HEARTBOUND - The Alpha King's stolen slave

CHAPTER TWO THE NAME HE DENIED

Omatovia's Pov

He walked toward me, his eyes fixed on something behind me, his face expressionless. The lady beside him, dressed in royal attire, and his two bodyguards followed closely behind.

I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was really him.

Tears of joy streamed down my face as I gazed at him, my heart overflowing with emotion. I had thought I would hate him if I ever saw him again, but my feelings hadn’t changed. I still loved him, and I was willing to forgive him for everything.

But my hopes were shattered when he walked past me without even acknowledging my presence. The lady beside him shot me a dangerous glare as she passed.

I called out to him again, my voice shaking with desperation.

“Aryan!”

Tears streamed down my face like relentless rainfall, and my heart ached. His expression was unreadable, and I felt a pang of uncertainty. Did he not recognize me?

The people in the room watched the drama unfold with a blur of curiosity and indifference. The Queen Mother’s eyes were fixed on her son, her expression a mixture of confusion and concern.

“Who’s she?” Lucian’s deep voice cut through the silence, his tone devoid of emotion.

The Queen Mother’s eyes narrowed, her gaze flicking between me and her son.

“What’s going on here?” she asked, confusion lacing her voice. “Why was she referring to my son as Aryan?”

I took a step forward, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Aryan, it’s me—your Oma. Don’t you recognize me?”

I pointed to myself, my eyes pleading with him to remember. But his face remained impassive, his eyes cold and distant.

Lucian’s gaze shifted to the guard beside me, his stare piercing. The guard needed no one to explain the meaning of that look.

The guard bowed his head, his voice trembling.

“Greetings, Alpha. She’s the daughter of a woman who lives on the other side of the kingdom, owing the Queen Mother a debt.”

A surge of humiliation rose within me as Lucian’s eyes raked over me, his expression unyielding.

“What’s she doing here?” he asked, disdain dripping from his voice.

The guard’s reply was barely audible.

“Her parents used her as payment for the debt.”

Lucian’s gaze snapped back to me, lingering on my face before he looked away. He walked to his throne, the pretty lady behind him, and sat down with an air of authority.

The Queen Mother’s expression softened slightly as she looked at me.

“Take her to the maidens’ quarters. I will talk to her later.”

The guard bowed and moved to take me away, but Lucian’s voice stopped him.

“She won’t be staying here.”

My heart sank as his words hung in the air—a cold rejection that left me shattered and worthless. The guard’s hand closed around my arm, pulling me away from Aryan… away from the only person I had hoped would recognize me, would love me.

“Take her back home,” Lucian ordered, his voice devoid of emotion.

My heart broke into a million pieces as I gazed at him, silently pleading for recognition. He didn’t even flinch.

The greatest pain in life is being forgotten—and worse, being remembered but not recognized.

Why was Aryan acting this way? What had I done to deserve such cruelty?

The Queen Mother’s voice carried confusion.

“What are you saying, son?”

Lucian’s response was curt, his tone edged with finality.

“She won’t be living with us. Send her home.”

Desperation washed over me as I cried out again, my voice hoarse from tears.

“Aryan!”

The Queen Mother walked toward me, her eyes narrowing.

“Why are you referring to my son as Aryan?”

I sobbed, my body shaking with grief.

“He’s… he’s… he’s my Aryan.”

I couldn’t understand why he was hurting me this much.

The pretty lady beside Lucian seemed offended by my words. She strode forward and slapped me hard across the cheek, drawing gasps from everyone in the room.

But Lucian’s face remained impassive, his unreadable eyes fixed on me.