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 were coming in ragged gasps, adrenaline fueled by the phantom echo

forcing myself to calm down. “My mother was in an accident. She was brought here. Victoria Stone. I need to

a woman with an overly-tight smile and eyes that held no warmth, scanned my frantic state. “Room 101,” she uttered, her

dismissive.

registering her attitude. With a mumbled “thank you,” I tore through the

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

my throat, raw and laced with disbelief. “You

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

my voice rising in pitch. My eyes darted

moment, and in that silent exchange, I saw a flash of apology, a flicker

further, my father’s voice

said, thrusting a

I blinked, momentarily stunned by the abruptness of his

repeat myself, Amaya?” His voice grew sharper, laced with irritation.

“Are you seriously kidding me right now? You seriously lied!

Chapter 14

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

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

yearned to unleash the oriental frustration and hurt that had fostered within me for years, but something held me back.

stretched, suffocating