Chapter 21
Cole lay turned to the side, keeping his eyes fixed on Maya.
It had been only half a month since he last saw her, yet it felt like a century had crawled by. The only mercy was that both of them were still alive.
Maya met his bloodshot stare without a flicker of emotion. There was no trace of warmth, no flash of anger, and no hint of hate. If there was anything at all, it was buried deep under coldness.
She checked the incision, administered a dose of antibiotics, gave quick aftercare instructions, and turned to leave.
“Maya…” Cole’s weak voice scraped out from behind her.
She didn’t stop and kept walking.
Even though they were in the same hospital, Cole and Carter couldn’t find a good moment to speak to her.
After completing the surgery and administering the antibiotics, she always sent a nurse to take care of Cole whenever Carter came looking for her.
She was all business with everyone except Jasper. She went to see him every day, asked about his wound’s recovery, and even smiled at him.
Jealousy burned through the Hale brothers, and yet both of them knew they had no right to say a word.
A week later, Jasper was discharged.
Cole was already able to get out of bed and walk around.
Given the shortage of medical resources, they should have gone. Yet, they bartered more medical
supplies and bought themselves time to stay.
That night, when the ward finally quieted, Maya stepped into the open yard and tilted her face toward the
moon.
It was the only part of her day that felt like she was taking a breath.
She reached for the pendant at her chest and found nothing.
She thought of her grandmother, and the calm she had managed to hold onto fell apart.
Belinda had neither much schooling nor money, yet she raised Maya with a love that never ran dry.
When the kids at school sneered that she had no parents and teachers played favorites, Belinda found
ways to stand up for Maya anyway.
“Maya.” Cole’s low voice broke through her memory as he stopped at her side.
She looked over, her eyes looking faintly red and cold as quenched steel.
He sat down across from her. “We came to Aygate to find you. We owe you an apology. I’m sorry, Maya, I’m really sorry.”
Staring at the woman who wouldn’t thaw for him, Cole felt his heart twist. He quickly added, “We only learned at the wedding what Valerie really did to you. She lied to us. We-”
“Cole.” She cut him off, her gaze icy cold. “The night my grandma died, she kept asking for you. I told myself that if you walked in and let her go in peace, I could forgive everything. But where were you?”
“I…” The word snagged in his throat. His loathing for Valerie spiked.
“Valerie had my phone.” He forced out. “She deleted your texts and blocked your calls. If I had known
about your grandma, I would have gone.”
“No,” Maya said. “You would have chosen Valerie.”
She held his gaze. “So, I won’t forgive you.”
Color drained from his face. “Maya, don’t do this to me,” he said, his voice trembling. “It wasn’t all an act! I
love you! I only realized it after you left. I made terrible choices, but-”
He stopped because of the way she was looking at him. There was only cool contempt. He had never
imagined those bright eyes could look at him like that.
It felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head. The words died in his mouth.
Maya said coldly, “My break is short. You’re wasting my time.”
His throat felt stuffed, as if packed with cotton. After a long beat, he managed one last line. “I’m sorry.”
Then, he turned and left.
