Bonds

Chapter 14

-Maya POV-

The world seemed to tilt on its axis. A million conflicting emotions warred within me: anger, resentment, guilt, fear, and an unexpected pang of grief.

She was more like a trophy wife to Daniel Stone but the fact still remained-she was my mother.

Natalia placed a comforting hand on my arm, her presence grounding me in the midst of the emotional maelstrom. Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision, but I blinked them back, refusing to crumble.

“Where is she?” I demanded, my voice surprisingly steady.

He gave me the name of the hospital, and before I could even process the information, I was already pushing the call to end. Natalia helped me gather my things, moving with urgency yet understanding

“I’ll watch the kids,” she promised, her voice firm and reassuring. “Go, be with your mother.”

I didn’t need to be told twice. With a quick hug of gratitude, I rushed out, my mind racing, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs.

Would I get to say goodbye?

as I skidded to a stop at the reception desk. My breaths were

calm down. “My mother was in an accident. She was

woman with an overly-tight smile and eyes that held no warmth,

dismissive.

attitude. With a mumbled “thank you,” I tore

sofa, sat my mother, a magazine casually draped across her lap, as my father

to rip from my throat, raw and laced

devoid of any genuine concern “Amaya,” he drawled, his voice flat

going on?” I demanded, my voice rising in pitch. My eyes darted between them,

silent exchange, I saw a flash of apology, a flicker of the mother I remembered before the walls went up

could read into it further, my

he said, thrusting a

I blinked, momentarily stunned by

voice grew sharper, laced with

seriously kidding me right now? You seriously lied! To get me to come here?” I

Chapter 14

hands trembled as i accepted the paper, the starkness of the white contrasting the vivid red blooming on my skin. Anger simmared, threatening to boll over, but exhaustion weighed

barely a whisper, echoed in the sterile silence. “Why do you hate me

hurt that had fostered within me for years, but something held me

silence stretched, suffocating