Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 38

Chapter

38

She was up early the next morning, determined that this day would start off differently. She made her twins' favorite breakfast, hoping the warm start would give them comfort in this strange, all-too-familiar city. Getting them dressed and ready, she dropped them off at daycare, tugging slightly at her heart as she waved goodbye. They were her world, and every move she made here was for them.

Dressed in a light layer of makeup, a scarf, and her sunglasses firmly on, Emma entered Blackthorn Hospital. It was years since she had tried hiding herself, and the memories only served to pull the knot in her stomach a little tighter. She came up to the receptionist and did her best to sound steady while introducing herself. Carolyn Smith, mother of Emily Smith, referred to your hospital.

The receptionist's fingers flew across the keyboard, her face stoic until she scrolled down Emily's file. Emma's heart quickened as she soon whisked away to another floor to meet with a doctor; this was it-she had to believe the movement was progress, that she could give Emily the care she needs here.

Inside the doctor's office, Emma watched him read through the Ele, with every word read, his expression changed-the severity of Emily's condition. Finally, he looked up with a heavy face full of sympathy.

"Your daughter's case is very unique," he began, his voice soft. "I'm so sorry for what she's been going through. We've gotten her referral, but.." He hesitated, as if looking for words. "Because it's such a rare case, the CEO needs to sign the referral for us to have any chance of treating her. Without his approval, there is absolutely nothing we can do yet."

Emma stared as the world tilted under her feet. She hardly dared to breathe as the reality set in. The CEO's signature, Alexander's signature, was on the paper staring back at her. She had expected the challenges but not this. She'd known returning meant risking seeing him again, but now her daughter's health was caught up in his approval. It all felt like a twisted game.

Emma's heart began to race as she leaned forward, her frustration barely contained. Then please, pass on the file to him. Til pay whatever it takes, as long as my daughter gets the treatment he needs. I didn't come all this way to just be stalled by red tape." The doctor exhaled and remained patient, though firm, in his countenance. It doesn't work that way, ma'am."

Patience snapped, Emma demanded, "Get to the point," her voice colder than she intended. She hadn't flown around the world to listen to excuses.

The doctor shifted uncomfortably. The CEO is only here once every two weeks, He has other obligations, other businesses and he was here just yesterday. So.

Of course, it was. She had known about Alexander's impossible schedule, but in the mad dash to get here, she'd forgotten somehow. But two more weeks of waiting? Unthinkable.

"So you're telling me that my daughter has to wait two weeks before her treatment even starts?" Her voice was shaking with the effort of holding back her anger.

"I understand it is frustrating, but such cases are few and far between, and until the CEO approved the referral, there was simply nothing we could do." Emma sprang to her feet, her anger blazing. This is an emergency. Surely your CEO can make an exception! My daughter's life is on the line, and you are telling me she has to wait because he is busy? If your child needed help, would you settle for this?"

Emma whipped pround and out of the office, not awaiting an answer, her veins coursing with the flow of her anger. Somewhere out there, the man who held her daughter's fate in his hands was no doubt indulging in his luxuries, entangled in his picture-perfect life with Annie. That fact alone was enough to make her blood boil.

That night Emma lay awake, staring at the ceiling while her mind ran wildly with worry and frustration. She had come here as fast as possible to get Emily the desperately needed treatmer but now. this. She looked over at Emruly, who fast slept on the bed, her little face serene. Emma gently brushed one strand of hair from her daughter's forehead and softly sighed.

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Tue, Dec 1,

Chapter 38

"Ethan, it's time for bed she called, watching her son still glued to the TV.

"But I don't want to sleep yet, Mom! I want to watch his interview, Ethan protested.

Emma blinked, barely processing what he was saying, "Who?"

"Him-the man I saw yesterday at the airport."

Her heart stuttered at the screen now in the middle of a commercial break. She had been so overwhelmed, she didn't even notice what Ethan was watching. "They're interviewing him on TV she asked, trying to sound nonchalant. "Yeah! Is he some kinda big deal?

Emma took a deep breath in; her voice was firm as she turned off the television. "Ethan, I don't want you talking about that man. You have to understand, he's a stranger."

Ethan frowned. "But he seemed nice, Mom. He even said he wanted to be my friend"

Emma hunched down to meet Ethan's gaze. "Sweetheart, no matter how nice someone looks, we can't trust strangers. Do you understand?"

She had tucked him in and gone back to the darkened living room, turning the TV back on and bringing the volume down to a whisper. And there he was-Alexander's face filled the screen, polished and composed. He looked just like he had at the airport: flawless, untouchable, like some kind of deity who belonged to a world that had no space for someone like her. But she knew the truth. Behind that perfect façade was a man as cold, as unfeeling as stone.

Emma gritted her teeth. Her hand slipped up over the armrest and picked up the remote. Enough. She needed to concentrate. Tomorrow, she would think of a way to get him to sign the referral-no matter what it took. She hadn't come all this way to be defeated now. By the third day, all patience had worn off Emma, having been overrun by this gnawing desperation that grew more desperate by the minute. She had gone to the hospital twice, going there so a miracle could happen-the CEO would have signed the referral, and they could have started with Emily's treatment straight away. Each time, though, she had to leave empty-handed, hollow reassurances, and an ache in her heart that was becoming unbearable.

She wasn't just going to helplessly sit and watch her daughter suffer, helpless as time slipped through her fingers. She'd fought so hard to stay hidden from the world and the people she'd left behind, to avoid contact, even. But Emily's life was worth more than any pride or rules she had set for herself.

She took a deep breath, fortifying herself. If waiting wasn't going to get her the help Emily needed, then she'd have to take matters into her hands, even if it meant crossing every line she had drawn to protect herself.

A plan started to form in her mind-a very risky one, but just about plausible enough to work. She cou

Idn't avoid Alexander anymore.

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