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?

at the reception desk. My breaths

choked out, forcing myself to calm down. “My mother was in an accident. She was brought here. Victoria Stone.

that held no warmth, scanned

dismissive.

a mumbled “thank you,” I tore through

tracks. There, on a sofa, sat my mother, a magazine casually draped across her lap,

rip from my throat, raw and laced with disbelief. “You told me she was in an accident!

looked up, his eyes devoid of any genuine concern “Amaya,”

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

saw a flash of apology, a flicker of the mother I remembered before the

read into it further, my

said, thrusting a document in my

by

Amaya?” His voice grew sharper, laced with

You seriously lied! To get me to come here?” I spat, finally piecing together

Chapter 14

vivid red blooming on my skin. Anger simmared, threatening to boll over, but exhaustion

Father?” My voice, barely a whisper, echoed in the sterile

the air, a loaded accusation. I yearned to unleash the oriental frustration and hurt that had fostered within me for years, but something held me back. Perhaps it was the vulnerability flickering in my mother’s eyes, or the raw pain simmering beneath my father’s

silence stretched,