The Bound Between Us

Chapter 537

Gianna sat there, her expression blank, her face marred by a cruel twist of fate, and her spirit just as battered. Cynthia's sharp words only stirred the pot of resentment simmering inside her.

"Why is life so damn unfair?" Gianna muttered, her voice tinged with bitterness. "Anastasia gets to marry Herman, they make up, she wins his heart. And me? Eight years with Joey and I've got nothing to show for it. Now my face is ruined. We're both women, so why is my life such a mess? Sure, I stalled, but is Anastasia blameless? She hurt Granny Anita, yet Herman forgives her. It's just not right." "Exactly! It's totally unfair. Why should all the good stuff go to her?" Cynthia spat out, her voice dripping with venom. "The universe sure isn't looking out for us. If Herman hadn't come sniffing around you, would you have fallen for him? It takes two to tango."

A flicker of something wild sparked in Gianna's eyes. "He must have feelings for me. Why else would he give me his handkerchief? Why else bail me out in the middle of the night? Mom, you agree, right?"

"Of course. If a man isn't into a woman, he wouldn't bother," Cynthia said, handing Gianna a bottle of pills. "Honey, take your medicine. Let's heal up. I believe you'll outshine Anastasia yet. We're not just fighting for bread and butter; we're fighting for our pride."

Cynthia had always been fiercely competitive, always trying to outshine Salma. If someone complimented Salma's beauty, it would irk her endlessly. But Cynthia had the last laugh by marrying well, while Salma didn't. That had been Cynthia's sweet revenge for decades. Gianna obediently swallowed her pills. Even though they couldn't heal her physical scars, they offered some solace to her battered soul.

"You've got to pull through, Gianna. You're my only daughter. We can't give up. Where there's life, there's hope, got it?" Cynthia encouraged. Gianna nodded, understanding the sentiment, but Julie? Julie was in the dark.

couldn't count on Devin for a bailout. With her arrest, Brown Corporation

death, it wouldn't matter; she wouldn't die just yet. But Julie wasn't the type to sit idly by. In jail,

Salstrom family heir, and while they might disregard

ignored her pleas, Julie pummeled her belly, jumping on the spot, desperate to

she screamed, "Somebody

baby, the police rushed her to the

situation,

being at stake, and it couldn't be

club, lounging with

barked, "Everyone else,

sensing the gravity, discreetly

smirked at Feiman. "Mr. Feiman gracing me with his presence.