Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 132

Chapter 132

She had always been proud of the way she fought life with a strong will. She had faced mountains others dared not approach, weathered storms capable of snapping the strongest of wills. But now, here she was: helpless.

Derek's eyes bored into hers, cold, like that of a predator staring down at its prey. His eyes seemed devoid of emotion

A sadistic smirk showed on his lips, as if laughing at her attempts to resist against him.

Emma's lips trembled as she tried to speak. Her chest tightened, her breathing shallow and uneven.

er eyes danced across the room, her gaze falling on the terrified faces of the people surrounding her, her employees. Seminar attendees, innocent people who had no idea their lives would be on the line today. They had come here in search of knowledge, growth, and opportunities. Now, they were trapped in a death sentence all because of her.

Guilt weighed upon her like a boulder. She closed her fists so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

Her mind was racing, frantically searching for a way out. But each passing second was like the ticking of a bomb.

"You don't have to do this, Derek," Emma said, her voice trembling. She straightened herself, meeting his eyes with as much courage as she could muster. "Let's talk things out. Let's go into my office. We can find another way."

Derek let out a dark chuckle, his eyes narrowing in contempt. "Talk things out? Really, Emma?" He stepped closer, towering over. "You think you can manipulate me, just like you manipulated Marina? You think your words can undo the damage you've done?" Emma's heart sank, but she refused to back down. "This has nothing to do with Marina," she said more quietly. "This is about you, Derek. You're better than this. You don't have to hurt anyone."

"Better then this?" Derek cut in, his voice full of anger. "You don't know a damn thing about me." He leaned closer, his voice rising to a venomous thunder. "This building you're so proud of, that represents your success, will crumble to nothing in less than ten minutes. And you're going down with it, with all these fools."

Gasp swept through the room, followed by screams. The gravity of the situation hit them like a tsunami. People were shaking on their knees, wailing with tears streaming down their faces. The sound of desperation filled the air.

Emma's heart broke into a million pieces as she watched the chaos unfolding before her. People were trembling, their muffled cries filled the air. She swallowed hard, willing herself not to break, and tried to reach Derek again. Her voice trembled.

"I can help you, Derek, please," she pleaded. "None of these people deserve to die. Let them go. This doesn't have to end like this."

The veins in his neck bulged with anger, and his voice cut through the air like a blade. "You think that these people don't deserve this?" he snarled, his voice dripping with venom. "Everybody that ever looked down upon me deserves to die as their reward! You ruined my life, Emma. You turned me into nothing, and now you expect me to just let it go?!"

Emma flinched at the raw hatred in his voice, her eyes widening as he took a step closer. "I wish your mother were here," Derek spat, his smirk returning, dark and menacing. "And your precious twins, too. I would've loved to see their face. I want the entire Walker family wiped out, Emma! But since I can't have them all, I'll settle for you."

The room fell silent as Derek started walking towards her.

There was a sudden sprint toward the door; one man thought he could run away.

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12:43 PM, 3 Jan

Chapter 132

Emma pretended not to have seen him, but the man wasn't quick enough; Derek had him spotted,

Derek didn't hesitate, he raised the gun and shot. The man dropped to the floor.

Muffled cries filled the room yet nobody dared to leave.

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Emma's heart stopped. Her legs wobbled as she stumbled backward, hands covering her mouth in horror. The reality of Derek's ruthlessness hit her like a train.

"You... you didn't have to do that," she whispered, her voice breaking.

berek had ignored her, his cold eyes locking on hers as he closed the distance between them. In an instant, he grabbed her,

apping his arm tightly around her neck and pressing the cold barrel of the gun against her temple.

A robotic voice began saying in speakers. "Please evacuate the building. Please evacuate the building"

Emma's breath caught, her eyes welling up with tears. She didn't even bother struggling against him. The thinking of the gun pressed into the back of her head made her stomach curl with fear. "You're coming with me," Derek growled. "Before we all die, I need to take you somewhere.

Emma's muffled cries of fear were drowned out by the sound of hurried footsteps in the building. Her security team had arrived, mobilized at the seminar hall doors, ready to take action. When Derek dragged her toward the door, the guards raised their weapons, but froze the moment they saw him holding Emma hostage.

"Lower your guns," Derek barked. "Unless you want her blood on your hands."

The guards shifted uncomfortably. Emma held their gaze, her eyes begging them not to shoot. Reluctantly, they let her go, stepping aside as Derek whisked her into the elevator. Emma's tears streamed down as the doors slid shut, shutting her off with him.

He pressed the button for the 69th floor.

"What... what are you doing?" she stammered.

Derek smirked, leaning close enough for her to feel his breath on her ear. "If we're going to die, Emma," he hissed, "we'll do it in the heart of this building."

Emma's knees buckled as the elevator went up, and her mind was filled with her twins, Emily and Ethan. She could envision their faces, their innocent smiles. Her chest ached at the thought of never seeing them again. The elevator dinged, the doors opened, and Derek yanked her forward, pulling her out.

"Please...," she sobbed, her voice cracking as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks.

He was pushing her toward her office. His voice was so lifeless as he said, "It won't take long, Mrs CEO, one second you are here, another you're gone. Painless; you should be thanking me for making it quick."

Emma shook her head, tears rolling freely. "You don't have to do this," she begged, her tones now desperate. "Think of the people in this building, think of the lives you are going to take!"

Derek's gaze turned hard. "No one thought about me when you messed with my life," Derek snarled. "So why should.

for their lives?