The Rejected daughter chosen by the Alpha (Maya and Atila) novel Chapter 122

Chapter 122

Chapter 122

MAYA

“Easy, dear. There’s no need to rush.”

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Miss Langford’s calm voice came from beside me as she held my arm, guiding each careful step into the apartment. Even something as simple as walking still took more effort than I wanted to admit, and no matter how much I refused to look weak, my body clearly had its own opinion.

“I’m fine,” I said, even though I knew it wasn’t entirely true.

Atila stood on my other side, silent, holding my hand and my suitcase at the same time.

“You should’ve taken the wheelchair,” he said.

I rolled my eyes.

“You’re being dramatic.”

He didn’t respond.

That, more than anything, made me look at him. His eyes were on me, tracking every small movement with an intensity I couldn’t explain. It wasn’t just concern. It was something heavier. Something darker.

I looked away before he realized I’d noticed.

We stepped into the living room.

And then I saw her.

Victoria was sitting on the couch like she belonged there. Her legs were crossed elegantly, a teacup resting between her perfectly aligned fingers, as if she were a welcome guest instead of an intruder.

She looked up immediately when we walked in.

And smiled.

My entire body went rigid.

“What is she doing here?” I asked, not bothering to hide the edge in my voice.

Her smile didn’t disappear.

If anything, it became more irritating.

“Maya,” Atila said calmly beside me. “Victoria will be staying here for a few days.”

I turned my head toward him so fast a sharp pain shot through my back.

“What? Again? Didn’t she just leave?”

“She doesn’t have anywhere else right now,” he continued with that same infuriating calm. “It’s temporary.”

Temporary.

The word echoed in my head, bitter and hollow.

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Chapter 122

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I looked back at her, taking in every detail. The flawless dress. The perfectly styled hair. The way she looked entirely too

comfortable.

She didn’t look like someone with nowhere to go.

She looked like someone who had come back to cause trouble.

“How convenient,” I muttered.

Victoria tilted her head slightly, like she was genuinely interested.

“I’m glad to see you’re alive, too,” she said, her concern painfully fake. “It must’ve been terrifying.”

“I’m sure it was,” I replied dryly.

Miss Langford gave my arm a gentle squeeze, a silent warning.

I ignored it.

Victoria rose gracefully, setting her teacup down before taking a step toward us.

“I hope we can coexist peacefully,” she said.

I let out a soft, humorless laugh.

“Coexist.”

I repeated the word like it was something foreign, something that didn’t make sense.

She held my gaze, and for the first time, her smile faltered-just barely.

Good.

She should know I wasn’t stupid.

Orblind.

Or naive.

I turned back to Atila.

“I’m going upstairs,” I said simply.

I didn’t wait for an answer.

I started toward the stairs, ignoring the pull in my back, ignoring the heavy silence left behind in the room.

“Atila,” I added without looking back. “Come with me,”

I heard his footsteps immediately behind me.

That was enough.

I entered the bedroom and sat on the edge of the bed, letting out a slow breath as my body finally gave in to the exhaustion I’d been forcing myself to ignore.

I looked up.

He stood a few steps away, watching me.

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Chapter 122

His face was calm.

But his eyes weren’t.

There was caution there.

Distrust.

Like he was waiting for me to start a fight.

“Are you going to tell me why you let your ex stay in your apartment?”

The question came out calmer than I felt.

He ran his hands through his hair immediately, his fingers tangling in the dark strands as he exhaled heavily.

“Maya…”

“No,” I cut in firmly. “I want to understand.”

He looked away for a moment, pacing a few steps across the room before stopping with his back to me.

“She had nowhere else to go.”

I let out a quiet, humorless laugh.

“She’s rich. Women like her always have somewhere to go. That doesn’t convince me.”

He turned back toward me, his jaw tight.

“It’s temporary.”

“You said that last time.”

He dragged a hand down his face.

“I’m dealing with things you don’t understand yet.”

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“Then help me understand,” I shot back, my throat tightening. “Because as far as I know, we’re engaged now.”

Silence fell between us.

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“If we’re going to get married,” I continued, my voice trembling despite my effort to steady it, “you need to understand that I don’t want that woman near you. Or near our life.”

He closed his eyes for a second, like it hurt more than he was letting on.

“Be patient, love,” he said finally, “Trust me. Please.”

I shook my head,

“How?”

“I can’t explain everything right now,” he continued. “But I’m trying to keep things under control.”

The tears came before I could stop them.

I hated it.

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Hated feeling like this. Fragile. Exposed. Unsteady

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“If she’s not gone by the end of the week,” I said, my voice breaking, “I swear I’ll pack my things and accept that offer in Paris.”

He froze.

“And I won’t come back for six months.”

His silence was worse than any answer.

He didn’t argue.

Didn’t deny it.

Didn’t promise anything.

He just stood there.

Then he started walking toward me.

Stop.

Don’t look at me like that.

Don’t.

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He stopped in front of me.

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“Maya,” he said quietly.

“No,” I said, turning my face away.

“Look at me.”

“No.”

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He touched my chin gently, turning my face back toward his.

“I need you to trust me.”

“You’re asking me for something you’re not willing to give in return.”

“I’m trying to protect you.”

“Then start by being honest with me.”

He hesitated.

That hurt more than anything else.

“I love you,” he said finally,

My chest tightened.

“Then act like it.”

He didn’t respond.

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Chapter 122

Instead, he leaned down and pressed his lips to mine.

The kiss wasn’t demanding.

It was slow.

Warm.

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His hand slid to the back of my neck, holding me carefully, like he was afraid I might break. My body responded before my mind could, melting into the familiar contact, the warmth that always calmed me-even when I was furious.

When he pulled back, his forehead stayed pressed against mine.

“I would never choose anyone over you,” he murmured.

I closed my eyes.

I wanted to believe him.

But I felt too insecure to trust it.

***

A few hours later, once we were settled back in, Atila helped me into the bathroom.

“You need a bath,” he said gently.

“I can manage on my own.”

“I know. But let me take care of you.”

He filled the tub, tested the water temperature, then helped me step in carefully, like every movement I made mattered too

much to rush.