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.”

battle of wills. The silence stretched for what felt like an

you have them,” he started, “are you going to take them and

with unspoken emotions. It took me a moment to process his words, to truly understand what he was asking. “I don’t know,” I admitted honestly, the answer a tangled mess of emotions swirling within me. “Honestly, I don’t know yet. After everything that’s happened, maybe… maybe leaving would be the best thing for all of

flashed, a flicker of raw pain briefly crossing his features before he quickly masked it with a curt nod. “If that’s what you

down the hallway, I blurted out the question that had been gnawing at me. “Are you going to try to take them

All I want is for us to be okay, for things to be… normal. I want to get to know my children, but you raised them

and urgent. “The

nodded, my throat constricting with a mix of emotions. Stealing one last glance at Alex, his face etched with a mixture of sadness and determination, I followed Christian out the door.

turn sent my heart hammering against my ribs. Unlike the dank, claustrophobic tunnels where I’d been held captive before, this place felt different. The air was clean, devoid of the stale, musty smell that had clung to me for days. Yet, a different

my breath caught in my throat. My heart went into

crumbled. A strangled cry escaped my lips as I sprinted towards them,

into a crushing hug, tears streaming down my face in a torrent of relief. “Mommy’s

chatterbox, was already

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Chapter 138

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

welled up in my eyes. Relief washed over me, tinged with a deep ache of guilt for the fear and uncertainty they must have endured. “We need to get out of here,” I whispered, my voice firm despite the tremor

as I started to formulate a plan, a voice sliced through the air, cold and calculating. I looked up, my blood running cold. Adrian stood at

that easy, did you?” he drawled, his voice laced with a sickening

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

with more important matters,” he replied nonchalantly.

he continued, his tone almost grudgingly complimentary. “You raised them well. They’ve been very well behaved.

for a way out. They wouldn’t let me leave that easily. “What kind of game are you playing?” I