The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Julie jumped at the sudden rise in Devin's voice, looking a bit puzzled. "Dad, why are you so scared? That was Grannie Anita's doing. How could it possibly harm the Browns?"

"You're being naïve," Devin fretted, his anxiety palpable. "Do you honestly think Grannie Anita won't throw you under the bus? When Herman finds out his child is gone, do you think he'll let it slide? They're family. They might forgive Grannie Anita, but you? Herman will direct all his rage at you and the Browns."

Julie was stunned by Devin's outburst but still thought he was overreacting.

"Dad, all I did was convince Grannie Anita that Anastasia was carrying some illegitimate child. I didn't do anything else. Besides, Anastasia got pregnant out of nowhere, and Grannie Anita already doesn't like her. Even without my interference, she would have been suspicious."

Julie envisioned a rosy future. "Dad, once Anastasia falls out of favor, my chance will come. Grannie Anita loves me. I could become the lady of the Salstrom family. Isn't that the alliance you've always wanted between the Salstroms and the Browns?" Devin pointed a trembling finger at Julie, almost speechless with anger. "Did you forget about Joseph? Do you really think I know nothing? Grannie Anita came to me privately, wanting to marry you off to Joseph. And you're still dreaming about Herman? Wake up." Mentioning Joseph filled Julie with fury. "I'm not marrying a bastard."

Devin couldn't bother with that right now. Taking a deep breath, he said, "All I hope for now is that Grannie Anita doesn't expose you, and this mess doesn't drag the Browns into it. That's all I can pray for."

This was a matter of life and death, ruining someone's lineage, a blood feud.

As it turned out, Devin's worries were well-founded.

After seeing his child, Herman immediately ordered an investigation into the warning text and the food Anastasia had eaten, bringing Katie back. Southridge Estates.

Katie stood trembling in the hall. She knew the truth would come out eventually but didn't expect it to happen so soon.

It had only been half a day.

Katie hung her head, shaking all over, not daring to say a word.

Herman stood before her, his voice icy cold. "Tell me, what's the deal with the abortion drug? Did you put it in Anastasia's food? Who told you to do it?"

Katie dared not admit it, stammering, "Sir, I don't know anything about an abortion drug, I..."

Before Katie could finish, Herman pointed a gun at her forehead, the cold muzzle making her collapse to the ground.

"Sir, I, I really don't know." Katie denied it even more, shaking all over from guilt but still insisting on her innocence.

At that moment, Dailey walked in. "Boss, we've found out that Katie's husband owed a loan shark a million dollars, but just two hours ago, the debt was fully paid."

Hearing Dailey's report, Katie was dumbfounded. She had no idea the consequences would come so quickly.

Herman swiftly loaded his gun, pulled the trigger, and a gunshot rang out, the bullet piercing the floor beside Katie, making her tremble even more.

Herman's face was icy, a murderous aura surrounding him. He squatted down, the smoking gun still pointed at Katie. "I'll give you three seconds to think about who told you to do this." People are afraid of death.

Katie had never seen such a scene. Her face went pale as a sheet.

Herman's voice was cold and stern, "One, two, three..."

As the word 'three' fell, Katie, whose legs had gone weak from fear, couldn't withstand the pressure and quickly confessed, "It was the old lady, the old lady told me to do it."

The words "old lady" were like a sharp sword, piercing directly into Herman's heart.

Herman never expected that the person behind the drug was his grandmother.

Dailey was also shocked. "How could this be?"

Dailey hurriedly looked at Herman's face.

Herman's face was as expected-anything but good.

That was his own grandmother.

Herman's eyes were bloodshot. He demanded fiercely, "Say it again, who was it?"

"It was the old lady." By now, Katie was crying from fear, her hands supporting her on the ground, kneeling before Herman. "Sir, it really was the old lady. She forced me to drug the young lady, saying that the child in her belly was a bastard and couldn't be born into the Salstrom family. I didn't agree at first, but she kept pressuring me. I had no choice, sir."

Herman swayed, a surge of blood rushing to his chest, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Boss." Dailey was taken aback and quickly supported Herman.