Bonds

Chapter 127

-Maya’s POV-

It all happened in a dizzying blur. The legalities were settled with surprising speed. Ivan had a notary practically appear out of thin air, papers rustling, pens scratching. Signatures exchanged, and just like that, everything was set in motion. We were packing before I could even process it all.

The thought of a fresh start, a clean slate, as a family – me, the twins, and Ivan as their official father – it filled me with a nervous excitement. No more looming threat of Alex, no more walking on eggshells. And most importantly, I desperately hoped the blackmailer would stay far away, just like whoever it was had vanished for the past week.

Thanks to a reluctant Sarah, I’d finally managed to get confirmation that Nate was safe and sound. Relief washed over me in waves, momentarily erasing the knot of worry that had taken root in my stomach.

I’d only told my mother about our plans, allowing her a bittersweet goodbye with the twins. Now, the day of departure had finally arrived.

Ivan had left earlier to prepare the private jet, leaving me with the daunting task of wrangling the twins. Ivy was the picture of defiance, throwing a full–blown tantrum over something I couldn’t quite understand. Her little voice, a high–pitched whine, filled the air with a string of nonsensical words.

“No go now!” she wailed, burying her face in my stomach.

“Oh, come on,” I muttered under my breath, feeling a surge of exasperation.

Taking a deep breath, I scooped Ivy into my arms, her tiny body wriggling against mine. “Hey,” I said softly, rocking her gently. “How about we make a deal? We’ll go to the airport, get on the airplane, and then when we land, we can go get ice cream. Your favorite kind, with sprinkles!”

The mention of ice cream seemed to do the trick. Ivy peeked up at me, her tear–streaked face etched with a cautious hope. “Ice cream?”

“The biggest, most delicious ice cream cone you’ve ever seen,” I promised, a mischievous glint in my eye.

A smile, tentative at first, blossomed on her face. “Chocolate? And Nate Vanilla?”

I smiled at Nate who was staring quietly, “Chocolate and Vanilla with sprinkles, rainbow sprinkles all over,” I confirmed, exaggerating my enthusiasm. The prospect of ice cream seemed to have completely erased the memory of her earlier

anxieties.

patiently by the door, a reassuring smile etched on

a weak smile in return. “There’s just one quick place I need to go before we leave. The

me momentarily, replaced by a fresh wave of nervous anticipation as I pulled out

hallways were overflowing with the wounded. Nurses rushed past, their faces etched with a

rhythm against my ribs. Finally, I found the

–

that awaited

Chapter 127

injuries. Natalia sat

room, the

“Natalia?”

frozen, refusing to meet my gaze.

my voice barely audible. Then, after a moment’s hesitation,

remained silent, her body language a wall between us. Taking a deep breath, I ventured closer, the silence in the room pressing down

a while, the words tasting like ashes in my mouth. “Ivan, he’s adopted the twins officially, and well, we’re all going away. He says it

After a long, tense silence, she spoke. Her voice was devoid of

“Good for you.”

up in my eyes. I stood there, paralyzed by the awkward silence

voice, thick with emotion, cracked as I spoke. “I’m so sorry, Natalia. I am so, so sorry

hung in the air unanswered. The raw pain in my voice seemed to have no effect on Natalia’s stoic facade. Feeling a breakdown rising to the surface, I

the door, the weight of defeat pressing down on me. Just

“Goodbye, Amaya.”

emotion, but it remained unreadable. With a final, lingering look, I turned and left the room, the echo of her

was a painful throb, a constant reminder of the loss I was about to endure. Natalia, my best friend, the one person who truly

within me, were still happily