Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 83

Chapter

83

His phone buzzed, jerking him out of his reverie. Emma's name danced across the screen. She called once, then again, and again

Jaden stared at the phone, his emotions a tangle of anger, regret, and something he couldn't quite name. But he didn't answer. He couldn't.

When the ringing finally ceased, leaving only an unsaid silence in its place, Jaden put down the phone and leaned backward, closing his eyes. Emma shook his world to the foundation, and he was still not ready to confront that fact-or himself. Not

now

A couple of minutes later, Jaden's phone buzzed on the table. He glanced at the screen-it was his mother calling. He let out

resigned sigh before answering, already knowing the purpose of her call.

Jaden, darling. Good evening. Where are you? We're all here waiting for you," her warm, familiar voice filled the silence in

his room

"Tam not coming Jaden said quietly. Why should he lie, most especially to her? She was his mother, who had been the only one by his side through the high and the low of times.

"Please... for fny sake, Jaden," she called out softly with a soothing voice that pleaded with him. I made your favorite dinner."

"And Jake?" he asked flatly, knowing what her answer would be.

"He's here, she admitted, her words dripping in sadness. She had wanted her sons to make peace for so long, but the break between Jaden and his oldest brother, Jake Fernando, seemed impossible to breach.

Jaden was the fourth son in the Fernando family, but he had never gotten along well with Jake. Jake was the eldest and the apparent heir, who had always felt threatened by Jaden's intelligence and magnetic personality. Their animosity was palpable, even at family gatherings.

"Come home, jaden. I want to see your face," his mother said softly, her voice almost breaking.

Jaden let out a heavy sigh and closed his eyes. "All right, Mom. Less than thirty minutes."

when he eventually got to his parents' estate house, the four expensive cars aligned neatly in the driveway served him at fresh dose of dread-the reminder of just how much he detested these family gatherings. Full well did the evidence of the Fernando family wealth stand out, but it seemed more like a gilded cage to him.

Steeling himself, he entered the grand sitting room. The hum of conversation from the dining room ceased right at the moment he entered. His father's smile that had been there a few seconds ago disappeared the second he noticed Jaden was alone.

"Where is your girlfriend?" his father inquired. His eyebrows creased in annoyance.

"I did exactly what you told me to do last night, Dad, Jaden replied nonchalantly, completely disregarding the tension in the room. "I dropped her like you wanted."

His father's face darkened, and he slammed his fist on the table his voice rose in anger. I'm sure you don't want to go down this road with me, son"

Jaden stool his ground, his voice calm but firm. "I came here because of Mom. If this is how tonight's going to be. I'll leave right now. He turned to walk out, but his mother rushed to him grabbing his wrist. "Please, Jaden Stay. sit

We can meet her later. Juand cat she implored, quiet desperation in her eyes.

Reluctantly, Jaden allowed himself to be guided back to the table. He sat down, feeling the weight of five pairs of eyes glaring

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Chapter 83

at him. His three other brothers, loyal to Jake, had always kept their distance from Jaden, preferring to align themselves with the family's golden child. The hostility in their stares was palpable, but Jaden stared back, unbothered.

Dinner was a strained affair, the silence between bites louder than any words. His father occasionally cast disapproving glances in his direction, while Jake wore a smug smirk as if relishing the tension. Jaden ate in silence, unwilling to give them the satisfaction of seeing him react.

Finally, when the meal was over, Jaden wasted no time excusing himself. He went to his car, anxious to get away from the oppressive atmosphere. Just as he reached for the ignition, a shadow fell beside his window. He looked up to see Jake standing beside his car, his face cold and calculating.

"You need to tread carefully, boy," Jake said in a low, threatening voice.

Jaden rolled his eyes and started the car. "I don't want to talk to you.

But Jake leaned in, unperturbed. "I know what you're doing. You think you can play the long game and get Father to look at you with hope, but I see right through your little schemes. Let me tell you something. Jaden-no one loves you. Not here, not anywhere. And that woman you're hanging onto? She'll leave you the second she realizes you're just a player"

The words stung more than Jaden had thought they would, but he refused to let Jake know that. Saying nothing else. he hit the accelerator and took off, leaving his brother in the background.

The anger and hurt bubbled inside him as he drove aimlessly through the city streets. Jake's words replayed in his mind. each word cutting deeper than the last. No one loves you. It wasn't the first time he'd heard it, but tonight, it felt heavier.

Before he knew it, he was driving to a poorly lit parking in front of a dim-lit bar. Entering the facility, the booze-and old-smoke-like odor hugged him almost consolingly. Getting hold of a stool, ordering one, then another he wanted to try to drowning bitterness close to getting a grip on him

But no matter how much he drank, Jake's words lingered, and the image of Emma haunted him. For the first time in a long while, Jaden felt truly alone.

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