The Bound Between Us

Chapter 983

The nanny was gone, and Tavon had no one left to ask for advice.

Sandy said, "Dad, about what Mckenzie told me last night-I couldn't really ask her to stay. Now that our family's fallen, it's only natural she'd want to leave."

"When the roof caves in, everyone heads for the door." Tavon sighed. "Go swap shifts with your brother at the hospital, will you?"

He'd come home early, half-worried the Stantons might run into them at the hospital and cause more trouble.

"Okay, Dad. You should take a break, too." Sandy's voice was unexpectedly gentle. "We've been through enough. I just want us to stick together now, not let things get any worse."

"...Alright." For the first time in a long while, Tavon noticed how much Sandy had changed.

She seemed to have grown up overnight. The stubborn anger she always carried had faded away. She almost felt like the sweet Sandy he remembered from years ago.

After Sandy left, Tavon sat alone on the couch in the living room, gazing around as memories of the Morton family's glory days washed over him. Now it was all gone, and he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of regret.

He'd always poured his heart into the company, only to see it unravel at the hands of his own kids. Maybe this was karma, after all.

After a while, Tavon climbed the stairs to Ashley's room.

The master bedroom was huge-almost 600 square feet, with a walk-in closet bigger than most people's living rooms, packed with designer clothes and handbags. And that was just one of her closets.

terrace with sturdy railings, where Ashley's flowers and plants thrived, always perfectly

to enjoy life. She grew up pampered by the Stantons, and after she married Tavon, she never had to worry about anything. Her whole life had been one of comfort and

sat down in the spot where Ashley's accident happened. He lit a cigarette and stared

Riverdale.

At the Franco house-

late into the night to check on Pattie after

woke, the house was oppressively

a lively home. Her ex-boyfriends were all sweet, clingy types who'd send her “good morning”

one making allowances. He was always busy; even when they managed to go on a date, he'd get called away for

lonely Monica felt, she had to act like she was fine with it. She didn't dare make a

just seem

wondered if

and walked over to the big window. Pouring herself a glass of warm water, she

by-nine, then ten, then

full of calls and messages from her boutique,

finally, her phone rang. It was

up,

up?" Abby's voice was warm. "How about you bring Jason over for dinner tonight? I'll make something

steady job-Abby had

head on straight. Abby was even hoping they'd

be free," Monica said awkwardly. "I'll ask him later, but... he probably