Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 73

Chapter 73

That afternoon, Jaden had brought his cousin over to help ease the day's tension, and the house was filled with the chatter and laughter of Emma, Jaden, his cousin, and the twins. They spent hours trying to bond, playing games, and sharing little pieces of themselves while the air of excitement and nervousness hung over Emma like a cloud. She had enjoyed the moment, but the looming weight of the evening ahead kept her stomach in knots.

The time finally arrived, and Emma and Jaden prepared to leave the twins in the care of his cousin. The twins, who knew nothing about the significance of the night, waved goodbye with wide smiles. Emma, however, couldn't shake the apprehension brewing inside her. She had hired a makeup artist earlier, though she had never been a fan of heavy makeup. Tonight was different. Her reflection in the mirror showed smooth, glowing skin, subtle but striking makeup, and the most elegant ponytail she'd ever worn. The stylist had outdone herself. She looked polished, professional, and radiant at least on

the outside.

He opened the door, and she stepped into the car with her heart beating wildly in her chest. Her hands fidgeted in her lap as the car sped toward the veriue, her mind racing with thoughts. The world awaited with great curiosity the identity of W2 Holdings anonymous CEO, and Emma wondered whether she would meet their expectations or let them down.

flashing In the blink of an eye, Jaden pulled up to the dazzling venue of the Aurora Honors. It hit Emma right in her face-f cummeras, a screaming horde of fans, and the grandeur of the event. Emma reached for the small mirror in her purse, simply to retouch her lips and check her face one last time. Her heart was galloping while her brain played every single reaction that could be coming her way. "You've got this," she whispered to herself, though the words felt hollow.

Jaden walked around the car and opened her door, his hand extended to help her out. Taking a deep breath, Emma stepped into the glaring spotlight. The moment she appeared, the deatening cheers fell into a stunned silence, replaced by murmurs of disbelief. Emma plastered a bright smile on her face and looked through the crowd, seeking the semblance of approval from them. However, what caught her eye was that a number of people started staring past her; shock then transformed into disbelieving loathing. Following their gaze, she froze. There, on the red carpet, stood Alexander and Annie. They looked perfect together, like a power couple from a magazine cover. Annie's angelic smile was brighter than ever as she posed effortlessly beside Alexander. His stoic expression remained unchanged, but there was a protectiveness in his stance, as if shielding Annie from the world.

A thousand emotions raged through Emma's chest-tightening pain, anger, regret. She had expected to see them, had prepared herself for this, yet nothing could have prepared her for how much it would hurt. Annie's smile grew wider, almost smug, as their eyes briefly met.

"Move on, loser!" a voice from the crowd shouted, cutting through Emma's thoughts like a knife.

It began with scattered jeers that grew louder and louder until people started booing her, the distaste for her palpable. Her stomach somersaulted, and her face felt the burning sensation of humiliation. She lowered her head, refusing to look into the eyes of the crowd anymore. Their hatred raged like a storm, unstoppable and overwhelming.

Emma's instinct yelled at her to turn around, to flee, but before he was able to do anything. Jaden firmly but delicately took her wrist in his. "Come on," he said, calm yet urgent. "Let's go. Stile for the camera,

His words startled her out of her paralysis. She forced a smile, though it felt like her face was cracking under the weight of it Jaden led her onto the red carpet; his hold steady as they walked past the glaring cameras and whispering crowd.

Indoors, things were not any good. No sooner was she spotted than a wave of whispering resounded across the hall. Emma felt their staring at her-their judgment, disgust. Faces that would earlier break into a warm smile, when she was Alexander's wife, now looked aside with icy expression.

Emma and Jaden were shown to their table and seated with the other very uncomfortable couple. The chitchat around the table was polite, yet strained. Emma felt like she was suffocating growing in discomfort by the second it seemed. She subtly Tue, Dec

Chapter 73

tugged at her dress, almost as if she wished it would swallow her up and she'd disappear.

53%

The more she tried, the deeper in doubt she was drowned? Was this really worthwhile-being discovered as the CEO of W2 Holdings? The hostility in the crowd had really made her doubts begin. Now, standing up and showing who she was on that stage seemed impossible.

"Are you okay?" Jaden asked in a soft tone, filled with concern.

Emma gave him a tight nod, though her mind screamed otherwise. Her confidence was crumbling, her resolve unraveling. The cheers and applause that had once been a backdrop to her life as Alexander's wife had been replaced by jeers and hatred. As the function went on, Emma sat rigidly in her chair, her smile a flimsy mask. Within, her mind was racing-a maelstrom of fear and doubt. She just wanted to flee, to be free from this terrible dream into the comforting arms of her children. But somewhere within, she knew she couldn't run. The whole world was watching her.

She slowly powered up her phone, and Her haters were everywhere on the Internets, cursing her out. Emma scrolled through comments on her phone, her heart grew heavier with each passing moment. "Let Annie breathe, already! Move on!" one said, while another cruelly remarked, "No one even wants you here anymore. The hatred wasn't veiled; it was direct, unrelenting, and personal. Just die already. Her hands were shaking as she continued to read on, every word cutting deeper than the last.

It wasn't a few comments; it was a landslide of disdain. Alexander's supporters and Annie's followers had actively made it their mission to force her out of the storyline, and Blackthorn's strict warning to her haters one week ago seemed to have changed nothing. It had fallen upon deaf ears, lost amidst a sea of insults and mocking catcalls.

Emma's vision blurred, threatening to spill over with tears, but she blinked them away and forced herself to sit wanting to give them the satisfaction of breaking her, even if they already had.

1. up. not

Jaden, sitting next to her, noticed the trembling of her hand and the defeated look on her face. Without a word, he reached. out and gently took her phone from her grasp, locking the screen and placing it out of her reach. "Don't," he said softly-low and calm enough that the couple sharing their table with them didn't hear. "Let's just enjoy tonight. Don't give in to them.

SEND GIFT