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."

ignoring Joseph's questions about the picture. The poor kid looked terrified-he'd never seen his dad like this

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

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

more irritable, but he kept a lid on his temper. "Take Daria

Joseph would dig deeper-she'd taken money from Autumn, and

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

right

daughter-in-law were both jobless. Her

mad at your dad. Tell you what, I'll buy you a new toy later-maybe a cool gun or something, how's

I don't want Daddy. I want Mommy," Daria blubbered, tears wetting

heart ached for

any talk of his mom. Joseph had

even a whisper.

to

stood glaring at the shredded photo, storm clouds in his

give Daria something like that. It

she'd never do something like

that family wanted to

cried himself to

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