The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

If a car ended up in the tunnel, things could get pretty dire. Honestly, you'd have a better shot at survival if you were just caught in a mudslide. Anastasia's legs felt like jelly, and Christen had to hold her up. "Hang in there, ma'am. Let's keep looking," he urged.

Anastasia's face was ghostly pale, not a hint of color, and she was shaking all over. She'd barely managed to keep it together, combing through the hospital with Christen, checking every injured person to see if Herman had been brought in. When they didn't find him,

Anastasia insisted on heading to the landslide site. She wouldn't feel at ease until she found him.

The sky was dark, and rain was coming down in torrents. The road to Silver Creek Village was barricaded, with highway patrol officers standing guard, not letting anyone through. Anastasia parked but didn't turn back. A rain-soaked officer came over. "The road ahead is blocked by a landslide. You need to turn around," he said.

Anastasia rolled down her window. "Has everyone been rescued yet?" she asked anxiously.

"No," the officer replied. "The mudslide blocked the road, and with the rain this heavy, the hills are unstable. It's too dangerous. We've stopped the rescue efforts until the storm passes."

"And the tunnel? Are there still cars buried in there?" Anastasia's voice trembled. "My husband's missing. He's not at the hospital. He might still be inside."

The officer tried to reassure her. "I'm sorry, but it's too dangerous to search right now. Please, you need to leave. The risk of another landslide is high."

Christen added from inside the car, "Ma'am, maybe we should find a place to stay for the night? We can come back tomorrow."

The officer wasn't budging, and staying in the car wasn't safe. Anastasia's mental state was fragile, and Christen was genuinely worried.

Anastasia shook her head, then pleaded with the officer, "Can I at least park over there by the dam? I promise I won't go in."

The officer, understanding her desperation, nodded sympathetically. Many people had come by today with the same frantic look, worried sick about their loved ones.

"I'm sorry, but I can't allow that. Please cooperate with us and come back tomorrow."

With no other choice, Anastasia left and found a hotel in the nearby town. It was close to the accident site, so she could return at first light.

That night, sleep was out of the question for Anastasia. Her mind was a whirlwind of anxiety over Herman's fate. Katelyn and the others arrived soon after, and once they understood the situation, their faces mirrored Anastasia's worry, a collective cloud of concern hanging

over them.

The news about Herman, CEO of Riverdale Elysian Technologies, being caught in the disaster spread quickly, with rumors even claiming he had died. Among the casualties, there were those missing, possibly buried under mud or swept downstream.

Meanwhile, in a major hospital in Springfield, Herman lay unconscious in a recovery room post-surgery, with Sandy keeping vigil by his side. Sandy, having had no time to check the news, was caught off guard when Sean found her after seeing reports online. "Hey, sis, there's a rumor going around that Herman's dead," Sean said.

"Let me see," Sandy replied, glancing at the news. "This could work in our favor. The more noise, the bigger the gratitude when he pulls through."

Sean hesitated. "Should we notify the Salstrom family?"

"Not yet," Sandy said, a plan forming in her mind. "If we call them now, it might lessen the impact. I want Herman to see us first when he wakes up. That way, our help will mean more. Don't say a word to anyone."

"Alright, I'll follow your lead," Sean agreed. "But you should rest at the hotel. I'll stay here."

"No, I want to be here. You go back and get some sleep," Sandy insisted.

Sean, running a slight fever and exhausted, finally relented and went back to the hotel. It was already three in the morning.

Sandy watched over Herman's unconscious form, feeling an unexpected stir of compassion. Who could resist such an exceptional man? Even someone as proud and strong-willed as Sandy, who only acknowledged Herman as a rival and role model in business, felt a strange, compelling sense of intrigue as she sat there, alone with him in the quiet room.