Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 122

Chapter 122

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She exited the car, momentarily blinded by the sounds of flashing cameras. The press was relentless; their lenses captured every moment, every movement. Jaden stood by the door, his hand outstretched to guide her. His grip firm yet soft as he guided her toward the

restaurant entrance, a picture-perfect couple under the scrutiny of innumerable eyes.

The restaurant was among the hottest spots in town, boasting celebrity clientele and a frenzy of media attention. Jaden had deliberately chosen it. Their names had headlined news reports for days on end, and he wasn't about to let that stop now. especially not with Jake breathing down his neck. As they walked in, Emma could feel the weight of the world press down upon her shoulders. She was not used to this much attention: staring, whispering, continuous flashes, so overwhelming. But Jaden was cool and composed; his hand never left hers.

Inside, the restaurant was exquisite as they stepped in, a complete opposite of the frenzy that lay outside. Jaden pulled out a chair for Emma, and his smile was warm as he leaned down to plant a quick kiss on her cheek. A small gesture, yet one that rippled a wave of warmth through her.

Jaden sat down opposite her, his heart heavy behind the polished facade. The altercation a few days ago with Jake had been ugly, wounds reopened, accusations hurled as if knives. Their mother had tried to mediate, but Jaden refused to face her. knowing her disappointment would cut deeper than any of Jake's words. He wanted peace, but Jake seemed hell-bent on tearing him down, dragging their past into the present like a dead weight.

Jaden's chest constricted as his mind shot back to Jake's threat. What if Emma finds out? The question haunted him, a relentless whisper at the back of his mind. Five years ago, everything had spiraled out of control, and while he hadn't been at fault, the blame had fallen squarely on his shoulders. That he had changed, that he'd spent years trying to rebuild himself, didn't matter. No matter how much he appeared to try and outrun it, the past still seemed to stain all him.

He watched Emma scan the menu, her face aglow from the soft light of the restaurant. Her smile soothed his aching heart; she had given him an opportunity when the odds had been against him, against her past, against his, and he did not know how he had earned such luck, but he sure was not going to let go of her and the fragile happiness they are trying to build together.

Their server came over, and they ordered. When the dishes arrived, Jaden cut a bit of steak and leaned over the table, holding the piece out to Emma with a boyish grin. "Try this," he whispered, full of affection.

Emma laughed lightly, her cheeks flushing as she leaned forward to accept the bite. "You're spoiling me," she teased, but her eyes held a tenderness that made Jaden's heart swell.

He smiled back, but inside, his mind was churning. What would she do if she knew? The question ripped at him. Emma and her children were his entire world now. He was willing to sacrifice everything for them, to protect them at all costs. But the specter of his past loomed large, threatening to shatter the delicate life he was trying to build.

Jaden leaned across the table, his hand wrapping around Emma's "You make me want to be better," he admitted, his voice low, solemn. Emma cocked her head to one side; her gaze searched his, "You already are," she said with plain simplicity, her words embracing him in a cocoon of warmness.

The evening passed in a haze of laughter and shared stories.

Emma and Jaden spent the whole evening in each other's company. The restaurant buzzed around them with the faint hum of conversation and clinking glasses, but for Emma and Jaden, the world outside their little bubble didn't exist. They laughed, shared stories, and fell into silences; it was late by the time they looked at the time. So late!

They went out reluctantly into the cool night air. City lights twinkled like a thousand little stars, and the shine reflected the glow of happiness that shone between them.

Reaching Emma's apartment, Jaden parked and walked to her door, always a gentleman, to open it for her. He held his hand out, lifting her as if she was the most fragile treasure in the world

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Chapter 122

Emma's eyes met his, and a soft laugh escaped her lips.

There they stood, inches apart, the night wrapping them in its mantle. The air between them felt charged, heavy with unspoken feelings that had been building all night. Their smiles mirrored each other's, wide and unrestrained. Neither could look away, as if the moment would shatter if they did.

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Then, as if an invisible string tugged, Jaden leaned forward. His eyes flickered down to her lips, and Emma's breath caught in her throat. The world seemed to freeze, the sounds of the city dulling into the void. She angled her head slightly, met him halfway, and suddenly their lips crashed together.

The kiss was electric, urgent, passionate, and full of every ounce of emotion they'd been holding onto. The kind of kiss that makes the world blur away, leaving only the two of them in its wake. Jaden's hands found their way to her waist, pulling her closer as if the mere distance between them was too much to bear. Emma's fingers tangled in his hair, holding him tightly, afraid to let go.

Their lips moved, a silent confession of all they felt yet had not said. Raw and consuming, time stretched seconds into minutes, though neither was able to pull away.

Finally breaking apart, his forehead rested against hers as they breathed heavy. Emma's cheeks were flushed, her eyes shimmering as she looked up at him. "Jaden." she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.

Jaden brushed a strand of hair from her face; his touch was tender.

Neither spoke for a moment, the heartbeats thudding as a single one. The after-effect of what just transpired was hanging between them, heavy, undeniable. He framed her face with his hands, his thumbs light on her cheeks. "You mean everything to me, Emma," he whispered huskily, his voice catching. "I'll spend the rest of my life proving that to you if you'll let me."

Tears welled in Emma's eyes, but she blinked them away, smiling softly. "You mean even more to me."

Jaden smiled, his heart full in a way it hadn't been in years. He leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead, taking her hand in his. Together, they walked toward her apartment, their connection stronger than it had ever been.