The Bound Between Us

Anastasia had always thought Rowan's parents were dead. She never imagined the truth would turn out like this.

His real parents had abandoned him. And to Rowan, that was no different from being dead.

Anastasia frowned. "I always thought... his mother had actually passed away."

"She did,” Hanna said with a bitter smile. "No news for decades-how is that any different?"

"But just now..." Anastasia hesitated. She wanted to point out that Hanna had asked how Rowan's mother died, which now seemed pointless.

"You don't know anything about him. I really feel bad for him," Hanna said, glancing at Anastasia. "You never really tried to understand him. For people like us, living in the dark, even a little warmth, a little light, is enough for us to cling to someone like they're our whole world. You're his light. He's my whole world."

Anastasia fell silent.

What she had with Rowan, if you could even call it that, was really just Rowan's feelings. She couldn't deny that he'd helped her out more than once-she was grateful—but what she could give him only went so far. She couldn't give him anything more.

Hanna gave one last look at the police station before turning to leave. As long as Rowan stayed in this city, she'd never leave either.

in there

before speaking quietly, "He doesn't need me to wait. I'm not worthy of

as broken as her ever

the police station one last time, then started her car and drove

The Walker house.

today-he'd

the hospital for a checkup, and they'd just returned. The doctor said Autumn was showing signs of a possible miscarriage. At her age, with all her worries and emotional

pillow behind her back. "Autumn, what do you feel like eating? I'll have someone make

uneasy stomach and shifted uncomfortably. "Mr. Walker,

with you," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "Back then, when you were pregnant didn't take good care of you. That's why

twist inside her. For a moment, she

in, she didn't even know him, let alone that he was the one who'd killed those four kidnappers. Now that Rowan had pulled her into this

be ashamed of,” Mr. Walker said with a gentle smile, cutting her off. "I trust you. I know you didn't do anything wrong. Ive already asked Mr. Taylor to look into everything and

really dug

far from innocent-she