The Bound Between Us

Chapter 981

Tavon's face was tight with anger, barely holding it together.

When he spoke, his jaw clenched and a muscle twitched in his cheek. Deep down, he was scared. If Sandy really had something to do with this... that was too much to handle.

Sandy turned and met Tavon's eyes, calm and unflinching, almost indifferent.

Then she smiled-soft, almost sweet, but cold enough to send a shiver down his spine. "Dad, once bitten, twice shy, is that it? You think I made Mom jump? After all these years, you haven't changed a bit. It's always someone else's fault. Why don't you ask yourself what you did to her? What you said to her?"

Sandy's voice grew sharper, her anger building. She stood up, staring him down. "Why don't you think about how Salma and Anastasia treated her? Mom begged you to come home, but you wouldn't. You kept waving divorce papers in her face. You broke her, Dad. You were the last straw."

Her words landed hard. She looked delicate, the picture of a classic Willowbrook girl, but there was nothing soft about her now-just ambition and ice.

Sandy drove Tavon into a corner with every word, her gaze fierce. "You, Salma, Anastasia—you're all responsible."

That was it. Tavon's bluster faded away.

everyone. He'd meant it, too. As soon as Pattie's surgery was done, he'd planned to end things with Ashley. Letting it drag on was just

all he saw was anger and hurt. He felt a chill. "I wanted to divorce your mom," he admitted, his voice low. "But I never

been talking about divorce for a year. Ashley just refused to

Nothing left to get in your way. You and your precious firstborn can finally play happy family." She sounded fragile, for a split second- the little girl she used to

wave of guilt and dropped his gaze. For a moment, it was like he'd caught a glimpse

this... it wasn't Salma or Anastasia's fault. I went to Riverdale to get away from

Sandy's eyes Softened, sadness

f

know. Mom loved you too much, tried to control everything. And you... you didn't marry her because you wanted to. The Stanton

For a second, Tavon almost believed she'd forgiven

weighing heavy. "Your mom was stubborn but she wasn't mean. You're right, I was selfish. I hurt her. I hurt Salma

the letter that ended up online, but Sandy had thrown him

at her eyes. "The doctor said talking to her might

out, giving Tavon