The Bound Between Us

Anastasia's face turned bright red, her heart thudding in her chest. She could feel the difference—every beat a little harder, a little faster.

"Herman," she said, half-laughing, half-exasperated. Even though she knew he wasn't feeling great, she couldn't help but tease him. "If you really don't feel well, you have to tell me. And if something's weighing on you, you have to say it out loud, okay? Babe, I don't want us sharing a bed but drifting apart in our hearts. And I don't want silly misunderstandings to steal years from us."

She pressed herself against his chest. Usually, words like these were tough for her to get out.

The room was quiet, the two of them just lying there together. She could hear his heartbeat, strong and steady, and she let herself enjoy the calm.

Herman took her hand and kissed it, his eyes crinkling with a soft smile. "It's nothing. I'm just a little worn out, that's all."

He pulled her closer, his gaze dropping to the floor, deep in thought. "Ana, I'm just going to close my eyes for a bit."

"...Alright." Anastasia knew he was keeping something from her, but if he didn't want to talk, she wasn't going to force it.

He'd just had a vasectomy that morning, and the whole thing had left him exhausted. With Anastasia in his arms, sleep came quickly.

It was the middle of the day, but Anastasia wasn't sleepy at all. When she was sure he was out cold, she gently slipped away.

the truth, she'd just have

for his office, pulling open his desk drawers one by one. She wasn't

it: the signed consent form for his

at the paper, stunned, her mind spinning with a million questions.

hide it from

explained

needed to take it easy-there could be pain, risk of infection, lots of rest, and

reeling, she sat down and started googling

figure out why Herman would go through with this,

buzzed. It was her dad, Tavon, and he sounded downright

been seeing. I told you he was just

it?"

Apparently, Tavon had taken

Salma-hermom-to the hospital,

she caught her boyfriend Adam comforting his sick son. Tavon guessed Adam had cozied up to Salma just to get money for

she'd been used, stormed out. Tavon, proud of himself, called Anastasia to gloat about how he'd "fixed"