Bonds

Chapter 96

-Maya’s POV-

The cinnamon buns were amazing, just like Ivan promised. But the delightful sweetness couldn’t quite erase the bitter aftertaste of reality waiting for me back at his office. Stepping through the door, my good mood vanished faster than a sprinkle on a hot pastry: Miranda sat there, casually scrolling through her phone, looking perfectly at home in Ivan’s office chair.

Ivan was the first to react, his voice tight with annoyance, “Miranda, what are you doing here? And how many times do I have to tell you not to just waltz in here?”

She looked up, her eyes flickering between Ivan and me before a slow, smug grin spread across her face. I might have known her for only a

few months, well hardly knew her but I knew I would never like her. Everything about her rubbed me the wrong way and I wanted to slap the grin off her stupid face..

Pushing herself out of the chair, she walked towards us, arms outstretched. I watched with a mixture of apprehension and annoyance as Ivan visibly stiffened under her touch. “I’m sure you’ve seen the news already,” she chirped, her voice dripping with false sweetness, “but I just

wanted to tell my big brother in person.”

Her hands remained firmly wrapped around Ivan while her eyes drilled into mine. The smugness on her face only intensified the urge to wipe

the smile off with the back of my hand.

“So,” she continued, finally pulling away, still managing to keep her gaze locked on me, “how have you been?”

Ivan let out a tired sigh. “Miranda, I’m not in the mood for your games today. We have work to do. Congratulations on the wedding.” He then turned to me, a genuine smile warming his features. “Come on, Amaya, let’s get back to it.”

Miranda’s playful facade faltered for a second, replaced by a flash of imitation. Her arms crossed tightly, and the smugness morphed into at scowl. “That’s all you have to say?” she huffed, her voice dripping with disappointment.

He shot her a pointed look. “Is there anything else I need to say? Anything specific you expect from me?”

“You know exactly what I mean, Ivan,” she retorted, her voice rising a notch. “You’re being so annoying! And then you add her to the mix? Now you’re just plain irritating!”

“Mirandal” Ivan’s voice boomed, a warning laced with his exasperation.

She ignored him, turning back to me with a pointed question, “Aren’t you even going to congratulate me?”

clenched tight. The question hung heavy in the air, a challenge I refused to acknowledge. Ignoring her completely felt like the most powerful response I

her foot impatiently, her smugness slowly giving way to frustration, Ivan, caught in the middle, pinched the bridge of his nose, clearly at his

She huffed dramatically. “Finel Be that way. I don’t even want the two of you at the

anyway.

behind her with a bang that rattled the windows. Ivan let out a long breath, the tension visibly draining

10:32 Sat, 22 Jun

Chapter 96

I finally managed, the word barely

86%

down. Let’s try to get some actual work done before she decides to

of the last

personal assistant but i could tell his head was somewhere else. I stopped him, placing my hand on his. He looked up at me, clearly not

talk about it.”

sigh running a

when I saw the pain flash in his eyes, “It’s okay

sadly, “I want

too?” asked softly, “You told me Miranda witnessed it, but did you see

nodded slowly. His body trembled, and I could see the grief and trauma

I climbed onto his lap,

and his pain.

wrapping tightly around me. We stayed like that for a long time, the only sound being our ragged

small, I didn’t understand what was happening. Our pack was under attack. I remember the sounds, the growling, the screams…my parents, they were trying to protect us, but there were

taking a deep breath, his body

a crate, watching…watching as they….as they… His voice cracked, and

my tears falling onto

parents in front of us. Miranda was…she was so traumatized. She didn’t speak for months after. that. And I…I was

was laced

being so small and helpless. And the sounds…the sounds still haunt me. Miranda and 1, we were all each other had left. We clung to each other, trying

held him tighter, my heart aching for the little boy who

withdrawn. She couldn’t cope with the trauma, and I…I tried to be strong for her, but