The Bound Between Us

Feigning ignorance, Salma asked, “Tavon, what did Ashley mean by that? Isn’t the house for Ana?”

“It’s for Ana. Don’t listen to Ashley’s nonsense.” Tavon was in a tricky situation, unable to appease either woman. To keep Salma and Ana, he had to lie, “Pick any furniture you like here.”

“Tavon,” Ashley tugged at Tavon and said in frustration. “I’m your wife. If you spend a penny on Salma, I’ll divorce you right away.”

Salma, feigning hurt, said, “When I met Tavon, you weren’t in the picture. You interfered in our relationship, caused him to be separated from us. He left me and our daughter behind. Now he is trying to make up for it, and you can’t stand it. Who should I seek justice from for the past twenty years I’ve raised our daughter alone?” Salma was a master of passive aggression, drawing Tavon into the argument.

Ashley, originally seen as the victim, was now perceived as the home-wrecker, making the gossip even juicier.

Tavon was also surprised at how organized Salma’s thoughts had become and that she was arguing with Ashley. Not only Tavon, but even Anastasia, waiting outside the store, was taken aback.

Anastasia, Flynn, and Dailey were following behind, each holding a cup of smoothie, watching the drama unfold through the glass doors of the furniture store. Flynn asked, “Shouldn’t you step in when your mom is getting bullied?”

Anastasia calmly replied, “I’m her daughter. If I step in, it’ll change the dynamics. Let mom vent for a bit.”

his smoothie

and support my mom from the crowd.”

immediately understood, “We need to

slandered. Dailey’s skills would be useful if needed.

followed Anastasia’s orders. When she spoke, the two of them, holding their smoothie in one hand and their other hand in their pockets, casually went in as if they were just bystanders in

rich or poor when I met him.” Salma looked at Tavon and said to Ashley, “If you don’t believe it, ask him. He said that he wanted to marry me, and it was you who pressured him into marrying you. That’s when he abandoned my daughter and me. I never married in my life and raised

past would be dragged up, quickly interrupted, “Ashley, go home. Don’t make a scene. It’s only right

crowd, defended Salma, “Old lady, your own husband admitted that he’s been unfair to this woman. She raised her daughter alone, it wasn’t easy. She never asked anything from you. Now your husband’s conscience has kicked in, and he wants to make amends. You’re just a home-wrecker,

had quite the romantic adventures when you were younger. Poor woman here had it tough, so you

the crowd, “Why make life difficult for another woman? You’ve had an easy life. This woman had it tough. She had been with him through hard times. A man could never betray women like

Flynn and Dailey guiding the crowd’s opinion, the onlookers started criticizing Ashley for being

Flynn in the crowd and was momentarily stunned. Although she didn’t know when he had came, she knew she had

and criticism, Ashley turned red with anger and shouted at Tavon, “So, Tavon, you’ve been fooling me all along. You say Ana should donate her marrow to Sandy, but you just wanted to bring them here so you could play happy families, huh?

the hell are you talking