The Bound Between Us

Chapter 883

Herman had no idea someone had been following Anastasia. She hadn't

mentioned it-figured, why worry him if nothing happened? But now it had slipped

out, and there was no point hiding it.

She came clean. "On my way home from work this afternoon, someone was

following me..."

She gave him the short version, then quickly added, "I'm fine. The guy's name

was Ben, I think-he was pretty clueless. Total rookie move. He's at the police

station now."

Anastasia knew Herman would worry, so she made sure he understood she

hadn't been hurt.

When Herman heard about the close call, his stomach twisted. "If people are

going that far, whatever's on that chip must be important."

He didn't dare shrug it off. He grabbed his laptop and tried to crack the chip, but

after two tries, no luck.

It was seriously encrypted.

If even Herman couldn't break in, that was saying something. Nelson had always

called him a computer genius. If this stumped him, they were in trouble.

"This thing's a hot potato," Anastasia said, her tone all business. "No idea where

but we need to get rid of it fast. Can you find him and

blurted out, "I haven't heard from Rowan

Anastasia zeroed in, raising an

his fist. "Um, I've run into Rowan

times. He's... he's been following

worried Rowan might have bad intentions, but he'd come to

wouldn't actually hurt Anastasia. Still, every time he heard about

a pang of jealousy

he following me for?" Anastasia wondered aloud.

what Melody

it was Rowan who'd shown up

to the hospital. She owed him for that. That's

chip in the

fell silent. After a moment, Herman broke the quiet. "Go get

keep working

took the hint and let the Rowan

headed downstairs to fix Herman a cup of ginseng tea.

ran into Salma, her mother-in-law, just coming

"You're by

stormy. "Don't even mention your

wisely kept her head down and started

Salma called after her, "Ana, I'm moving out

back to my

Anastasia stopped short, stunned.

you can't. Your

and you're

Why go back to that

something's bothering you, just

And what about the kids?

miss them!"

was, Salma

if it weren't for

everything with