The Bound Between Us

Chapter 597

Gianna was stubborn as a mule, refusing to spill the beans about Pattie's whereabouts. She didn't trust anyone but herself. Cynthia gave up trying to get anything out of her and left with the Peppa Pig doll in tow.

Heading downstairs, Cynthia ran into her neighbor, who was with her five-year-old grandson. His eyes lit up at the sight of the Peppa Pig doll. He tugged at his grandmother's sleeve, pleading, "Nana, I want Peppa, I want it!" Unable to resist her grandson's pleas, the neighbor turned to Cynthia, "Wendy, dear, do you still want that doll? If not, maybe you could let him have it? He's taken a shine to it."

Cynthia smiled, "I'm afraid I need to keep this one. But if he likes it, you could always buy him his own."

"But you don't have kids, what do you need it for?" the neighbor pressed on. "Don't be stingy, it's just a toy. What's the harm in letting my little guy play with it?"

The boy, seeing he wasn't getting the doll, burst into tears, "Nana, I want Peppa, I want that one!"

Feeling sorry for her crying grandson, the neighbor tried again, "Wendy, it's just a toy. It's not worth much. Let him play with it for a bit..."

Cynthia, clutching the doll, made a beeline for the trash bins, "I'm sorry, but that's not happening. If you want one, you can buy it at the store. They have plenty."

The neighbor's grandson wailed even louder, and in a last-ditch act of defiance, Cynthia tossed the doll into the trash bin before heading back upstairs. The little boy, inconsolable, ran to the bin and retrieved the toy himself. The neighbor, seeing the doll was still in decent shape, decided to take it home for her grandson.

...

Over at Southridge Estates...

to Anastasia everything that had transpired at Cynthia's, including Gianna's ominous

say

say that?" Anastasia felt a chill, "Could it be that

said. "Without a body or sighting, anything's possible. Ana,

linking Gianna to Pattie's disappearance, Anastasia was running on

Anastasia told Salma not to act rashly, deciding to keep a watchful eye

her house, making it difficult for Anastasia

aware of Anastasia's suspicions and her obsessive behavior. He was out early and back late every day,

That evening...

staking out Cynthia's complex when a familiar car pulled

It was Herman's.

stepped out and made his way to Anastasia's car, sliding

doing here?" Anastasia was