The Bound Between Us

Chapter 497

Joe was so frustrated he could have jumped into the Mississippi and still come out feeling dirty. But Hank? Hank couldn't care less about Joe's mood. Without a second glance, he walked out of the club. The thing that really got under Joe's skin was Hank's unflappable demeanor. No matter what Joe did, he couldn't get a reaction out of him. It was like punching a pillow-no impact, no satisfaction. Feinman was busy playing matchmaker, trying to rope him into family ties and wedding bells with Julie, but Hank was indifferent. To him, Joe might as well have been invisible.

In Hank's eyes, Joe wasn't even worth considering a rival.

And that's what deflated Joe the most.

The more Hank ignored him, the more Joe wanted to get under his skin. But he wasn't about to play the fool and set the stage for Devin to take all the credit, so he kept dragging his feet on the wedding with Julie. Maybe it was the comparison. Watching Hank about to marry the woman he actually loved made Joe all the more reluctant to tie the knot with Julie, a woman whose mind was a labyrinth of schemes. His wife should be nothing like Julie.

...

In the parking lot, Nelson asked, "Mr. Salstrom, heading back to Southridge Estates or Salstrom Manor tonight?"

Hank walked over to the driver's side. "Clock out early today, Nelson. Toss me the keys."

the keys in an instant, and Hank drove off, effortlessly steering the car towards Riverdale's

a face mask and made his way through the stalls, eventually stopping at a bubble tea

taro bubble tea. He fell for the flavor on the first sip, much like he fell for her the

the window of a Wallace's Burgers joint, a spot he frequented enough that the staff knew

take that same seat, order a bubble tea and a two-person platter of fries, then just sit for thirty minutes, sometimes an hour, without touching the food

the street at a small stall where Anastasia and

element, was running a stall in the Night Market, dealing in small trades, her face always brimming with

assist with crafts and drawing customers

shone like stars on that street, their beauty

regular employment, so the market stall was her way to make ends meet. She didn't mind, though. The

could only

had been good that day, and as Anastasia counted the day's earnings, she handed Pattie a fifty: "This is for you,

beamed with joy. "Thanks, Mom! I've been craving