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

desperate plea for someone, anyone, to understand. “He

tremor in my voice. Tears pricked at my eyes, blurring my vision. Before I could fully collapse, Natalia’s hand landed

figure this out. There has to

the cold dread that had gripped my heart. I clung to her

wouldn’t. I couldn’t. But how do we he never asked me. Never gave me a chance to explain myself. After

10:24 Sat, 22 Jun

Chapter 68

oppressive silence, the weight of the situation

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

at it.”

her brow, frustration etching lines onto

just jump to rejection? Why wouldn’t he even try to talk

I took the 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 used

the hell did this.” Her eyes narrowed, a fierce glint replacing the worry that had clouded them moments ago. “And then,” she continued, her voice hardening. “I’m going to have a little chat with Alex. Preferably with my

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

placing a hand on my arm. “We’ll figure this out. We just need to think logically. How did these pictures get created? Who would have access to them? And most importantly, who would benefit from framing

words echoed in my

Who would benefit?

thought crossed my mind. Alex had thrown their friendship away because of

prove I’m innocent?” I finally asked, my voice cracking

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

I blurted out, the thought of the missing

“Absolutely not! Let him see that you took them. What’s the

already acting like a jerk for believing

narrowed eyes. “Do you recognize this location? Where is this