The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Anastasia wouldn't let Herman sleep beside her. No matter how hard she tried,

she just couldn't accept herself—not after everything. She felt dirty, tainted in a

way that couldn't be washed away.

She didn't want to drag him down with her.

She forced herself to eat the food Herman brought, picking at it in silence, before

burrowing back under the covers. She didn't want to see anyone. She didn't want

to talk. She sent everyone away, needing to be alone.

As for those four men who died—she felt nothing. They deserved it. That was all.

A while later, Anastasia got up and wandered into the bathroom. She undressed

and caught sight of the bruises scattered across her skin. The memories crashed

over her, threatening to break her.

She bit her lip, ran a bath as hot as she could stand, and slid into the water. She

scrubbed at her skin until it turned red and raw, but she couldn't feel anything. Not

pain, not relief.

No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't get clean. She was too filthy.

Anastasia started to cry, silent tears slipping down her cheeks and dripping into

the bath, disappearing without a trace.

Blood began to trickle, swirling into the water and tinting it red.

Something about that color—so bright, so final—made her heart race. A strange,noveldrama

desperate smile flickered on her lips.

Moving without thinking, she opened a drawer, took out Herman's razor, and

slipped the blade free.

Just one cut, and she wouldn't have to face herself anymore.

Anastasia closed her eyes, lifting the blade to her wrist. She was ready.

Suddenly, someone hammered on the door. Herman's voice cut through the

silence, tense and frantic: "Anastasia! Anastasia, what are you doing? I'm coming

in!"

He couldn't stay away, even when she pushed him out. He'd been worried—

rightly so.

He heard nothing from inside, and panic took over. He grabbed the doorknob,

about to force it open—

But the door swung open first.

Anastasia stood there, wrapped tight in a towel, her face blank. "I'm just taking a

bath. There's no need to panic."

It was Herman's voice—his fear—that pulled her back from the edge.

She brushed past him, heading for the closet and changing into warm, loose

clothes.

Herman glanced into the bathroom. The razor blade glinted in the trash. The

water in the tub was tinged red.

She'd tried to end it.

The realization nearly dropped him to his knees. He rushed into the closet,

grabbing her wrist and checking for wounds.

Nothing. Relief washed over him. If he hadn't come in time—he didn't want to

think about it.

Herman pulled her into a fierce hug,

at a complete loss. He'd handled

billion-dollar deals without flinching,

but the idea of losing Anastasia—he

couldn't breathe.

"You still have me. And the kids.

Anastasia, you can't leave us. If you

go, I'm going with you." His voice

shook as he held her, tears spilling

over.

Losing her—that was his greatest fear.

Anastasia broke down, sobbing in his arms.

This fool. No matter what happened, no matter how broken she felt, he never let

her go. He never turned away.

She clung to his shirt, pain twisting in her chest. "Why are you so... stupid?"

She'd said those words before, back at the police station, when everyone

suspected her of killing Grannie Anita. Even then, he cared only about her.

Anastasia cried herself to sleep in his arms.

Herman watched her sleep, his heart tangled with guilt and helplessness.

He slipped out to the balcony, chain-smoking cigarette after cigarette, letting the

smoke dull the ache inside.

His phone rang—Dailey. "Boss, we found him."

Herman's eyes turned cold. "Where?"

"A clinic north of the city."

He'd never stopped searching for the man who framed Anastasia. Dropping the

case was just for show—he needed to work in the shadows.

He was certain. That other man in the cave that night? It had to be Rowan.

Since Anastasia's world fell apart,

Herman had been hunting Rowan

quietly. He knew: only by finding him

could they finally uncover the truth

of what happened that night.