Bonds

Chapter 68

-Maya’s POV-

Sometimes I think I make very bad decisions. An example was looking into that compartment, another would be taking the files and running. I don’t exactly known what I was thinking. Actually, I wasn’t. I just needed to understand. He was going to know they were gone but somehow I would deal with the fallout later.

I hadn’t thought.

I just took them and ran. There was no way. My head was spiraling and I was seconds away from having a breakdown..

How?

Why?

Different questions were running through my head. At least I managed to hand Ms. Edwards something we could work on later before bolting out. She had given me so many passes and there were zero plans on doing anything to get on her wrong side. Now, I just needed answers.

The silence in Natalia’s office stretched, thick and suffocating. She sat opposite me, glued to the photos spread on the coffee table. Her expression mirrored the look of pure, unadulterated horror that had contorted my face moments ago when I first saw them.

“Say something.” I finally choked out, my voice hoarse. She hadn’t moved, her eyes still fixed on the incriminating pictures. This was why she was my best friend. She could read me like a well–worn book, decipher the tangled mess of confusion churning in my head. But this time, even she didn’t have the answers.

Slowly, Natalia lifted her gaze, meeting mine. “I know you,” she started, her voice hesitant. “Well enough to know you wouldn’t do this. But… how? It looks so…” she trailed off, searching for the right word.

“Real?” I supplied, my voice a ragged rasp. Real. That was the word. Those pictures looked terrifyingly real, depicting a scene that never happened, a betrayal I would never commit. A horrible truth began to dawn – a horrifying connection between seemingly unrelated events.

“The trashed house,” I whispered, the pieces clicking into place. “Adrian’s house. It was trashed when I went there after Alex… after Alex rejected me.” The memory hit me like a physical blow. The sudden shift in Alex’s behavior, the cold rejection that had left me reeling–it all made a twisted kind of sense.

Before I could fully process the revelation, the words tumbled out, spilling from my lips like a dam bursting, “Oh my god,” I breathed, the

anyone, to understand. “He thinks I

pricked at my eyes, blurring my vision. Before I could fully collapse,

okay. We’ll figure this out. There has to be some explanation. Because I know for a fact, you

belief, were a lifeline thrown into the churning sea of despair. Gratitude flooded me, warming the

didn’t do this. And “You’re right,” I forced myself to say. “I wouldn’t. I couldn’t. But how do we he never asked me. Never gave me a chance to explain myself. After everything we had been through, he

10:24 Sat, 22 Jun

Chapter 68

in the crease of worry etching itself onto her forehead. But her hand remained clasped firmly in mine, a silent promise of unwavering support. We sat there in the oppressive

you,” she broke the silence her voice low and serious. “And

at it.”

brow, frustration etching lines onto her

wouldn’t he even try to talk to

files,” I mumbled, dread creeping into my voice. “He has cameras in that place. We used to…” My cheeks burned as a blush rose up my neck. “He

waving her hand dismissively. “I’ll get back to how much of a freak you are later. Right now, we need to figure out who the hell did this.” Her eyes narrowed, a fierce glint replacing the worry

Natalia’s loyalty and fierce protectiveness were a source of comfort. But the smile quickly faded as the gravity of the situation settled

to think logically. How did these pictures get created? Who would have access to them? And most importantly, who would benefit from

words echoed in my

Who would benefit?

and he ended up in jail. The painful thought crossed my mind. Alex had thrown their friendship away because of a lie and if so,

we can’t prove I’m innocent?” I finally asked, my

my hand tightly. “We will prove you’re innocent,” she said with unwavering conviction.

of the missing

you took them. What’s the worst

already acting like a jerk for

with narrowed eyes. “Do you