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 coming

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

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

dismissive.

registering her attitude. With a mumbled “thank

my tracks. There, on a sofa, sat my mother, a magazine casually draped across her lap, as my father tapped away on his phone, the picture

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

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

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

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

into it further, my father’s voice cut through

he said, thrusting

I blinked, momentarily stunned by

me to repeat myself, Amaya?” His voice grew sharper,

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

Chapter 14

blooming on my skin. Anger simmared,

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

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,

the silence stretched,