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.

he'd threatened divorce in front of everyone. He'd meant it, too. As soon as Pattie's surgery was done, he'd planned to

"I wanted to divorce your

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

to get in your way. You and your precious firstborn can finally play happy family." She sounded fragile, for a split second- the

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

it wasn't Salma or Anastasia's fault. I went to Riverdale to get away from your mom, but

Sandy's eyes Softened, sadness

f

there. "I know. Mom loved you too much, tried to control everything. And you... you didn't marry her because you wanted to. The Stanton family forced your hand. Mom never saw things clearly. All these years, you've been under the family's thumb. I

For a second, Tavon almost believed

was stubborn but she wasn't mean. You're right, I was selfish. I hurt her. I hurt

about the letter that ended up online, but Sandy had

Sandy said softly, wiping at her eyes. "The doctor said talking to her might help. Maybe there's

slipped out, giving Tavon