Bonds

Chapter 59

-Maya’s POV-

The silence was almost dealening as the three of us stared at him. Ivan spoke up first, his voice laced with a cold edge I’d rarely heard before. “What is he doing here?” he asked, his eyes narrowed at Alex.

Miranda’s smile didn’t falter. “Why don’t we go and find out?” she suggested, her voice dripping with sarcasm. She sauntered towards him, her hips swaying with a confidence I could only dream of “Fiancé,” she called out loudly, “what are you doing here?”

Alex didn’t even glance at her. His eyes remained fixed on me, his gaze piercing through me like a knife. I felt a shiver run down my spine as the memory of our last encounter – the kiss–came rushing back. I tugged on Ivan’s arm, trying to pull him away. “Let’s just go,” I whispered

urgently.

But Ivan wasn’t having it. “No,” he said, his voice firm and resolute. “I want to know why he’s here.” His grip on my arm tightened, and I knew

I wasn’t going anywhere.

Miranda reached Alex’s side and began talking, her voice a steady stream of chatter. Alex listened, his expression bored, but his eyes never left mine, Ivan pulled me closer, and I felt a sense of dread wash over me.

This wasn’t going to end well.

As we approached the SUV, Ivan spoke up again. “What are you doing here, Alex?” he asked, his voice firm.

Alex regarded him with a disinterested expression before turning back to me. “You’re okay,” he said, his voice plain, but his eyes flickered

with relief.

I didn’t respond. I just kept staring at him, my mind racing with questions.

Why was he here?

What did he want?

he come

Why had

“Why is it so hot outside? Maybe we should go inside. Amaya looks like she might have a heart attack.” She batted

fine,” he said curtly,

time, I spoke up. “I’m

of electricity run through me. Ivan stiffened beside me, his grip on my arm tightening. Quickly trying to salvage the situation, I turned to him, “I

him wear. I needed to get

I tried

eyes darkened immediately, and the atmosphere seemed to thicken. I felt

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Chapter 59

ending drama.

fixed on Alex with an intensity that made me shiver. I cursed internally, wondering what had brought on this sudden show of ego. Alex finally tore his gaze away from mine and regarded Ivan, a sly smile

his voice dripping with sarcasm, “I

to stop working at that point – the air on my skin froze, and I couldn’t breathe. Miranda looked shocked, her eyes darting between Alex and Ivan as if she couldn’t believe that Alex had said it out loud.

go.” He dismissed Alex with a wave of his hand, but Alex didn’t budge. Instead, he took a step closer, his eyes

“So different from how you came to my company weeks ago, begging

His company was failing?

that why he looked so

done, and he continued to taunt Ivan,

to help,” he added, his eyes flicking towards Miranda, who looked like she wanted to sink into the ground. Ivan’s face was red with anger,

she is mine, and you

fists were clenched at his sides. I realized that this was more than just a simple argument. This was a battle for control, a fight for

look like he wanted to own me? Like I suddenly

be won. Ivan’s words still echoed in my mind – “she is mine, and you will never have her” and I felt a surge of anger and humiliation. I didn’t belong to either of them, and I certainly wasn’t going to stand there and be fought over like a piece

his gaze piercing through me like a

voice low and soothing

backing away, my eyes fixed on the parking lot behind me. I just wanted to get out of there, to get away from the tension. Miranda had gone completely quiet seeming out of her