Bonds

Chapter 17

Chapter 17

-Maya’s POV-

“You don’t have to say it back,” he rushed on, his voice attempting to mask the vulnerability I saw reflected in his eyes. “And maybe I shouldn’t have been so hasty. I just… can’t hide how I feel. You’re an amazing woman, Amaya, and…”

He trailed off, searching my face, and a wave of panic washed over me. I couldn’t let him get any closer, not emotionally, not physically.

“I have kids,” the words tumbled out in a rush, escaping my control before I could stop them.

He blinked, a flicker of confusion replacing the affection in his eyes. “What?”

I could almost hear my father’s voice, a chilling echo in the back of my head, warning me against this very moment.

“Two of them,” I blurted out, my voice ragged. “Twins. And I didn’t… I mean, my father didn’t want me to tell you. But I don’t want to lie to you anymore,

Ivan.”

Silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating. He just stared at me, his expression unreadable. The longer he remained silent, the heavier the weight of my confession became.

“Ivan? Please, say something.”

Then, a flicker of something dark crossed his features. Anpor? Hurt? Whatever it was, sent a shiver down my spine.

“How long were you going to keep it a secret?” His voice was low, laced with a dangerous edge. “Wait, that’s not even the question I should be asking. Who is the father?”

My mouth gaped open and closed like a fish out of water. No words came out, no justifications, no explanations.

Frustration flared in his eyes, quickly replaced by a chilling resignation. He let out a humorless scoff “Fine,” he muttered, the single word heavy with disappointment.

He turned away, his broad shoulders slumped in defeat, “I trust you can find your way back to wherever you go to hide your lies,” he said, his voice cold

and distant.

“Ivan, please!”

turn around. He just kept walking, leaving me alone in the echoing silence of the room. As he reached the doorway, a sliver of fear flickered within me. “Are you ending

But I need time. Time to process this.” He paused again, his gaze lingering on me for a

me alone in the darkness with the deafening silence of my

turmoil within. Stealing a deep, shaky breath, I opted against calling a cab.

energy as 1 walked. My destination remained unknown, my mind consumed by the fallout that awaited me. My father’s face, twisted with fury, flashed

my ears and without realizing it, my steps had carried me towards

84%

Chapter 17

stare at the

The Rusty Compass.

by the warm, comforting scent of stale beer and well-worn leather. The low murmur of conversation hung in the air, punctuated by the occasional clinking of glasses. A lone young woman stood behind the bar, her auburn hair cascading down her shoulders in fiery waves. Her face, etched with the lines

I get a double scotch,

necessary. Her eyes, the color of melted chocolate, held

her gaze night?”

barstool, defeat coursing through me. “The roughest of them all,” I confessed, letting out a

turned into two, then three and before I realized, I was spilling my guts

a mask of quiet understanding. When I finished, a heavy silence

bar. Three burly men shoved their way through a swinging door, their laughter grating in the previously subdued atmosphere. One of them, a man with a shaved head and a gold chain glinting around his neck, slammed a wad of

barked at Riley, his gaze leering. “And

sparked in her hazel, “I’m sorry but there are no drinks

and your gunes.”

the newcomer clanked as he slammed his fist on the counter, the force rattling the glasses behind Riley, “This place

“You are

in here. I’m pretty sure you know that. You are

him as he moved closer until he was in Riley’s face,

gripped the edge of the barstool, the weight

voice surprisingly calm despite the churning in my stomach, “Maybe it’s

man sneered, his gaze flickering to me with undisguised hostility. “This ain’t your business, lady. I suggest you stay

I countered, taking a deep breath, “it kind of is. This is a decent place,

slow smirk spread across his face. “This some kind of

buddies, a hulking mass of a man let out a guttural laugh. “Yeah,

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