Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 30

COMMENT 1715

Chapter 30

As the weight of these revelations bore down on her, Emma wondered what her life might have been like if she had grown up with her true family. She thought about the fateful day she had met Mrs. Walker. Perhaps this was all part of God's mysterious plan, leading her back to where she truly belonged.

Her thoughts were interrupted as Mrs. Walker's door slowly creaked open and the older woman stepped into the room. Emma rose to her feet, her eyes swollen from crying. She took tentative steps toward Mrs. Walker, her voice breaking as she whispered, "Mother..." The word hung in the air, filled with years of longing and heartbreak

Mrs. Walker's own tears fell freely as she opened her arms. "I'm so sorry for not recognizing you sooner, my daughter. Forgive me"

Emma shook her head, pulling her mother into a tight embrace. "You're not the one to blame, Mother" she whispered through her tears. They held each other close, feeling the years of separation melt away in the warmth of their embrace.

Time seemed to stand still as they stood there, bound together by shared grief, love and the bittersweet reunion they never could have anticipated. Emma wished she could have come sooner, just to have had one moment, even a second, with Diana

AAA

Presently.

Derek clenched his phone, his knuckles white with tension as he forced himself to breathe slowly, trying to keep his voice steady despite the simmering rage beneath his calm exterior. He was still at the office, surrounded by sharp-eyed colleagues, so he had to keep his tone low and measured, though every word seemed to seethe with barely restrained fury.

"We've got a problem," he growled into the phone, his voice tight. "Meet me at home."

When Marina arrived, her face was taut with worry. She knew Derek well enough to recognize that he never lost his temper without good reason. For him to summon her home like this, something had to have gone terribly wrong. The moment she stepped inside, she dropped her bag, her eyes wide as she searched his face.

"What happened?" she asked urgently.

Derek's jaw clenched as he took a moment to gather his thoughts, struggling to keep his voice from rising. "Your aunt... she changed her will today," he replied, his tone laced with a mixture of bitterness and frustration.

Marina's initial alarm ebbed just a bit. She relaxed, almost relieved. "Oh, is that all? I don't see why that's a problem. She has no other close family besides me... who else would she trust to inherit her assets?"

Derek's gaze darkened, and he shook his head slowly. "We underestimated Emma," he said in a low growl, barely containing his anger. He stood up suddenly, his face shadowed by an anger Marina had rarely seen before. "Your dear aunt decided to leave eighty percent of her fortune to that good for nothing Verenica!"

The words struck Marina like a blow. She staggered back, feeling sick, twisting dread in her stomach. Her mind spun, scrambling to make sense of what Derek had just said. Veronica Eighty percent? How could this be happening?

"No..." she whispered her voice faint, barely a breath. Her body trembled as the shock set in, her hands rising unconsciously to her mouth as tears began to slip down her cheeks. "No, this can't be. There's no way she would do that. I'm her only niece. she wouldn't do that to me. Not after everything I've done for her.."

Derek's expression remained hard, his fists clenched at his sides. Believe it, Marina. She left nearly everything to Veronica. Everything we planned.. all that we worked for... it's slipping through our fingers because of her."

Marina shook her head, desperately clinging to disbelief. Her chest tightened, and her throat felt raw, a mixture of betrayal and desperation clawing at her insides. This was a nightmare... had to be.

1/2

Tue, Dec

Chapter 30

Marina's grip tightened around the neck of the wine bottle, her knuckles turning white before she hurled it against the wall, shattering it in an explosion of glass and dark red streaks. But the wreckage didn't soothe her, it wasn't enough. She turned, her vision blurred with tears, and stormed toward the television With one swift motion, she grabbed the edge and flung it to the ground, watching it crack and splinter into pieces, sparks briefly flickering from the broken screen. Yet, her heart still throbbed painfully, twisted and hollow with betrayal and loss. Nething she destroyed could fix this agony, this sense of failure.

After everything she had done... every plan, every lie, every sacrifice... this was how it ended. She had even killed Diana without a second thought ruthlessly clearing any obstacles that might have stood in her way, confident that everything would eventually belong to her. And yet, a nobody, an outsider, had snatched it all away from her leaving her with nothing

A scream tore from her throat, raw and broken. She whirled to face Derek, her eyes blazing with grief and fury. "You should have told me the moment you found out!" Her voice cracked. "I had known sooner maybe I could have done something anything!" Derek's jaw was tense his expression unreadable. "It all happened fast, Marina. And I wasn't the only one there... half the firm's legal team was in attendance. This wasn't something I could just... undo."

Marina dragged a trembling hand over her tear-streaked face. Her mind whirled with questions, strategies, desperate thoughts. She couldn't let this stand. She had to act, and she had to act now. Her aunt was her last hope... she had to confront her, understand why she'd done this, why she'd betrayed her so completely. Without hesitation, she grabbed her bag and turned to leave, but Derek's hand closed around her wrist, holding her in place.

"Maybe you shouldn't go." he said, his voice cautious, but firm

Her eyes flashed dangerously as she jerked her hand from his grip. "And am I just supposed to sit here and watch some stranger steal everything that's rightfully mine?" she spat her voice barely a whisper yet brimming with venom

Derek hesitated, then looked at her, his expression darkening with something she hadn't seen before "I'm starting to wonder.. if Veronica looking so much like Diana was really just coincidence