The Bound Between Us

Chapter 1030

Rowan's eyes narrowed just a bit as he walked over to Hanna. He picked her clothes up off the floor and carefully draped them over her shoulders.

He kept his gaze averted, never looking at her exposed skin.

That small kindness only made Hanna feel emptier inside, as if her heart had turned to wasteland.

She watched him, tears streaming down her face, but she forced herself not to sob. Finally, she closed her eyes and turned away. "Just go," she whispered.

Rowan glanced down at her, hesitating like he wanted to say something, but in the end he said nothing. He just grabbed the man who was slumped in the corner, barely conscious, and hauled him out of the room.

Afraid Rowan might go too far, Hanna called out quickly, "Rowan, don't kill him."

Outside, Rowan paused, her words stopping him in his tracks.

The man's eyes were wide with fear. Sensing Rowan's hesitation, he started pleading desperately. "Rowan, it's all a misunderstanding! I swear, it won't happen again. I just had too much to drink, Hanna, I'm really sorry. It's all my fault, I'll take responsibility, I promise. We're family, aren't we?"

His name was Dylan-Hanna's foster brother.

Earlier, after Hanna called Anastasia, she'd been about to go find Rowan. But as soon as she stepped outside, she ran into Dylan.

Dylan was the kind of guy who gambled away everything, already thirty and still without a real job, hanging around casinos all day. When he ran out of money, he'd sponge off the family, and when they couldn't help anymore, he'd hunt Hanna down.

She'd moved out and lived on her own for years, but she could never really get rid of Dylan, that leech.

She thought he was just there for money again, so she got some cash ready to send him on his way. But after taking the money, Dylan locked the door behind him and tried to force himself on her. She fought him as hard as she could, but she was no match for him...

Hearing his voice outside, Hanna hurled a mug across the room.

Crash.

It shattered into pieces.

"Get out!"

echoed through

wanted to kill Dylan, truly. But she couldn't. Her mind was a

eating at her

his voice cold as ice. "Show up here again, and you're

scrambled out, tripping over himself

in the courtyard, staring at the

passed before Hanna's voice came from her room

leave. He sat in the courtyard, chain-smoking

her bed, eyes blank, awake

knows which will come first-tomorrow

disaster, as far

out

as soon as

realized what twisted thought

wheel

to get away. Certent belongs to

end,

had protected Anastasia before to lose control and get rid of Dylan for good. But she was scared of what might

she felt both relieved

it had been Anastasia, Rowan would have lost

alive.

thinking about the way Rowan covered her with her clothes, not

in. Hanna changed into a plain dress

a sleepless night, and

do you want for breakfast? I'll make something," Hanna said, her voice flat and cool, as if none of it