Bonds

-Maya's POV-

I don't know how long I stood there staring blankly at the closed gates. My legs felt like lead weights, stuck in place. Finally, I managed to tear my gaze away and somehow forced my feet to move. It felt more like dragging myself than walking, but inch by inch, I made my way to Natalia's house.

The head of security officers said something to me, but it was like background noise, a distant murmur I couldn't focus on. My brain had shut down, overloaded with the emotional blow.

en I reached Natalia's doorstep, I fumbled with the keys, my hands shaking so badly it took several tries to unlock the door. Even the simple act of turning the knob felt like a monumental task.

As I stumbled inside, the sound of the twins' happy shrieks filled the air. They spotted me right away and came barreling towards me, their little arms wrapped around my legs in a tight hug then got distracted almost immediately. Their innocent joy was a stark contrast to the storm raging inside me.

Natalia appeared in the doorway, her brow furrowed in concern. One look at my tear-streaked face told her everything she needed to know. Without a word, she reached out and pulled me into a tight hug. We just stood there for a while, the only sound the muffled sobs escaping my lips and the faint pitter-patter of tiny feet as the twins ran off to continue playing.

The warmth of her embrace offered a sliver of comfort in the vast emptiness that had opened up inside me. Finally, she gently pulled back, her eyes searching mine.

"Come here, heney," she whispered softly, leading me to the couch and settling me down. We sat there in silence for a while, a silent language passing between us, a shared understanding that transcended words.

Natalia eventually rose and disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a steaming mug of coffee. She placed it carefully in my hands, her touch lingering for a moment. Then, she sat down beside me on the couch.

"I gave you some time to calm down. Now, tell me exactly what happened."

I took a deep breath, trying to gather my scattered thoughts. "He said he wants a divorce," the words tumbled out, raw and shaky.

"Why? Because of what happened at the gala?" Her question wasn't accusatory, but I knew she was still upset with me.

I nodded slowly, unable to meet her gaze. She didn't speak for a moment, her face unreadable. Then, she sighed.

"Did you tell him you don't want the marriage to end? Did you tell him how you feel?" There was a pointed edge to her voice now, a hint of frustration.

She had always had this uncanny ability to see right through me. She didn't need me to spell things out; my emotions were always laid bare on my face like an open book and only she could read.

...I

"... ..." I stammered, the words catching in my throat. "He asked me if I still loved Alex. I wanted to say no, but I couldn't get the words out."

She groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Oh, Amaya," she muttered. "What are we going to do with you?"

We lapsed back into silence, a heavy weight settling over the room. My mind was a chaotic mess, swirling with questions and self- recrimination. Natalia seemed to be deep in thought as well, carefully choosing her next words.

She broke the silence. "Where is he now?"Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

"He said he'd stay in a hotel until we figure things out," I mumbled, my voice barely above a whisper. "I can't let this be the end, Natalia. I can't lose him. I wouldn't know what to do with myself," Fresh tears welled up in my eyes, spilling down my cheeks in a silent torrent.

She let out a long sigh and took the coffee cup from my hand, placing it on the coffee table. Then, she pulled me back into her embrace, holding me tightly as I sobbed uncontrollably. She didn't try to say anything, just offered the silent comfort of her presence.

After a while, my tears finally subsided, leaving behind a trail of exhaustion and a throbbing ache in my head. Wiping my eyes with the back of my hand, I looked up at Natalia, my voice hoarse.

"The twins can't see me like this this," I croaked. "I need Ito find Ivan and talk to him. Tell him how I feel."

She nodded, a flicker of worry still lingering in her eyes. I knew she was biting her tongue, refraining from mentioning Alex again. We both knew that wouldn't solve anything right now.

"Go take a quick shower," she ushered me towards the bathroom. "It'll help you freshen up. You can throw on some of my clothes. And with everything going on, I think it's best you and the twins don't stay at that house tonight either."

I nodded numbly, grateful for her taking charge. The thought of facing the empty house, the scene of my shattered world, was more than could bear right now. The simple act of following instructions felt like a small victory in the face of my emotional turmoil.

In the shower, the hot water cascaded down my body, but it did little to wash away the coldness that had settled in my heart. As I scrubbed the tears from my face, I forced myself to focus on the task at hand.

Finding Ivan.

Natalia emerged with a towel and a set of her baggy clothes as I stepped out of the shower. They were far too big on me, but the soft fabric felt comforting against my raw skin. After drying off and pulling on the clothes, I looked at myself in the mirror. My reflection barely resembled the woman I knew. My eyes were red-rimmed and puffy, my face pale and drawn.

"I look awful," I mumbled, the words catching in my throat.

She reached out and squeezed my hand reassuringly. "You look like someone who's been through a lot, honey. But you're strong, Amaya. You'll get through this."

Her words were kind, but the doubt gnawed at me. Was I strong enough? Could I fix this mess I'd created?

Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to push those doubts aside for now. I needed to focus on finding Ivan. "Do you have any idea which hotel he might be at?" I asked, a flicker of hope igniting in my chest.

She shook her head. "He is really rich. There are a few luxury hotels in the area he might choose from. We can start by calling them and see if he's checked in under his name."

A wave of relief washed over me. At least there was a plan. We spent the next hour on the phone, calling each hotel on a list Natalia compiled. I knew she knew this city way more than anyone I knew. Disappointment followed disappointment with each negative response. Just when i was about to give up, Natalia gasped..

"The Meridian! They say a Mr. Ivan McCall checked in about an hour ago." Her voice held a mix of surprise and relief.

A surge of adrenaline shot through me. Ivan! He was at the Meridian. I could finally talk to him, explain how I felt, and maybe, just maybe, we could salvage our marriage.

"I need to gol" Lexclaimed, grabbing my purse. The fear and uncertainty were still there, but they were overshadowed by a renewed determination.

I wouldn't let Ivan walk away without a light.

I wouldn't let our love story end like this.

I finally reached the hotel. Getting past the receptionist was a nightmare. She kept saying they e

didn't allow visitors to just go up to rooms, that they had to call the guest first. I practically begged her until my eyes welled up with tears. Finally, after what felt like an hour of pleading and maybe doubling the tears for effect, she gave in and let me go up.

Room 202.

I mumbled a thank you so fast it probably came out slurred, and then raced up the stairs. My head was spinning, a mess of tangled thoughts and anxieties. It took me a while to find the room number, my vision blurry from tears and frustration.

But finally, there it was: 202.

I took a shaky breath, hand reaching out to knock. But something stopped me cold. A groan. From inside the room. Followed by the unmistakable sound of a woman's moan and then more followed. My hand froze in mid-air, the blood draining from my face.

What was going on?

Who was in there with Ivan?

The questions hammered in my head, unanswered and terrifying. The happy reunion I'd envisioned om shattered into a million pieces. All I NO could do was stand there, rooted to the spot, listening to the muffled sounds coming from behind the door. Each sound felt like a punch to the gut, the air thickening with a cold dread.

Ivan was having sex with someone else.