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?

through the automatic hospital doors, the sterile scent assaulting my senses as I skidded to a stop at the reception desk. My breaths were coming in ragged gasps, adrenaline fueled by the phantom echo of my

out, forcing myself to calm down. “My mother was in an accident. She

an overly-tight smile and eyes that held no warmth, scanned my frantic state. “Room

dismissive.

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

my tracks. There, on a sofa, sat my

is going on here?” The words seemed to rip from my throat, raw and laced with disbelief. “You told me she

of any genuine concern “Amaya,”

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

apprehension crossed my mother’s face and eyes met for a fleeting moment, and in that silent exchange, I saw a flash of apology, a

into it further, my

this,” he said, thrusting a document in my

blinked, momentarily stunned by the abruptness of his

me to repeat myself, Amaya?” His voice grew sharper, laced with irritation. “Take the

me, hot and potent. “Are you seriously kidding me right now? You seriously lied!

Chapter 14

the white contrasting the vivid red blooming on my skin. Anger simmared,

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

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

the silence stretched, suffocating and