The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Sandy was the kind of woman who knew exactly what she wanted and wasn't afraid to do whatever it took to get it. She was sharp and decisive, with a cold edge that ensured Herman wouldn't get a chance to strike back. She'd snuff out any such opportunity before it even arose.

That's what set her apart from Julie and Gianna; she wasn't one to go easy. Her top priority? Herself. Despite her constant battles with illness, having brushed shoulders with death countless times, Sandy didn't fear dying. Yet, paradoxically, she clung to life with fierce tenacity.

Herman's gaze was icy as he looked at her. "I'm listening."

Sensing the tense atmosphere, Sean decided to stick around, worried that

Herman might try to harm Sandy.

Sandy noticed his reluctance to leave. "Why don't you take a walk, Sean? I've got some things to discuss with George."

"I'm staying right here," Sean replied, planting himself firmly in his seat.

A smile played on Sandy's lips. She didn't want Sean to see her darker side. But his stubbornness made her reconsider; if things went south, she'd need someone to take the fall.

Sandy sat down on the sofa, gesturing for Herman to join her. "George, why don't you sit down? I've got some photos to show you, maybe they'll help jog your memory."

She handed him a stack of photos she'd already prepared. They were genuine, showing Anastasia and her children, Emmie and Nancy, from a celebration that felt like a cozy family gathering. Anastasia looked stunning, and the children were the picture of innocence. Herman, standing beside Anastasia, looked every bit the proud father.

When Herman looked at the photos, his pupils contracted sharply. It was as if some powerful force had slammed into his heart. He picked up the photos, his gaze intense, a sense of familiarity washing over him, coupled with a pounding headache. But he couldn't, for the life of him, remember who these people were to him.

Sean was equally shocked to see the photos. He shot Sandy a questioning look- was she really going to lay it all out for Herman? Revealing Herman's true identity could have disastrous consequences.

They'd kept it under wraps for months, and Sandy had been adamant about it. What had caused her to change her mind overnight and rush over to spill the beans?

Sean was sure there was more to this than met the eye.

Herman clutched the photos tightly, his voice hoarse with emotion. "Who is this woman? Are these... my kids?"

Could he really have a wife and children?

Sandy smiled gently. "It seems you truly can't remember anything, George. You can't recall who I am to you, or who she is. Even if I told you she's your wife, could you accept that? Would you believe it?"

Her words were like a bolt from the blue, leaving Herman reeling. "And those kids... are they mine?"

"Can you really tell what's true and what isn't?" Sandy chuckled. "George, if I'd told you from the start that we don't know each other, would you have believed me? You doubt that I'm your girlfriend, so why would I have saved you? I was there when you needed help."

Her words left Sean bewildered. She seemed to be saying everything and nothing

at the same time, leaving the truth just as ambiguous as before.

Herman's lips curled into a faint smile. After a moment, he regained his composure, studying Sandy anew. "Whatever our relationship might be, I have to admit, you're impressive."

In both cunning and courage, Sandy was no ordinary woman.

"Thank you for the compliment," Sandy replied, embodying the grace of a socialite as she stood up. "Is there any tea in the room? I'm a bit thirsty, and we have a lot more to discuss. Let me get us some tea, and we can continue our chat."

Sandy glanced around the room and spotted a packet of teabags. The Morton family, who had made their wealth from tea, would have turned their noses up at this basic brew.

She boiled some water in the kettle, tore open the teabag, and found three cups. "These cups could use a wash. I'll be right back, George. No rush, right?"

Herman was curious to see what Sandy had up her sleeve next. "No rush," he replied, his voice calm and deep.

Sandy smiled, taking the cups to the bathroom to rinse them. The hotel wasn't exactly top-notch, so it lacked some amenities.

As she washed the cups, she glanced through the frosted glass towards where Herman sat, ensuring he was still on the sofa. Only then did she dare to pull out the vial from her pocket.

It contained cyanide, a poison with a faint but detectable odor. In high concentration, it could be lethal within minutes; at lower concentrations, symptoms might take hours to appear.

Sandy carefully controlled the amount. The concentration she had was strong enough to cause a stroke and paralysis, but not death-unless she added more.

She poured the poison into one of the cups. It wasn't much, and with the water droplets left from rinsing, it would be hard to notice anything amiss once the teabag was added.

Her hands trembled slightly as she handled the poison, a hint of fear creeping in. In her nervousness, she accidentally dropped the vial, which shattered on the floor. She quickly wrapped the shards in a paper towel and tossed them in the trash.

Carrying the three cups, Sandy returned just as the water finished boiling. "George, I'm afraid you'll have to settle for some basic hotel tea today. But once we're back in Willowbrook, I'll brew you something finer."

Herman didn't respond. Sandy knew he wasn't interested in small talk, so she kept the conversation focused. "The woman in the photo is Anastasia, your wife. And those two children are your twins."

The revelation was enough to hold Herman's attention completely.

Sean, on the other hand, was a bundle of nerves, confused and anxious. He didn't dare question Sandy's motives for revealing this. Suddenly feeling a pressing need to escape, he excused himself.

"Excuse me, I need to use the restroom," he said, rising from his seat.

As he headed for the bathroom, Sandy remembered the broken glass in the trash

and felt an uneasy twinge of worry.

As Sean wandered off, Sandy

handed the poisoned cup of tea to Herman, continuing hernoveldrama

conversation. "A few months agonet

you had an accident in Springfield, but it wasn't a car crash. I only said that to keep you around. I don't need to spell it out for you; you know my intentions. You're so remarkable, like a needle in a haystack. It's rare to find a girl who wouldn't be drawn to you.”

Sandy wasn't lying, and Herman felt a surge of emotion. "Where are my wife and

child?" he asked, his voice laced with urgency.

This was the question that mattered most to him.

Sandy calmly added some water to the teacup, her movements deliberate. "Have

a sip," she suggested with a faint smile.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom.

Sean had just finished his business

and was flushing the toilet when something in the trash can caught his eye. The fragments looked oddly familia. Curious, he pulled the trash can closer and, upon recognizing the shards, his heart skipped a beat.

Suddenly, everything clicked into place. Sandy's unusual behavior made sense

now, and a chill ran down his spine as fear gripped him, leaving him paralyzed with the realization.