The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman) novel Chapter 1030

Rowan’s eyes narrowed just a bit as he walked over to Hanna. He picked her clothes up off the floor and carefully draped them over her shoulders.

He kept his gaze averted, never looking at her exposed skin.

That small kindness only made Hanna feel emptier inside, as if her heart had turned to wasteland.

She watched him, tears streaming down her face, but she forced herself not to sob. Finally, she closed her eyes and turned away. “Just go,” she whispered.

Rowan glanced down at her, hesitating like he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing. He just grabbed the man who was slumped in the corner, barely conscious, and hauled him out of the room.

Afraid Rowan might go too far, Hanna called out quickly, “Rowan, don’t kill him.”

Outside, Rowan paused, her words stopping him in his tracks.

The man’s eyes were wide with fear. Sensing Rowan’s hesitation, he started pleading desperately. “Rowan, it’s all a misunderstanding! I swear, it won’t happen again. I just had too much to drink, Hanna, I’m really sorry. It’s all my fault, I’ll take responsibility, I promise. We’re family, aren’t we?”

His name was Dylan—Hanna’s foster brother.

Earlier, after Hanna called Anastasia, she’d been about to go find Rowan. But as soon as she stepped outside, she ran into Dylan.

Dylan was the kind of guy who gambled away everything, already thirty and still without a real job, hanging around casinos all day. When he ran out of money, he’d sponge off the family, and when they couldn’t help anymore, he’d hunt Hanna down.

She’d moved out and lived on her own for years, but she could never really get rid of Dylan, that leech.

She thought he was just there for money again, so she got some cash ready to send him on his way. But after taking the money, Dylan locked the door behind him and tried to force himself on her. She fought him as hard as she could, but she was no match for him…

Hearing his voice outside, Hanna hurled a mug across the room.

Crash.

It shattered into pieces.

“Get out!”

Her scream echoed through the house.

She wanted to kill Dylan, truly. But she couldn’t. Her mind was a mess, tangled up with guilt and obligation.

After all, she’d grown up eating at her foster parents’ table.

Rowan heard the commotion and shoved Dylan out of the way, his voice cold as ice. “Show up here again, and you’re dead.”

Dylan scrambled out, tripping over himself in panic.

The clinic was quiet again. Rowan stood in the courtyard, staring at the light in Hanna’s bedroom, his brow furrowed with worry.

No one knew how much time passed before Hanna’s voice came from her room again. “You should go.”

Rowan looked up quickly at the sound of her voice. “You—”

“I’ll make some noodles,” Hanna cut him off, heading to the kitchen.

Oddly enough, Hanna felt a sense of relief at the news.

With Asher gone, Rowan wouldn’t do anything reckless.

“…Okay,” she said with a nod.

Rowan hesitated, worry etched deep in his eyes. “I’ll be back soon. Wait for me.”

She didn’t answer. Rowan just left, leaving those words behind.

Hanna watched him go, her heart aching as she stared at his retreating back.

Once, she’d let herself dream about Rowan. Now, she didn’t dare dream at all.

After Rowan left, Hanna opened the clinic as usual. Patients came in, and she treated them like always.

It was as if nothing had ever happened.