The Bound Between Us

Chapter 974

Anastasia knew Herman was ready to take it all down with him if it came to that— he'd never let anyone else win without a fight.

She rested her head on his shoulder and looked up at the stars. "Honey, the sky's beautiful tonight."

They sat together, hands entwined, enjoying the quiet peace of the night. For now, everything felt calm.

They'd always been a team-husband and wife, side by side. Whatever Autumn tried next, they'd face it together.

The next morning was a riot. Emmie and Nancy, their two little troublemakers, were bickering over who got to sweep the floor. It was a sight that could make anyone smile.

When Anastasia came downstairs, she saw Herman lounging on the couch while the girls, armed with a mini broom and a cleaning rag, were hard at work "cleaning" the living room.

The housekeepers hovered nearby, looking nervous. Cleaning was their job, not the girls', but Herman had told them to let the kids handle things today. So, the staff just stood by, unsure what to do.

Nancy, always quick and efficient, gave the floor a solid sweep, then marched right up to Herman with her hand out. "Daddy, where's my pay?"

that's what this was about: earning

rag, scampered over too, her voice all sweet and earnest. "Daddy, I wiped all the tables!

down with them, grinning. "Looks like your business sense

sit and watch while they cleaned. He just went along with it. Smiling, he pulled out his wallet and handed each of

eyes lighting up. "Now I can buy

Their nanny Salma sometimes

them a sweet treat, but only when Katelyn wasn't looking.

saw, she'd start in with the lectures-no candy, no junk food, all that. Not everyone

skeptic, held her bill up to the light and examined it closely. The whole act had Anastasia in stitches. "Nancy, do you really think

you have to be honest in business. So I

made both Herman and Anastasia pause-surprised, but proud. Not even two years old, and their girls

off. The girls switched between English and Chinese

through TikTok and seeing a toddler named Crystal who could speak perfect English with her dad. "Now that's a genius kid," she'd thought.