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.

etched on his

in return. “There’s just one quick place I need

over me momentarily, replaced by a fresh wave of nervous anticipation as I pulled out my phone, searching for the room number Sarah had reluctantly

toll, and the hallways were overflowing with the wounded. Nurses rushed past, their faces etched with a mixture of urgency and exhaustion. Taking a deep breath, I steeled myself for

me, I navigated the maze of corridors, my heart pounding a frantic rhythm against my ribs. Finally, I found the room a stark white space

–

door, I braced myself for the sight that awaited me. Nate was lying in the bed, looking pale but

Chapter 127

injuries. Natalia sat beside

moment I entered the room, the atmosphere

“Natalia?”

refusing to meet my gaze. “What are you doing

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

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

the twins officially,

silent storm brewing beneath the surface. After a long, tense silence, she spoke. Her

“Good for you.”

by the awkward

broke the silence again. My voice, thick with emotion, cracked as I spoke. “I’m so sorry, Natalia.

seemed to have no effect on Natalia’s stoic facade. Feeling a breakdown rising to the surface, I fought

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

“Goodbye, Amaya.”

it remained unreadable. With a final, lingering look, I turned and left the room, the echo of her goodbye echoing in the sterile silence

like it was shattering in my chest. Each beat was a painful throb, a constant reminder of the loss I was about to endure. Natalia, my best friend, the one person who truly understood me, was gone. It was the most painful thing I’d ever

the storm raging within me, were still happily occupied with the