-Maya’s POV-


    My silence hung heavy in the air, thicker than the city mist clinging to the car windows. Ivan


    finally broke it, his voiceced with an apology I wasn’t ready to ept. “You are upset with me,” he stated, the


    obviousness grating on my already raw nerves.


    I swivelled towards him, my re hot enough to melt the ice currently residing in my veins growing every second from the encounter with Alex.


    “My rtionship with Miranda… it’splicated,” he offered, his voice trailing off like an unfinished sentence. Butplications meant nothing to me in t


    “Does thisplication make you SCARED of her?” I spat, each wordced with venom. “Because you just puppet on her strings. I don’t even know her


    sat there and let her make jabs at me, like a


    My voice escted, mirroring the turmoil within. The frustration of the encounter with Miranda, the sting of Alex’s reappearance, all converged into a torre


    rid of the firestorm.


    He sighed, a weary sound that spoke volumes. “It’s not you,” he began, attempting to soothe the tempest. “Miranda is like that with everyone. She thrive


    But his apology rang hollow. “She didn’t ruin the dinner, Ivan,” I snarled, my wolf straining at the leash, baring her fangs at the perceived weakness. “You


    did.”


    The usation hung heavy in the air, a stark contrast to the soft hum of the engine. His eyes widened, surprise battling with hurt. But it was the hurt that


    beneath his carefully constructed facade,


    My wolf whined, urging me forward, demanding answers. Yet, a sliver of reason held me back.


    Taking a deep breath, I forced myself to calm the storm within. The questions wouldn’t disappear, but the usations wouldn’t get us anywhere. I neede


    “Tell me the truth, Ivan,” I said, my voice softer now, but no less determined. “Why did you let her treat me like that? Why the silence when I needed you


    Silence stretched


    between us, taut and heavy. But this time, it wasn’t suffocating. It was filled with anticipation, a shared space where secrets might finally be unveiled.


    “Do you think I am so weak and I cannot handle what it is? Is that why you went to my father to marry me out of all the options you could have had…. Be


    Ivan flinched, the hurt in his eyes deepening. “That is not true. I don’t think you are weak and it’s not that simple,” he muttered, his voice tight


    “Then make it simple,” I snapped, my wolf straining at the leash, her ws scraping against the metaphorical cage of my control. “Because right now, al


    He sighed, a deep, frustrated sound. “Miranda and I…


    we have a history,” he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper. “Aplicated one, filled with….baggage not like regr siblings. She is like a tickin


    seconds.”


    My anger simmered,ced with a flicker of curiosity. “What kind of baggage?” I pressed, needing to understand the invisible strings that bound him.


    He hesitated, his gaze fixed on the passing cityscape, a million unsaid words battling for release. Finally, he spoke, his voiceced with pain. “Our paren


    12:00 Thu, 20 Jun M


    His words resonated deep within me, striking a chord of empathy. “How old were you?” I whispered.


    Seven.”


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    N?velDrama.Org is the owner.


    I felt all the anger disappear in seconds, “I am really sorry, I cannot imagine what that coud have been like or for her. You had your childhood stripped. aw


    “I know,” he said, his voice thick with regret. “And I apologize. Truly. But Miranda… she’s fragile, and right now, especially vulnerable. After they


    died, it was the two of us against the world and then things changed when we were old enough to start dating. She is really possessive of me. Seeing yo


    “Seeing me with you? You make it sound like I’m some kind of trophy or maybe you are the trophy,” I scoffed, the hurt bubbling to the surface.


    “No,” his hand reaching out to grip mine, but I instinctively pulled away. “it’s not like that. You… you represent something new, something good in my life


    losing the only


    constant she has left. It has always been like that. She can date but I can’t. Now that I am marrying, she made it clear that she is upset She has always


    His words resonated within me, painting a picture of a fractured rtionship, of loyalty twisted by loss and fear, My anger softened, reced by a sliver o


    “You can’t let her fear dictate your actions, Ivan,” I said, my voice gentler now. “You have to stand up for yourself, for me.”


    He met my gaze, his eyes searching mine. “I will,” he vowed, his voice firming with resolve. “But it won’t be easy. Miranda…she can be ruthless.”


    “Then let’s be ruthless together,” I challenged, a spark igniting in my chest. “We face this, whatever it is, head–on. As equals, not puppets to someone


    else’s drama.”


    He smiled, a flicker of hope lighting up his features. “As equals,” he echoed, squeezing my hand gently.


    The streemps reflected in his hopeful smile, casting dancing shadows on his determined face. His hand lingered in mine, the silent agreement warmin


    halt, the tires squealing against the asphalt


    Ivan… What are you-” i began, confusion tugging at my brows. But a thrill, unexpected and exhrating, fluttered in my chest. He didn’t wait for my quest


    pulling me along with him.


    “Doing things on our terms,” he stated, his voice firm despite the tremor in his hand. “Equals, remember?”


    My heart skipped a beat as understanding dawned. “You’re not…What are you doing?”


    “We are getting married?” he finished, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Right here. Right now.”


    Augh bubbled up, nervous and light. “Ivan, we’re in the middle of the street! We can’t just-”


    My words died in my throat as he dropped to one knee, the concrete providing an unconventional altar. My


    breath hitched, eyes widening in shock. In his hand, glinting under the streetlight, was a ring.


    “Maya,” he said, his voice husky with emotion, “you deserve more than a gilded cage


    and a preordained future. You deserve love,ughter, and at partnership built on trust and respect. So, will you do me the incredible honor of bing m


    Thest part had me barking out augh.


    Tears welled up in my eyes, blurring the city lights and the curious faces peeking from nearby windows. This wasn’t what I expected when I agreed to co


    undeniably him.


    A chokedugh escaped my lips, “Are you crazy?” I whispered, my voice thick with emotion.


    He grinned, his eyes sparkling.


    “Maybe. But beautifully, wonderfully crazy. So, what do you say, Maya? Do you take the chance on forever with a man who might be slightly insane?”


    The decision was clear. This wasn’t a fairy tale proposal, but the start of our own unique adventure. Taking a deep breath,I met his gaze,


    a smile blooming on my face.


    “Ivan,” I said, my voice trembling with joy, “you may be crazy, but you’re my kind of crazy. And yes, yes, a thousand times yes!”


    He whooped, the sound echoing


    through the quiet street, and pulled me into a tight embrace. The kiss that followed was electric, charged with the thrill of defying expectations and the pr


    our own terms. As ourughter mingled with the honking of impatient cars, I knew this wasn’t just the beginning of a marriage, but the start of something


    Little did I know that this very moment was just the beginning of the chaos,