The Bound Between Us

Chapter 549

Jack shrugged off his jacket, revealing a three-inch gash on his arm. He'd wrapped it with a torn piece of cloth, but blood was still seeping through. He grabbed a first-aid kit from the cupboard and started tending to the wound himself. The anesthetic had run out, so after a

quick disinfection, he began stitching up the gash.

The first stitch sent a wave of pain through him, causing beads of cold sweat to form on his forehead. The guy was tough as nails. Stitching himself up without any anesthetic, he clenched a piece of cloth between his teeth. His body trembled with each painful stitch, like he was being put through the wringer.

But no matter the pain, Jack didn't make a sound. By the time he tied off the last stitch, he looked like he'd taken a stroll through the gates of hell-his body drenched in sweat, his face ghostly pale, his lips white as chalk. It was a frightening sight.

Jack lay weakened on the couch, trying to catch his breath when his cell phone started ringing. It kept ringing for a while before Jack gathered enough strength to pick it up.

A cold, detached voice came from the other side: "Rowan, what's the deal? You've been MIA."

"Just..." Rowan, aka Jack, tried to sit up and explain when the man on the other end cut him off: "Did you take care of the job I gave you?"

at his bandaged arm. "Herman showed up in Willowbrook. Never had the chance...

mention his injury before he was berated from

simple task. Last time, you botched the job with Julie. Now, you failed

his pain and managed

the phone coldly reminded him of

Rowan replied

keep the woman under wraps for now.

and Rowan couldn't hold on

arrived unexpectedly, delighting her: "You came without telling me again."

be bullied over here." Herman noticed she was holding a pack of sanitary pads and asked,

Anastasia's periods were usually brutal, with cramps so bad they made her nauseous

bath for you." Herman went on to order ginger tea with brown sugar from a local delivery service. Whenever Anastasia had her periods, Herman would prepare a foot bath for her. And when she had swollen feet during her pregnancy,

hot water, and Anastasia sat on the couch to soak her