The Bound Between Us

Chapter 939

Joseph didn't allow a single thing in the house that had anything to do with Julie.

That one photograph set him off.

"Where did you get this?" Joseph's voice was sharp, almost a shout. "I told you, you don't have a mother."

He snatched the photo and ripped it in half. Daria's sobs grew louder, full-on wailing now. "I do have a mom! She's fighting monsters! When she beats them, she'll come back!"

"Who told you that?" Joseph snapped. "Alan, listen to me-again-you don't have a mother. Get that into your head."

Joseph only ever used Daria's full name when he was furious.

"You're lying! I have a mom! Everyone does!" Daria's face was streaked red from crying, stubborn as ever-he was the only one who dared talk back to Joseph.

Their nanny, Caterina, heard the commotion and rushed upstairs, thinking something terrible had happened.

She peeked in, saw Joseph scolding Daria, and immediately turned to leave.

"Caterina!" Joseph's angry call stopped her in her tracks. "Where did this photo come from?"

Caterina glanced at the torn pieces on the floor and instantly knew who was behind it. But she couldn't say.

She forced herself to lie. "I don't know, sir. Maybe Daria found it somewhere? He's just a kid-please, don't be so hard on him."

picture. The poor kid

Caterina, clinging to her and sobbing. "Caterina, Daddy's mean! He yelled at me and

say that. Your dad loves you," Caterina whispered, lifting him in her arms and rocking him gently. She shot a nervous glance at Joseph, trying to gauge

crying making him even more irritable, but he kept a lid on his

She was scared Joseph would dig deeper-she'd taken money from Autumn, and if

just look after Daria. The others cooked and cleaned; Caterina just played with the

a month, right here in

daughter-in-law were both jobless. Her paycheck

backyard, holding him close. "Come on, don't cry, sweetie. Don't be mad at your dad. Tell you what, I'll buy you a new toy later-maybe a cool gun or something,

don't want Daddy. I want Mommy,"

heart ached for him.

after Daria for so long, but there was never any talk of his mom. Joseph had made it clear-no one was allowed to

even a whisper.

to calm Daria

at the shredded photo, storm clouds in

staff would've dared give Daria something like that. It

never liked Daria, but she'd never do something like

No one in that

Daria cried himself

his room. As soon as she stepped out, Joseph