The Bound Between Us

Chapter 978

Tavon stared at his phone, barely able to keep his balance as the latest trending topic exploded online. People were tearing into Salma in the comments, the internet a wildfire of anger, and it felt like the ground was slipping out from under him.

He wobbled and grabbed onto the back of a chair, lowering himself shakily into the seat. His head spun, his whole body felt light and disconnected, as if he could just drift away.

On his screen was a photo-blood pooled on the pavement, proof that Ashley had jumped. Tavon stared, dazed, the shock hitting him like a bolt from the blue. All the fights, the shouting, the resentment-he'd thought he was done with her, but now that something this terrible had happened, he just felt hollow, like someone had scooped everything out of his chest.

He looked pale as a ghost. Salma, wondering why he hadn't come back inside, poked her head out of the diner and saw him sitting on a bench, completely out of

it.

She hurried over, concern etched across her face. "Hey, are you okay? Did something happen at the hospital?"

He blinked, snapping back to himself, and waved her away. "No, no, nothing like that. Come on, let's eat. After, we'll head to the hospital-Pattie's surgery should be wrapping up soon."

He clammed up about Ashley, quickly locking his phone so Salma wouldn't catch a glimpse of the headlines.

Right now, everyone was focused on Pattie's surgery. Anastasia and the others barely checked their phones, and unless you were actively searching for "Willowbrook Morton Group's ex-wife suicide," you probably wouldn't even see the

news.

went back inside. The diner smelled like coffee and fried food, but nobody had much of an appetite. They picked at their plates, and after a few mouthfuls, Feiman and Katelyn said they'd walk back

him a look. "What's up with you? The

are filthy. Old Dan asked me to grab tea with

muttered, "Honestly, you're still thinking of yourself at a time like this," then crossed the street

soon as they were gone, Tavon's smile crumbled. He pulled out his

line connected. Tavon's voice was tight.

heard Ashley had jumped-nobody had said for sure if she'd survived. He

colder than Tavon had ever heard. "She's at the hospital. Might as well be dead-she's a vegetable

a

stunned, then hurried to book the next flight back

to get there, to try and

clear-there was no going back for them. She was just the last straw in a marriage that was already over. Still, he didn't want Salma to get caught

plane, Tavon messaged Herman, filling him in

hoping to shield Salma

too wrapped up in Pattie's

James came out of the OR, still in scrubs. Anastasia rushed to him, voice trembling, "How's my