The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman) novel Chapter 983

The nanny was gone, and Tavon had no one left to ask for advice.

Sandy said, “Dad, about what Mckenzie told me last night—I couldn’t really ask her to stay. Now that our family’s fallen, it’s only natural she’d want to leave.”

“When the roof caves in, everyone heads for the door.” Tavon sighed. “Go swap shifts with your brother at the hospital, will you?”

He’d come home early, half-worried the Stantons might run into them at the hospital and cause more trouble.

“Okay, Dad. You should take a break, too.” Sandy’s voice was unexpectedly gentle. “We’ve been through enough. I just want us to stick together now, not let things get any worse.”

“…Alright.” For the first time in a long while, Tavon noticed how much Sandy had changed.

She seemed to have grown up overnight. The stubborn anger she always carried had faded away. She almost felt like the sweet Sandy he remembered from years ago.

After Sandy left, Tavon sat alone on the couch in the living room, gazing around as memories of the Morton family’s glory days washed over him. Now it was all gone, and he couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of regret.

He’d always poured his heart into the company, only to see it unravel at the hands of his own kids. Maybe this was karma, after all.

After a while, Tavon climbed the stairs to Ashley’s room.

The master bedroom was huge—almost 600 square feet, with a walk-in closet bigger than most people’s living rooms, packed with designer clothes and handbags. And that was just one of her closets.

A glass door led out to a terrace with sturdy railings, where Ashley’s flowers and plants thrived, always perfectly kept.

Ashley had always known how to enjoy life. She grew up pampered by the Stantons, and after she married Tavon, she never had to worry about anything. Her whole life had been one of comfort and luxury.

Tavon let out a long sigh and sat down in the spot where Ashley’s accident happened. He lit a cigarette and stared out into the sky.

Riverdale.

At the Franco house—

Monica had stayed at the hospital late into the night to check on Pattie after her surgery, and collapsed into bed as soon as she got home.

When she woke, the house was oppressively quiet.

Monica preferred a lively home. Her ex-boyfriends were all sweet, clingy types who’d send her “good morning” and “good night” messages every day—she never felt alone.

But with Jason, things were different. She was always the one making allowances. He was always busy; even when they managed to go on a date, he’d get called away for work at a moment’s notice.

“Mom, I’m not sure he’ll be free,” Monica said awkwardly. “I’ll ask him later, but… he probably won’t make it.”

She hated to let her mom down, but she couldn’t control Jason’s schedule.

“Busy again, huh?” Abby sounded disappointed, but quickly perked up. “That’s okay, just let me know if he’s coming. I’ll get everything ready if he can make it.”

“Okay,” Monica said, eager to change the subject. “How’s Dad’s business going?”

“Oh, it’s good. Your dad’s got big plans—wants to open another thrift shop,” Abby chuckled. “He’s not young anymore, but he just won’t slow down. We’ve got enough saved, and once your brother graduates, we’ll have no more worries. All that’s left is for you and your brother to get married…”

Monica listened to her mom’s gentle nagging, but her heart just wasn’t in it. She’d once been excited about marrying Jason, but lately that idea felt less urgent.

She thought about how Herman was always by Anastasia’s side—no matter what, he’d drop everything to be there for her. If Monica needed something, half the time she couldn’t even get Jason to answer the phone.

After a while, Monica said, “Mom, I’ve got to go to the hospital to check on Pattie. She had surgery yesterday, so I need to see how she’s doing. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

She hung up, got dressed, and headed out, weighed down by worries she didn’t know how to say out loud.