Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 56

Chapter 56

"What happened to my son?" Emma asked, her voice hoarse from panic and anger.

"Ma'am, your son has been involved in an accident. We're taking him to the hospital now."

Her hands were trembling as she held onto her phone. "What happened to him? Where are you now?"

"A truck crashed into the daycare building. The driver has been apprehended, and we're heading for the nearest hospital.

A sob broke loose, and tears ran down her face. Her hand clutched at her chest as the weight of fear leaned on her, eyes darting to the hospital doors. Emily was still inside, and she couldn't just leave her to herself. She had to protect both of her children, somehow, without neglecting either one of them. Her bind began to race, looking for a plan as she ran back inside, features hardening in determination.

She didn't waste another second on the line, dialing the head of her security team. "I want every one of you at the hospital immediately. I need maximum protection, and any suspicious movement or packages are to be brought to my attention at once."

"Yes, ma'am," he promptly replied.

Hanging up, she dialed back in to the man who'd broken the terrifying news, "Which hospital are you taking him to?"

"Blackthorn Hospital. It's the closest

Fine. I'll be waiting," she finally said, a desperate prayer escaping her lips as she begged for her son's safety. She couldn't bear losing either of her twins; they were her whole world. Her life would break irreparably if something bad happened to one of them.

It was then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw Annie standing across the lobby, laughing and chatting with a group of people as though she hadn't a care in the world. Annie's words, which were so chilling during their last encounter, suddenly of bile into Emma's throat. Annie had warned her to leave, threatened her even, and now a little time later, a brought a surge tragedy had struck right where it would hurt Emma most: her children. Emma's eyes went cold. Emma wouldn't care if someone hurt her or threaten her, but her children were definitely off limits. Annie had just crossed a line that could never be uncrossed.

Without hesitation, Emma strode over to her, pulling her roughly out of the conversation and ignoring the gasps from onlookers around them. Annie looked up at her with feigned innocence, eyes wide, as if she hadn't a clue what Emma was so upset about.

"You have crossed a line, Annie, a line you should never have dared cross, Emma said, her voice low and cold; Annie shrank a bit.

"What are you talking about?" Annie replied, blinking up at her, her tone sickeningly sweet.

"Just seconds after your threat, a truck crashes into my son's daycare. Convenient, isn't it?" Emma's voice was a venomous hiss.

Annie shook her head in feigned confusion, "I don't understand what you're insinuating, Emma"

The dam broke, and Emma's self-control snapped. The innocence smeared on Annie's face was too much to take-in. It was a grotesque mockery that furthered her rage. She lifted her hand and slapped Annie in the face. The contact reverberated around the lobby as Annie stepped back, reaching to cup her cheek while tears welled in her eyes from the utterly unexpected blow. People around them went taken aback; some even fished for their phones. Emma turned away from them, a growl leaving her lips, as her face twisted in anger and disdain, unbothered with the gossip and stares surrounding her.

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Chapter 56

A few minutes later, she was horrified when she watched the hospital staff wheel her son Ethan through the emergency doors. He lay unconscious, his tiny body frighteningly still. Em's heart seized as she sprinted to pace the gurney, a spiral of fear and rage racing in her head as she knew she would stop at nothing to protect her kids- no matter who stood in her

way

Emma stood at the entrance to the emergency a

ion, feeling though the whole world was crumbling around her. Her hands clasped tightly, the knuckles white, pleading silently with the universe for mercy on her son. Her heart was racing while she prayed that Ethan might just survive the horrific attack and silently vowed that if he did, she would fight back with everything she had. This was beyond anything she'd faced so far, Annie had crossed lines in the past that Emma had tried desperately to overlook, but this, targeting innocent children for reasons of jealousy and spite, was unforgivable. Her son's life, among other children, had been put in danger, simply because of Annie's need to tear her down.

She took a deep, shaking breath her tears barely held within. Then she heard a voice that sounded all too familiar.

"What happened? Where's Ethan?" Jaden hurried to her side, his eyes filled with concern.

She had not called him on purpose, but at that moment of desperation, she knew this was more than she could bear alone, she needed someone, anyone, to share this unbearable burden. Turning to him, she found herself immediately pulled into his arms with no hesitation whatsoever, holding her tightly while she finally broke down.

"I'm scared." She choked out between sobs that shook her body.

With grace, Jaden began stroking her back. "It's gonna be all right Emma. I'm here to take care of you. You are not alone."

They stood this way, hugging, for what felt like an eternity as Emma drew strength from his presence. Then, finally, the emergency room doors swung open, and a nurse gestured to her Emma's heart leapt as she saw Ethan wheeled out, unconscious but stable and taken into a VIP room for monitoring.

Emma went to his side immediately, sitting down in the chair beside his bed, her eyes fixed upon his tiny, frail body. She watched every breath he took, lest if she wasn't careful, he would disappear forever. Her hand hovered near his own; she wanted to touch it so badly, to feel his warmth, just to let her know he was still here with her.

Jaden laid a reassuring hand on her shoulder, his expression was as somber and concerned as hers. They sat in silence, the weight of shared concern hanging heavy between them, until Emma's phone buzzed. She glanced at it, willing herself to ignore the call. But her secretary's name flashed across the screen, and the ringing continued insistent. Sighing she excused herself and stepped outside the room to answer SEND GIFT