Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 70

Chapter 70

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Pulling himself free, his hand gripped the length of his throbbing desire. He closed his eyes and let his head fall back, the image of Emma flooding his mind. Her smile, her laugh, the way she moved-it all played on an endless loop in his head.

His hand moved rhythmically, seeking relief from the torment, but it wasn't enough. No matter how much he tried, the pleasure was hollow, a poor substitute for what he truly craved.

He wanted her. Needed her. No one else could make him feel whole-no one else could

d fill the void she had left behind.

Just as he was beginning to lose himself in the sensation, the shrill ring of his office phone jolted him back to reality.

"Damn it," he hissed, cursing under his breath as he reached for the phone, his frustration reaching a boiling point,

He answered with a terse, "What?" his voice rough and uneven, bis emotions barely contained.

"Sir, it's Kevin," came the steady reply. "I've got the details on the man you asked about

Alexander straightened, his breathing still heavy. He tucked himself away, composing himself as best as he could. "Il call you back." he said curtly before slamming the receiver down.

Annie stormed into the apartment, her heels clicking sharply against the tiled floor. Her face was twisted with rage, her eyes. blazing as though fueled by a fire she could no longer contain. She looked every bit the demon she had been accused of being, her fury barely held in check.

The scene at the store played on a loop in her mind, tormenting her. She had seen the way Alexander looked at Emma, his gaze lingering, soft, filled with something Annie hadn't seen directed at her in a long time, if ever. It was maddening. The humiliation of it all churned in her gut, the memory of how even the store staff had seemed to notice his distraction.

She wiped at the tears streaking her cheeks, her hand trembling with the effort. Annie was not one to cry; she hated the vulnerability it exposed. But she had wielded tears as a weapon for years, a means to pull Alexander back into her orbit whenever she felt him drifting. Now, her usual tricks seemed useless. He hadn't even spared her a glance, let alone the comfort she once expected.

Her frustration boiled over as she grabbed a wine glass

the counter and hurled it at the wall. The shattering sound was satisfying but fleeting, the shards glittering on the floor like the pieces of her crumbling facade. She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms as her mind raced.

What had happened in the store wasn't just an insult; it was a warning. A message that she could no longer ignore. Emma was a threat-no, more than a threat. She was the embodiment of everything Annie had fought so hard to keep. Alexander was hers. He always had been, and she wasn't about to lose him now.

As she stewed in her anger, her phone vibrated insistently in her purse. The shrill ringtone grated against her frayed nerves. Snatching the device, she didn't bother to check the caller ID before answering.

"What?" she snapped, her voice sharp with irritation

A rasping, sinister voice replied, the sound sending a shiver down her spine. "At last, you've decided to pick up my call." Her heart skipped a beat as she pulled the phone away to check the screen. The name glowing on the display made her blood boil even more. She clenched her jaw, wishing she'd ignored the call altogether. "What the hell do you want? Annie growled, masking the unease that pricked at her insides. She wouldn't give this man the satisfaction of seeing her fear. "We have no more business. Do not call me again."

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21.17 Tue, Dec 17

Chapter 70

"Don't be so hasty," the man replied, his tone mocking. "Our business isn't over until I say it is."

П

Annic scoffed, though the sound came out more strained than he intended. "I paid you what we agreed on. Whatever yout think you're owed, you're wrong"

"Perhaps, the man said slowly, the menace in his voice chilling. But a woman came to see me a few days ago. She's offering ten times what you paid me. Ten times.."

Her blood ran cold. The room seemed to tilt, her grip on the phone tightening. "What woman?" she demanded, her voice trembling despite her efforts to sound commanding

"That's for me to know," he said, a grin evident in his voice. "She wants me to testify. Against you."

Annie's mind raced, her thoughts spiraling. Testify? Against her? Who would dare?

"Don't you even think about it," she hissed, though fear gnawed at her insides. She tried to piece it together. It couldn't be Emma-Emma didn't have the resources to offer that kind of money. None of the parents of the innocent children involved were wealthy either. "You don't scare me," the man sneered, breaking into her thoughts. "If you want me to stay quiet, I suggest you reconsider my price."

Annie's lips curled in disgust. "You're greedy, and you're a fool if you think I'll give you another dime. She is a fake. And don't ever call me again."

Without waiting for a response, she ended the call, throwing the phone onto the couch as if it burned her. Her breaths came in shallow bursts, her hands trembling as she pressed them to her temples.

Although Adam Henshel has sounded certain, there was no way it was possible and with this reassuring thought, Annie calmed herself down and poured herself a wine.

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