Across Silent Rivers We Carry Echoes Of Forgotten Tomorrows by Landon Creed Hale 4 Summary
In Chapter 4 of “Across Silent Rivers We Carry Echoes Of Forgotten Tomorrows,” the tension within Natasha’s family escalates dramatically as her children, Ashley and Mervin, accuse her of intentionally giving them mango juice, despite their allergies. Ashley’s theatrical lamentation and Mervin’s indignation highlight their fear and confusion, while Natasha stands at the threshold, grappling with the weight of their accusations. Evander, her partner, intervenes harshly, questioning Natasha’s parenting and suggesting she is endangering their children. The emotional turmoil is palpable as Natasha experiences a tempest of dread and desperation, feeling cornered by the situation.
As the confrontation intensifies, Evander’s contempt becomes evident, and he shifts from anger towards Natasha to comforting the children, who are now sobbing uncontrollably. Mervin’s furious suggestion that Natasha should also suffer from the mango juice allergy reveals the children’s distress and confusion, while Natasha’s dread deepens as Evander orders bodyguards to force her to drink the juice. The scene turns horrifying as Natasha is physically restrained and made to endure the very suffering she had tried to protect her children from. The cruelty of the moment is stark, with Evander watching her struggle without compassion, while the children, momentarily forgetting their pain, cheer at their mother’s plight.
After the traumatic incident, Natasha finds herself in a hospital bed, grappling with the physical remnants of her allergic reaction and the emotional fallout of her family’s betrayal. The conversation between Evander and Penelope reveals a deceptive sincerity, as Penelope feigns regret for the misunderstanding, further isolating Natasha. The children’s insincere apologies and their expressed dislike for Natasha underscore her feelings of betrayal and heartbreak. Natasha reflects on her sacrifices during their births, recalling the loneliness she felt when Evander was absent, which adds layers to her emotional pain.
The chapter closes with Natasha’s profound sense of loss and betrayal as she realizes that the very children she risked her life for have turned against her. The stark contrast between her sacrifices and their current behavior amplifies her anguish, leaving her to confront the painful reality of her shattered family dynamics. The emotional weight of the chapter resonates deeply, capturing the complexities of motherhood, betrayal, and the fragility of familial bonds.
Continue Regular Chapter Reading Below
**Across Silent Rivers We Carry Echoes Of Forgotten Tomorrows by Landon Creed Hale**
**Chapter 4**
“It was Mommy!” Ashley’s voice rang out, quivering with an exaggerated sorrow that felt almost theatrical. “She knew we were allergic and gave it to us anyway!” The accusation hung in the air, heavy and charged.
Mervin nodded with fervor, his small face scrunched up in indignation. “She’s so mean!” he echoed, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and defiance.
Natasha stood rooted at the threshold, her fingers curling tightly around the doorframe. The pressure of the moment made her knuckles pale, each heartbeat echoing the growing dread in her chest. “Mervin. Ashley. Do you even grasp the gravity of what you’re saying? You must tell the truth. Right now.” Her voice was steady, but inside, she felt a tempest brewing.
“That’s enough!” Evander’s voice sliced through the tension as he shot up from his seat, his hand clamping around Natasha’s wrist with a grip that felt like iron. “Is this the kind of mother you are, Natasha? Not only do you endanger them, but now you’re trying to make them lie?”
“I didn’t!” Natasha’s voice trembled, a mixture of denial and desperation.
Evander sneered, his expression a mask of contempt. “Are you suggesting that they are framing you? They are just children, Natasha! If you can’t even take responsibility for your actions, then you don’t deserve to be their mother.” The words were like daggers, each one piercing deeper than the last.
In an instant, the children erupted into loud, dramatic sobs, their little bodies shaking with the force of their cries. Evander released Natasha, pivoting to comfort them, his demeanor shifting as he knelt down to their level.
But their wails only grew louder, their faces flushed with distress.
“Daddy…” Ashley whimpered between her sobs, her voice breaking. “We feel so sick…”
“What would make you feel better?” Evander asked softly, his tone now laced with concern as he tenderly wiped away her tears, his fingers brushing against her cheek.
Mervin, his eyes rimmed with red, shot a furious glare at Natasha. “She’s allergic to mangoes, too! Make her drink the mango juice! She should feel sick, too!”
A cold, hollow sensation settled in Natasha’s chest, a deep-seated dread that coiled around her heart.
She turned her gaze to Evander, and the icy contempt reflected in his eyes sent a shiver down her spine.
“Fine.” The word slipped from her lips, barely a whisper as resignation washed over her.
Evander straightened up, his demeanor shifting to one of authority as he snapped his fingers sharply. Two imposing bodyguards entered the room without hesitation, their presence amplifying the tension.
“Hold her down.”
Before Natasha could fully comprehend the situation, she found herself forced into a chair, her body immobilized by the guards. A bodyguard gripped her jaw, forcing her mouth open with a vice-like grip.
A liter of mango juice was poured down her throat, the sickly-sweet liquid burning as it descended, triggering a violent coughing fit. Her throat felt as if it were on fire, each gulp a reminder of her helplessness.
A crimson rash began to spread across her skin with alarming speed, her face swelling as panic set in. Breathing became an arduous task, each inhale a struggle against the tightening grip of her throat.
