The Bound Between Us

Chapter 821

The Next Day

Herman was gone. He'd actually left for Willowbrook by himself-not even Nelson or Dailey went with him.

Anastasia drove him to the airport. She watched him go through security, standing there as his figure faded into the crowd, swallowed up by the sea of travelers. It felt like losing him all over again.

She stood there for ages, lost in her thoughts, until Salma called-Emmie had choked on her milk. Anastasia snapped out of her daze and rushed home, her heart pounding.

The nanny had been careless, and Emmie ended up choking. By the time Anastasia arrived, Katelyn was already there, holding a now-okay Emmie while giving the nanny a piece of her mind and firing her on the spot.

Emmie was fine, but the poor nanny was beside herself, apologizing nonstop. "Ma'am, I'm so sorry. It was my mistake. I promise it won't happen again. Please, don't fire me. I really need this job."

Katelyn wasn't having any of it. "You let my granddaughter choke! Do you have any idea how dangerous that is? What if something worse had happened? I'll give you an extra month's pay, but that's it. Pack up and go."

Blushing and flustered, the nanny gathered her things and left.

Katelyn kept muttering under her breath. "Honestly, I pay her twice the going rate and this is what I get? So careless, so irresponsible. You can't be sloppy when it comes to kids."

"Mom, I'll take her," Anastasia said, taking Emmie gently into her arms. Emmie, still so little, just looked around with wide, curious eyes, blissfully unaware of the chaos.

didn't say a word-she wasn't the one paying the nanny, after all, and since this was the Salstrom family's granddaughter, Katelyn had every right to handle it as she saw

a language is tough when the kid won't I up, and Liana was new sure

commotion downstairs but kept to her role. She was the tutor, not

can I go play

have a twenty-minute break. Next up, we'll go over some classic poetry," Liana

and scampered

was sitting on the couch, playing with Emmie, when Katelyn turned to her, clearly stressed. "Why did Herman go to Willowbrook? Ana, why didn't you stop him? What if that fox Sandy lures him away

about that too,

“Katelyn, he wouldn't. He's got three

it for Anastasia's sake, hoping to ease

"Did he say anything before he

Anastasia answered

she couldn't be sure of

Willowbrook

Sandy had been on edge. She was afraid Herman would come looking for payback, or that Anastasia would show up

days had passed, and nothing

bit more at ease,