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

thick and uncomfortable. She tapped her foot impatiently, her smugness slowly giving way to frustration, Ivan, caught in the middle, pinched the

silence any longer, She huffed dramatically. “Finel Be that way. I don’t even want the two of

anyway.

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

10:32 Sat, 22 Jun

Chapter 96

word barely a whisper.

86%

Let’s try to get some actual work

events of the

anything and he went on explaining what I would be doing as his 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 expecting the touch.

talk about it.”

a sigh running a hand through his

this? I mean after what happened with your parents.” I paused a bit when I saw the pain flash in his eyes, “It’s okay if you

sadly, “I want

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

flashed with pain, and he nodded slowly. His body trembled, and I could see the

legs feeling heavy, as if I was walking through quicksand. I climbed onto his lap, molding

and his pain.

tightly around me. We stayed like that for a

remember the sounds, the growling, the screams…my parents,

deep breath, his

watching…watching as they….as they… His

him closer, my

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

voice was laced with

of 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 to make sense of it

and I held him tighter, my heart aching for the

trauma, and I…I tried to be strong for her, but it was hard. So hard. And then she started acting out, seeking attention in all the wrong