Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring
Billionaire Shadow 89

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The early morning was still silent when Kevin knocked on the door of Alexander's office, a thick file clutched firmly in his hands; its contents weighed heavy with gravity, knowing the storm it might unleash. "Come in," Alexander said in a commanding voice.

Kevin stepped inside, his face tight with solemnity. He set the file down on the desk and met Alexander's piercing gaze. "Sir, I've looked into the man you asked me to investigate.

Alexander sprang upright at this, nursing his third cup of coffee none too patiently. He snatched the file without further ado, his curiosity blazing like a fire, the truth about Emma having always evaded him and he finally was going to find out what it

Flipping open the file, Alexander's eyes scanned through the pages with a developed concentration. The information on this guy seemed somewhat undermining at first: a minor thief and burglar-not anyone to give too much importance to. Kevin noted further that there was no record of the man knowing Emma, but Alexander let that be.

He frowned, reflecting on Emma's current power and influence, She could so easily have erased all connections between her and this man if she wanted to. She's that thorough, he thought.

Farther down the page, a cold realization came out and hit him like a ton of bricks: The man died within a week of the incident-a week, along with two other men, while incarcerated.

Alexander's hands froze on the page as his eyes widened. It said the three men were accused of attempting to assault an unidentified woman, who was thus able to call the police and get them arrested. Then all three died suddenly of food poisoning within days of each other.

Alexander dropped the file onto his desk and let his mind race, Food poisoning?" he uttered incoherently, his face twisted with incredulity and suspicion. The story simply did not ring right. Three men dying on the same day and in the same manner, and there was no other investigation done. It was simply out of this world.

Just didn't make sense.

Alexander leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair as the pieces started to come together in his mind. If Emma had chosen this man over me, then who was he really? Just some criminal? No.

Yet, the circumstances of the man's death-and subsequent lack of scrutiny-pointed to one chilling conclusion: neither accident nor coincidence.

The only people who could do something so pristine, so unreachable, were powerful people. And into that category, Emma fit perfectly.

He stared dumbly at the wall for a second as realization hit him like a freight train. Emma didn't just cut ties with this man- she erased him. Entirely. To cover her tracks. To bury whatever connection existed between them.

His chest tightened, and he could feel an unfamiliar stew of anger, betrayal, and even awe at the cold efficiency of Emma Finally, he pushed the file back across the desk to Kevin, his tone even and steady, yet laced with a depth of purpose. "I want you to dig deeper into this food poisoning. Someone has gone through too much trouble trying to sweep this under the rug. and I'm going to blow the lid off this. Every, Last. Detail

Kevin nodded, his face a giveaway for the flicker of unease before he bowed his head slightly. "Aye, sir. Immediately, sir."

L

He picked up the file and quietly exited the oflice, leaving Alexaler with his own thoughts.

Alexander leaned forward, propping his elbows against his desks he rested his chin on his folded hands. In the eye of his mind, he replayed everything he knew about Emma, her choice her actions, her coldness. 21:20 Tue, Dec 17

Chapter 89

Who was Emma? he wondered.

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The years of marriage had blinded him into taking her for that by and selfless wife, but he now realized that Emma Black was layered in a way he had never come to fathom.

He couldn't shake the gnawing feeling that he didn't know her at all.

Emma sat at her kitchen table, her phone clutched tightly in her hand, her eyes scanning the screen for any sign of Jaden. It had been days since she last heard from him, and the silence was unbearabile. Because of her connection with Jaden's cousin, Caroline, Emma had deliberately kept her distance. It was a matter between her and Jaden, an affair of emotions and misunderstandings she needed to straighten out for herself. She hoped-desperately-that they could resolve this without anyone else having to get involved.

The silence of the morning was broken by the blaring news alerton her phone. Her heart sank, reading the headline: Adam Hershel Attacked, in Critical Condition. It was a mix of relief and dread as she processed the details. He was alive, but in a coma. Obviously, someone had beaten her to it and taken down Adam before she could even act. It felt like such a calculated attack-a message that whoever did this was not playing around. Emma didn't waste another second. She threw on her coat and left for the hospital where Adam was being treated. So many questions whipped through her mind but no answers, only that awful feeling.

At last, she came to the hospital: alive with hurrying steps and loud cries. Emma thrust her way through, not seeing but intent on only one object-the state of Adam-as she rounded the angle, stopped. There, in talk with the physician, stood Alexander.

Tall, imperious, with his chill, fixed countenance-a man whom few would recognize; above all, a man whose presence one could not possibly ignore. Emma's heart seemed to wrench itself about. What does he want? it thudded.

She watched Alexander gesture to the doctor, his voice firm. "I want Adam Hershel transferred to my hospital immediately. He'll receive better care under my supervision. This case is far too important to risk negligence."

Emma's heart pounded as she approached him. "You shouldn't be doing this," she said, her voice sharp but low enough not

to draw attention.

Alexander turned to her, piercing eyes to hers. 'And why not? Somebody's got to make sure justice is served."

They went outside the hospital together; their conversation was really heating up.

"This isn't your battle to fight," Emma said, exasperation lacing her tone, "I can handle this.

Oh, I'm well aware of what you're capable of, Mrs. Black," Alexander replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Or should I say, Miss Walker?" His mocking words cut deep, but Emma refused to flinch.

"My children are my priority," she said firmly. "I don't need you meddling in my affairs.

Alexander's jaw tightened, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "This isn't just about your children. My foundation is supporting the other kids who were caught up in this mess. I'm here to be a voice for them-the ones who can't protect themselves." Emma crossed her arms, her gaze unwavering. "Then by all means, play the hero. Good luck with that"

Without a moment to answer, she had spun on her heel and stared toward her car, Alexander watched her go, his fists clenched at his sides.

Dec

Chapter 90