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."

kept crying, ignoring Joseph's questions about the picture. The

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

and rocking him gently. She shot a nervous glance at Joseph, trying to

irritable, but he

scared Joseph would dig deeper-she'd taken money from Autumn, and if he ever found out, she'd be out on the

was easy: just look after Daria. The others cooked and cleaned; Caterina just played with

a month, right here in Riverdale-a rare

daughter-in-law were both jobless. Her paycheck kept the whole family

at your dad. Tell you what, I'll buy you a new toy later-maybe

want Mommy," Daria

heart ached for him.

his mom. Joseph had made it

even a whisper.

ages to calm

glaring at the shredded photo,

none of the staff would've dared give Daria something like that. It had

liked Daria, but she'd never do something like this. Feiman wouldn't

in that

Daria cried

carried him back to his room. As soon as she stepped out, Joseph called her