Bonds

Chapter 138

-Maya’s POV-

Everything was set in motion, every piece carefully placed on the chessboard. Just like Alex predicted, Christian hadn’t been able to track the source of the message. There were no other options – it was for me to meet with Ivan.

Alex had meticulously planned every detail, leaving no room for error. He’d be my constant shadow, ensuring Ivan believed I was truly alone. Now I stood in front of the mirror, dressed up. It was almost time.

“The hair suits you,” Alex’s voice sounded from behind me, his words barely audible over the nervous fluttering in my stomach. I didn’t tear my gaze away from the reflection in the mirror, but I could feel him enter the small bathroom.

Silence stretched, thick and heavy, before I finally muttered a quiet, “Thank you.”

Taking a deep breath, I turned away from the mirror, ready to face whatever awaited me. But he reached out a hand, gently stopping me in my tracks.

“Amaya,” he whispered.

A jolt of deja vu slammed into me. This, this very moment, mirrored our first encounter. I looked up, meeting his blue eyes – eyes that had always held a power over me, a power that always managed to disarm me. The intensity of his gaze was too much, and I quickly looked away.

I tried to step past him again, but his hand shot out, gripping my arm lightly. “Amaya, please.”

Frustration bubbled up inside me, threatening to spill over. “What do you want me to say, Alex? You’re making me sound like a broken record repeating the same lines over and over. I don’t know how you think things can just magically be okay between us. Believe me, I want it to be okay. I’ve wanted it to be the moment I stepped back into your life a decision fueled by the need to stop lying to myself. But it’s not easy, Alex. Not by a

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long shot. And right now, this…. this isn’t the time for this conversation.”

stood there, locked in an unspoken battle of wills. The silence stretched for what felt like an eternity before he finally stepped back,

“are you going to take

honestly, the answer a tangled mess of emotions swirling within me.

raw pain briefly crossing his features before he quickly masked it with a curt nod. “If that’s what you want,” he said, his voice flat and emotionless, “then

of conflicting emotions hit me as Alex turned away. Before he could disappear down the hallway, I blurted out the question that had been gnawing at me. “Are you going to try to take

A sad smile tugged at the corner of his lips, a contrast to the turmoil in his eyes. “I’m done hurting you. All I want is for us to be okay, for things to be… normal. I want to get to know my children,

urgent. “The car is ready,” he announced,

my throat constricting with a mix of emotions. Stealing one last glance at Alex, his

the dank, claustrophobic tunnels where I’d been held captive before, this place felt different. The

expansive room, my breath caught in my throat. My heart went into overdrive. There, in a

constructed walls crumbled. A strangled cry escaped my lips as I sprinted towards them, my legs propelled by a desperate need to hold them close, to

face in a torrent of relief. “Mommy’s here,” I whispered, my

my gaze scanning their faces for any sign of harm. Little Ivy, ever the chatterbox, was already pointing at a brightly colored teddy bear. “Look, Mommy! Teddy goes roar!” she exclaimed, her

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Chapter 138

to register Nate’s words. “Mommy,” he mumbled, his voice thick with a mix of sleepiness and relief, “I

a deep ache of guilt for the fear and uncertainty they must have endured. “We need to get out of here,” I

cold and calculating. I looked up, my blood running cold. Adrian stood at the doorway,

you?” he drawled, his

my children closer, glaring daggers at him. “Where’s Ivan?” I demanded, my voice surprisingly steady

more important matters,” he replied

complimentary. “You raised them well. They’ve been very well behaved. Go on then, he gestured towards the door, a mocking smile plastered on his face, “take

kind of game are