Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 19

Marina boiled with anger. She was pacing through her office with thoughts going through her mind. The thought that Mrs. Walker would hire someone like Emma, someone with no good background or qualifications, into the company and give her such an important position made Marina burn. She had spent all her life proving her loyalty. She had made unspeakable sacrifices all in the name of earning the trust and status she believed she deserved from Mrs. Walker. Now, this nobody, "Veronica Moore, Marina growled, was threatening it all

She grabbed her desk, her mind spinning. What actually did Me Walker even see in her?! Marina was sure that whatever innocence Emma was displaying was nothing more than a ruse.

"I will not allow you to ruin everything I've worked for. Marina said under her breath. Her voice laced with Venom

Marina picked up her phone and dialed the investigator's number with renewed anger. "Get me informations on Veronica Moore, and don't keep me waiting. Find out where she's from, who she really is, and why she disappeared."

The voice on the other end of the phone was silent for a moment, then they replied, "I understand. I'll double my efforts."

Marina leaned back in her chair after hanging up the call. A twisted smile formed on her lips. If Emma wanted to play innocent, Marina was ready to rip that mask off her face in front of everyone.

As Emma prepared for work that morning, something felt odd. But she couldn't quite pinpoint it out. She stood out in the

outside Mrs. Walker's room, as she usually did, ready for them to make their drive to work. But when the door finally opened. Mrs. Walker wasn't putting on her usual work attire but a plain, gray, somber dress. Her face was white and tired, and her eyes were filled with unshed tears.

The sadness in Mrs. Walker's eyes was almost palpable in its weight, and Emma felt her heart clutch at its sight. She immediately reached out, her voice low to barely a whisper. "Elizabeth, what's wrong!

Mrs. Walker took a shaken breath; her poise quivered. Today..." she started, voice cracking. Today makes a year since my daughter passed away. Her face fell that moment, and she finally let go sobbing openly. The rawness of her pain filled the space between them, and Emma immediately closed the distance between them and pulled Mrs. Walker into an embrace.

"Oh, I am 50 sorry. Emma whispered, her voice shaking with emotion. Emma wanted to offer some sort of comfort but felt that words were futile considering the situation. She wrapped her arms tightly around Mrs. Walker, willing to absorb some of the ache that Elizabeth was carrying inside her if possible.

Emma's mind strayed to a couple of times when she found Dian's things strewn around the house. She has stayed as far away from Diana's room for respect sake but has come across her things one way or the other. An old scarf, lipsticks, headbands, and Diana's framed photos were everywhere in the living room. Each relic of Diana's life had made her jump, ast if peering into a fractured mirror of her reflection. Uncanny was the resemblance, eerie almost, but it was mere coincidence, Emma believes

Mrs. Walker pulled backward a little, brushing a hand over her cheek, although more tears still ran down "Would you come with me today. Vero? I would like... I think Diana would love to meet you."

The invitation tore at Emma's heart, and she nodded, not hesitating, her words caught in her throat. "Yes... yes, I'd be honored to meet her."

They shared a long, tearful moment of silence, and this event made them seem more close. Emma found herself whisked into Mrs. Walker's pain, and the sorrow they held in each other arms was too much to bear; she too could not hold her tears anymore. She burst into tears.

Her heart felt heavy as they walked towards the door. She remebered what Mrs. Walker had told her about Diana's death. and a tragic picture surfaced in her mind that refused to be dismissed.

ung woman, a victim of cancer, had red not from the disease but from what it had done to her

Diana Walker, a delicate young

12:49 Tue, Dec 17 G

Chapter 19

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spirit. Diana had committed suicide in some dark parking lot, leaving behind for her mother a letter that would have torn at anyone's heart. In the letter Diana had poured out her regrets, apologizing for not having the strength to endure and confessing how desperately she had wanted to live, to fight on, but her ailing body simply couldn't keep up.

Yet, Mrs. Walker had publicly declared Diana had died in her sleep peacefully, thus saving her daughter from the ignominy and saving her memory from the cruel rumors of this world. "That was my final gift to her," Mrs. Walker had said to Emma And Emma had felt a pang of understanding at that time-a mother's love, which did not falter, even after facing the unspeakable loss.

As the two were just stepping out of the building, holding hands they came across Marina, who was just arriving at the house. Marina's expression transformed in an instant from surprise to disgust as her gaze fell on Emma.

"Aunt," Marina's voice was as calm as the ocean as she turned her gaze back to Mrs. Walker. "Ive come to take you to see Diana. She's waiting for us."

Mrs. Walker wiped her tears off her voice trembling. I'm already on my way there," she said softly, her hold on Emma's hand tightening as if drawing strength from her. 'I can't wait to see her again."

"With her?" Marina's voice went cold; her eyes were fixed upon Emma with open disdain. She pointed her manicured finger in her direction, the disgust marking every word. "This girl is a stranger. This is a family matter." Emma's face drained, but before she could pull back, Mrs. Walker's grasp only tightened. Her expression turned cold. "I

don't have time for this, Marina," she said so decisively that no further argument would serve. "Emma is coming with me. I've made my choices. Meet us there if you want, but I'm not letting her go.

And with that, Mrs. Walker pulled Emma along.

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