outcast living under fake names with stolen identities, having money hidden away in accounts that he could barely use, knowing full well that the moment he stepped into the light, the world would pounce upon him like a pack of wolves.

He gritted his teeth, anger contorting his face as he pictured in his mind the people who had turned their backs on him. His coworkers, people who once praised his brilliance now spit his name with disgust. People who knew nothing about him cursed him as if he were the devil himself. And right at the middle of all that was Emma, the woman who had stolen everything from him.

According to the reports he had obsessively followed, Emma would be returning to the country soon for a high-profile seminar. She could not miss it, and there Derek would be waiting.

It wasn't about revenge; this was about portraying himself as the villain that the world had painted him to be. He wanted them to remember his name for all eternity. He wanted them to feel the weight of who he really was, understand the length he would go to in order to make his family name unforgettable.

He closed the bag, his resolve hardening. It was now or never. He had nothing left to lose, and if he was going to go would go with them all.

down, he

For the first time in years, Derek had a purpose, twisted as it was. The image of Emma's face when she realized what was going on was like a dark satisfaction filling him. He wasn't hiding anymore. He wasn't running. If he couldn't have it, then he would destroy it. And when Emma stepped back into the country, he would be there, waiting.

AAAAA

Annie paced the length of their luxurious bedroom, her perfectly manicured nails tapping nervously against the edge of her phone. The plush surroundings, once a source of comfort, now felt suffocating.

She was running out of patience. It had been four agonizing days since the first email arrived, and every moment since then had been a waking nightmare. The blackmailer had her in a vice grip, and she couldn't afford for this to drag on anymore. She couldn't afford to lose. Not after everything.

Annie's hands were trembling as she dialed the number. The phone rang once, twice, before the other person picked it up. "Hello," came a gruff voice over the line.

Annie didn't waste any time on greetings. Sharp as a razor, her voice cut through the line: "Have you found out where he is yet?

The man on the other end hesitated, his voice betraying a hint of uncase. "The email was routed through multiple countries. 18:06 Tue, Dec 31 G =

Chapter 121

The sender used advanced methods to cover their tracks. It's taking longer than expected, but I'm working on it."

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She boiled over with his response. "Work faster!" she snapped, her voice rising with each syllable. "Do you have any idea how much I'm paying you per hour? I don't need excuses. I need results! If you can't do the damn job, tell me now so I can find someone who can!" "I'm trying my best," the man replied. "I'll keep you updated."

Annie didn't wait for him to continue with anything else. With a heavy tap of her finger on the screen, the call got disconnected, and all the frustration spilled over in muttered curses.

She sank onto the edge of her bed, her head in her hands. Her heart was racing, her chest tight with anger and fear. She was cornered by the blackmailer, and she hated feeling so helpless. She drew out a small nylon annoyingly from her trouser's back pocket and started sniffing it in, hoping for some ease and relief.

Her mind raced back to the first time she has visited the playhouse as she threw back her head subconsciously and she wished she had turned around and leave.

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