Bonds of the Alpha Billionaire (Maya and Alex)

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

-Maya's POV-

"You don't have to say it back," he rushed on, his voice attempting to mask the vulnerability I saw reflected in his eyes. "And maybe I shouldn't have been so hasty. I just... can't hide how I feel. You're an amazing woman, Amaya, and..."

He trailed off, searching my face, and a wave of panic washed over me. I couldn't let him get any closer, not emotionally, not physically.

"I have kids," the words tumbled out in a rush, escaping my control before I could stop them.

He blinked, a flicker of confusion replacing the affection in his eyes. "What?"

I could almost hear my father's voice, a chilling echo in the back of my head, warning me against this very moment.

"Two of them," I blurted out, my voice ragged. "Twins. And I didn't... I mean, my father didn't want me to tell you. But I don't want to lie to you anymore,

Ivan."

Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. He just stared at me, his expression unreadable. The longer he remained silent, the heavier the weight of my confession became. "Ivan? Please, say something."

Then, a flicker of something dark crossed his features. Anpor? Hurt? Whatever it was, sent a shiver down my spine.

"How long were you going to keep it a secret?" His voice was low, laced with a dangerous edge. "Wait, that's not even the question I should be asking. Who is the father?"

My mouth gaped open and closed like a fish out of water. No words came out, no justifications, no explanations.

Frustration flared in his eyes, quickly replaced by a chilling resignation. He let out a humorless scoff "Fine," he muttered, the single word heavy with disappointment.

He turned away, his broad shoulders slumped in defeat, "I trust you can find your way back to wherever you go to hide your lies," he said, his voice cold

and distant.

"Ivan, please!"

alone in the echoing silence of the room. As he reached the doorway, a sliver

need time. Time to process this." He paused again, his gaze lingering on me

me alone in the darkness with the deafening silence of

turmoil within. Stealing a deep, shaky breath, I opted against calling a cab. Walking, I reasoned, might offer

energy as 1 walked. My destination remained unknown, my mind consumed by the fallout that awaited me. My father's face, twisted with fury, flashed through

filled my ears and without realizing it, my steps

Chapter 17

stopped to stare at the sign for a

The Rusty Compass.

clinking of glasses. A lone young woman stood behind the bar, her auburn hair cascading down her shoulders in

a

longer than necessary. Her

her gaze night?"

"The roughest of them all,"

I realized, I was spilling my guts to a complete

expression a mask of quiet understanding. When I finished, a heavy

mouth to talk then, a sudden commotion erupted near the back of the bar. Three burly men shoved their way through a swinging door, their laughter grating in the previously subdued atmosphere. One of them, a man with a shaved head and a gold chain glinting around

he barked

there are no drinks available. This is a peaceful bar and it

and your gunes."

force rattling the glasses behind Riley, "This place ain't for the likes of us, huh? What makes you think you can throw us out,

"You are

aren't allowed in here. I'm pretty sure you know that. You are just

buddies joined him as he moved closer until he was in Riley's

barstool, the weight of the situation pressing down

calm despite the churning in

sneered, his gaze flickering to me with undisguised hostility. "This ain't your business, lady. I suggest

taking a deep breath, "it kind of is. This is a decent place,

kind of joke,

of his buddies, a hulking mass of a man let out a guttural laugh. "Yeah, maybe she should show us how it's

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