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.”

stretched for what felt like an eternity before he finally stepped back,

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

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,

features before he quickly masked it with a

Before he could disappear down the hallway, I blurted out the question that had been gnawing at me. “Are you

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, but you raised them on your own, you picked up the pieces

air, his tone clipped and urgent. “The car is ready,” he

of emotions. Stealing one last glance at Alex, his face etched with a mixture of sadness and determination, I followed Christian out

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 kind of

my throat. My heart went into overdrive. There,

second thought, all my carefully 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 feel them safe in

my face in a torrent

scanning their faces for any sign of harm. Little Ivy, ever the chatterbox, was already pointing at a brightly colored

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Chapter 138

took a moment for my racing heart to slow down enough to register Nate’s words. “Mommy,” he mumbled, his voice thick with a mix of sleepiness and relief,

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

formulate a plan, a voice sliced through the air, cold and calculating. I looked up, my blood running cold. Adrian stood at the doorway, a cruel smile playing

think it would be that easy, did you?”

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

important matters,” he replied nonchalantly. His gaze flickered

grudgingly complimentary. “You raised them well. They’ve been very

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