The Bound Between Us

Chapter 941

Rowan saw the happiness shining in Anastasia's eyes, and in that moment, he understood no matter how hard he tried, he would never be the person she looked at that way.

When Herman was in trouble, all hope drained from Anastasia's face, leaving only emptiness and despair. Every bit of emotion she had seemed to revolve around Herman alone.

He remembered her sitting in the town square, waiting for Herman in front of everyone, her determination clear for all to see. That kind of devotion-well, a man could consider himself lucky to have a woman like that in his life.

"Get some rest," Anastasia said, offering Rowan a gentle smile before nodding and turning to leave.

But before she could walk away, Rowan called out, "That night-you weren't hurt." Anastasia spun around, disbelief written all over her face. "What did you say?"

Rowan met her gaze, steady and honest. "That night, nothing happened to you. I was on my way to the party to find you, to get the chip back. I saw you get in a taxi, but something felt off, so I followed. The cab kept driving further out, and that's when I knew something was wrong. When I reached the old cave, I found them about to hurt you. They'd drugged you, and you were completely out of it. I tried to wake you, but you couldn't hear me. I just kept telling you to run..."

He laid out everything that happened that night, sparing no detail. He knew he loved Anastasia, but he also knew he couldn't protect her the way she deserved. The least he could do was lift some of the burden from her heart.

If only he hadn't lost sight of the cab-maybe the photos never would have been taken. Maybe he could have saved her sooner.

But in the end, he got there. He saved her.

When Rowan finished, tears streamed down Anastasia's cheeks, but this time, they were tears of joy.

in a

saving me. Thank you for

face glowing. "Rowan, I'm really

forward and gave Rowan a quick, heartfelt hug-the

Thank

guard. Even knowing this was just

In that brief moment, he caught the scent of her

heart felt full,

she hugged him, Rowan felt his wounds pull, but the

the bed, stiff and silent, reliving the embrace and her scent over and

he was,

hardly wait to call Herman. Her voice trembled with excitement. "Herman, that night in the cave-nothing happened. Rowan told me, he got there in time. I wasn't hurt. I'm not... dirty,

weight she'd carried

relief for her. He had never blamed her, but he knew how much it

could

you up, sweetheart. Wait for

walked in just in time to see Rowan smiling-actually smiling. She stopped