Shadows Of A Forgotten Spring

Chapter 80

Her fingers tightened on her phone, and a guttural growl escaped her throat. She had never felt rage this strongly, nor with such futility-once at the world, once at herself. How could things go so wrong so fast?

It had been an accident, she reminded herself for the umpteenth time. She hadn't meant to spill wine on Emma last night. But her unrepentant reaction afterward? That was her downfall. At the time, she hadn't thought much of it-the crowd had appeared to be amused, laughing along in a way, until the truth about Emma's identity had shattered the room.

Now, everyone who cheered her on had turned against her. Hypocrites.

She burst into the bathroom, getting ready for what was surely going to be the worst day of her life. By the time she emerged from her apartment, fully dressed in neutral colors with jumbo sunglasses covering much of her face, the scene outside had become complete chaos: paparazzi and furious passersby pressed up against her gated property, yelling both questions and accusations.

She pushed through them with the help of her gatekeeper. Slamming the door shut, she gripped the steering wheel tightly as she sped toward her father's company headquarters. Her mind raced with possible excuses, apologies-anything to mitigate the storm she was about to face.

She approached the high-rise building, parked in a hurry, and rushed to the top floor. Her father's office was right in front of her, like the gates of hell. Jane stood outside the door, heaving as she tried to prepare herself.

At last, she knocked lightly and stepped inside. Suddenly, a blow came our of nowhere, a strong slap that sent her reeling For a moment her vision blurred with black dots at the sides of her eyes, clutching at her face, she stumbled backward. "You imbecile!" he roared red-faced. "What in the fuck were you thinking last night?"

She couldn't even meet his stare. She said nothing but her lip quivered in effort to choke back the dammed-up tears.

"Do you have the slightest notion of what this disaster has caused How much in which your stupidity has cost us?"

"I-I am so sorry, Daddy. She had stammered with tears glistening down her cheeks.

"Sorry? SORRY?" he bellowed, slamming his fist onto his desk. "Do you think sorry is going to fix this? Our stocks are in free fall, Jane! Our reputation is in tatters! And why? Because of your childish, arrogant behavior!"

Jane's knees buckled, and she sank into a chair, her hands shaking. She had never seen her father this angry.

"We've brought in the legal team to draft a public apology," he continued, pacing furiously. "But that won't be enough. Not by a long shot. If we don't act fast, this company is done for.

"What.... what do you want me to do?" she asked weakly, her voice barely audible.

Her father stopped pacing, fixing her with a cold, steely gaze. "You are going to apologize to Emma Black. Not in private. Not in some scripted press release. You're going to grovel in front of the world, and you're going to mean it "Dad" Jane's voice cracked as the weight of his words hit her. "You can't be serious."

His face clouded even further. "I have never been more serious in my life. You don't fix this, I will disown you. You'll be out of this family, out of this company, and left to fend for yourself Do you understand me?"

Jane's hear plummeted. She wanted to argue, to plead her case, but the unrelenting anger in her father's eyes silenced her. He wasn't bluffing.

With trembling hands, she nodded, swallowing the lump in her throat. "I'll do it," she whispered.

Her father turned away, hus back to her. "Good. Now get out of my sight."

III

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21:18 Tue, Dec Chapter 80

As she walked out her legs felt heavy, like lead, shame, anger, and all that fear swelling inside her were suffocating. For the first time in her life, she found herself in a place of helplessness right in a mess she made, unsure which direction might lead to freedom. Emma woke up to the sound of her phone buzzing incessantly on the nightstand. Reaching for it groggily, she squinted at the caller ID-her mother. With a soft sigh, she answered..

"Hi, Mom," she murmured in a voice heavy with sleep.

"Oh, good morning, my dear! How are you feeling today?" Mrs. Walker's voice was warm and cheerful, cutting through Emma's morning haze in an instant.

Tm doing great, Mom. And you!

"Greaer! her mother exclaimed, the joy practically seeping through the phone.

Emma beamed at her mother's ebullience, which was highly contagious. She knew exactly why Mrs. Walker was so euphoric Last night, though really nerve-wracking in the beginning, turned out to be way better than anyone could have foreseen. Their company's stock prices went sky-high beyond their wildest dreams and fixed Emma's place in the market as a force with which to be reckoned.

"I wish I were there with you to celebrate this success," Mrs. Walker said, in a voice so full of longing that it pulled at Emma's heart.

"We'll be home soon, Mom, Emma reassured her.

see you again"

"I know, sweetheart. But I miss you so much-you and the kids. It's this strange feeling, like I might never see you Emma's smile faltered, and her chest tightened. "Mom, don't say that. You'll see us before you know it. Would you like to talk to the twins?" "Oh, yes, please!" her mother exclaimed, in an instant, the sadness was replaced by excitement in her voice.

Emma threw off the covers and headed toward the twins' room. She was almost at the door when the heavenly aroma swept over her, causing her brow to furrow as she saw there was someone in the kitchen. She froze.

"Is anybody there?" she yelled with a hint of apprehension in her voice as her heart started pounding in her chest.

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