She clawed at her neck, her vision blurring as she turned to look at Evander, desperately seeking a sign of compassion.
But he stood there, a cold observer, watching her with an unsettling detachment, making no move to intervene.
The children had ceased their tears, their faces lighting up with a twisted sense of glee. “Serves her right! She deserves to feel sick, too!” they exclaimed, their voices ringing with a disturbing cheerfulness.
As darkness began to close in around her, the last image etched into Natasha’s mind was the utter coldness in Evander’s eyes, a reflection of her shattered world.
**Chapter**
****
When Natasha finally regained consciousness, she found herself in a hospital bed, the sterile smell of antiseptic filling her nostrils.
Her throat was raw, the remnants of the allergic reaction still evident on her skin, a painful reminder of her ordeal.
Familiar voices drifted through the door, muffled yet recognizable. It was Penelope.
“Evan, I truly didn’t know they were allergic… I just wanted to make them some fresh juice…” Her voice was laced with a false sincerity that made Natasha’s stomach churn.
“It’s not your fault,” Evander replied, his tone impossibly gentle, a stark contrast to the harshness he had shown earlier. “You didn’t know.”
“I should have come forward sooner and explained the truth. I’m so sorry you misunderstood Ms. Burnett because of me.” Her tone dripped with feigned regret, a performance crafted to elicit sympathy. “Vinnie, Ashy, I’m so sorry… It was my mistake. How could you lie and blame your mother just to protect me?”
The children’s voices, dripping with insincere remorse, rang clear. “We’re sorry, Penny…” Ashley sniffled, her voice small and fragile. “We just… We just don’t like Mommy…”
“Yeah,” Mervin chimed in, his tone conspiratorial. “She’s always controlling us. No snacks, strict bedtimes… We just wanted her to go away…”
Natasha’s fingers clenched the hospital sheet, her knuckles turning bone-white as the weight of their words crashed over her.
These were the children she had carried for ten long months, the very lives she had risked everything to bring into the world.
Memories flooded her mind, vivid and painful. She recalled the day Mervin was born, the sterile hallway outside the delivery room eerily empty, devoid of any support.
The nurse had informed her that Evander was caught up in an important meeting, unable to be disturbed. Alone, she had endured the agony of childbirth, her cries echoing in the silence.
Ashley’s birth had been even more perilous—a harrowing ordeal marked by massive hemorrhaging, the doctors’ urgent whispers warning of her critical condition. Evander had been overseas, attending to a cross-border merger, leaving her to face the storm alone.
And now, the very children she had risked her life for had become the source of her deepest pain, their innocent faces twisted by betrayal.
Conclusion
In the sterile confines of the hospital, Natasha’s heart shattered under the weight of betrayal, the echoes of her children’s voices ringing cruelly in her ears. The realization that the love she had nurtured for years had morphed into something twisted and unrecognizable left her feeling hollow. Each confession from Ashley and Mervin, once cherished as symbols of her devotion, now felt like daggers, striking at the very core of her identity as a mother. As she lay there, the memories of her sacrifices surged forth, a torrent of pain that contrasted sharply with the ease with which her children had cast her aside. The warmth of their innocent laughter had been replaced by the chill of their disdain, and Natasha found herself grappling with the painful truth that the bond she had fought to build was now frayed and fragile.
Yet, amidst the darkness, a flicker of resolve ignited within her. Natasha understood that the road ahead would be fraught with challenges, but she was determined to reclaim her narrative, to reshape the echoes of forgotten tomorrows into a melody of strength and resilience. No longer would she allow herself to be a pawn in Evander’s cruel game or a victim of her children’s misguided rebellion. With each labored breath, she vowed to rise from the ashes of this betrayal, to confront the shadows that loomed over her, and to forge a new path forward—one where her voice would be heard, her sacrifices acknowledged, and her love transformed into a force of empowerment rather than despair. The journey would be long, but Natasha was ready to fight for her truth, to bridge the chasm that had formed between her and the children she had once held so dear.
What to Expect in Next Chapter?
**What to Expect in the Next Chapter?**
As Natasha grapples with the bitter realization that her children are now pawns in a game of manipulation, the stakes rise higher than ever. The hospital room, once a sanctuary of healing, becomes a battleground for her fractured family. With Evander’s chilling demeanor and Penelope’s insidious charm, Natasha must navigate a treacherous landscape where loyalty is a fleeting concept and the truth is obscured by layers of deceit. Expect a deep dive into Natasha’s psyche as she confronts her feelings of betrayal and the looming question of whether she can reclaim her role as a mother amidst the chaos.
In the next chapter, tensions will escalate as Natasha’s resolve is tested. Will she find the strength to stand up against Evander’s cruel machinations and Penelope’s manipulative tactics? As Natasha seeks allies and confronts her past, the narrative promises to unveil shocking truths that could alter the course of her family’s future. Readers should brace themselves for unexpected twists that will not only challenge Natasha’s understanding of love and loyalty but also force her to confront the darkest corners of her own heart. With the echoes of forgotten tomorrows haunting her every decision, Natasha’s journey is set to take a thrilling turn that will leave you on the edge of your seat.
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
