The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

When Herman walked in, a wave of disapproval hit him like a ton of bricks from Grannie Anita's side of the family.

"Herman, what's the deal? Your gran passed under suspicious circumstances, and word is you're shielding the culprit. Poor Gran must be rolling in her grave."

"That's disgraceful, Herman. We're talking about your own grandmother. Today, you owe us all an explanation. The killer has to pay."

Some started putting on a show of grief, crying, "Oh, dear Anita, such a devoted woman, tirelessly slaving away for this family, only to meet such a cruel end. Herman, how can you stand by the murderer?"

The speaker was old man Fu's brother, and by the family tree, Herman was obliged to call him Uncle.

Confronted with the barrage of condemnation, Herman didn't say a word. He sat down, expressionless, and listened to their tirade.

Seeing Herman stay mute, the elders played the authority card.

"Herman, speak up, will ya? Your wife offed Grannie Anita. An eye for an eye - it's as simple as that."

"When you married that girl, I heard Anita had her reservations. Turns out she was spot on. That kind of woman has no place as the matriarch of the Salstroms."

"If a spat leads to knives out, how can we ever feel safe speaking our minds?"

"This whole mess is tarnishing Elysian Technologies' name, Herman. As the head honcho, you've got to level with us here."

As the elders piled on the pressure, even Flynn started sweating bullets for Herman. These folks were baying for Anastasia's blood to quell their anger.

Herman's gaze cut through the crowd, his tone icy as he asked, "Are we done here?"

The room fell silent under Herman's formidable presence. The temperature seemed to drop, and the atmosphere froze over.

Every eye turned to Feiman, signaling him to take a stand. After all, it was his mother who had died, and it was his duty to respond.

The thought of the late Grannie Anita filled Feiman with genuine sorrow. He slammed the table, fuming, "Herman, how dare you speak to your elders like that? Anastasia killed your gran, and that's the ugly truth. If you're still defending her, you're no Salstrom. Remember your name, son. Don't forget where you come from."

Feiman, in his rage, was blind to the fact that he was being used as a pawn. He wanted Anastasia to pay for Anita's death and for Herman to acknowledge his place.

Sensing the tension, Flynn quickly interjected, "Dad, cool it, will ya?"

Katelyn also chimed in, "Lay off him. No one wanted this to happen. Whatever punishment Anastasia deserves will be decided by the law, not by us kicking up a fuss."

Feiman, still livid, shot back, "A soft mother breeds a useless child. You're still defending him? Look at his attitude! Herman, you need to give us an answer today. Are you going to press charges against Anastasia?"

As Herman faced the music, his buddy Collin also started to worry. But Herman just smirked coldly and fixed Feiman with a piercing look, "I've said it before, and I'll say it again - nobody lays a finger on her. You all want an explanation? I'll give you one."

He signaled a man sitting nearby, a legal eagle from Elysian Technologies and his personal attorney. Herman's voice was chilling, "Tim, hand out the documents, please."

"Right away, Mr. Salstrom," Tim distributed a set of papers to each person. They were looking at a mental health evaluation from a psychiatric hospital. According to the report, Anastasia had been diagnosed with a severe mental disorder, and everyone was shocked because they knew the evaluation wasn't legit. This was Herman's way of getting Anastasia off the hook by having the hospital issue a fake evaluation.

"Calm down, everyone," Herman said, his voice cold as steel. "This is Anastasia's psych evaluation. She's been battling severe depression for years, and her doctor warned it could flare up again. Losing her child devastated her, and it triggered a relapse. Any action she took was out of her control."

Feiman was livid as he read the report, "Herman, is this your idea of an explanation? How can you face Gran now? If you won't press charges, I will."

Once Feiman spoke up, the rest of the elders joined in the outcry.

"Herman, this is a disgrace! How can you be fit to lead the Salstroms? The family legacy will crumble in your hands."

"It's a sorry tale for the ages. For a woman's sake, you'd forsake blood vengeance."

"My poor sister, look down from heaven and see the grandson you adored. You met a violent end, and here he is, protecting the culprit."

"Anita, it's not like we don't want to seek justice for you. We're old, our words carry no weight. Your grandson is bewitched and deaf to our counsel."

The hall erupted in chaos, with everyone lashing out at Herman for his unfilial conduct. Flynn was anxious, Katelyn couldn't get a word in, Feiman was seething, and Herman? He remained impassive, untouched by the storm around him.noveldrama

As the heated discussion began to die down, Herman pulled out a pocketknife, sending a chill through the assembly of elders. They instinctively took a few steps back, fearing that Herman had lost his mind and might turn the blade on them. Feiman's face went pale. "Herman, what are you doing?"

Herman planted the pocketknife into the mantel, his voice icy and detached. "The document I just shared was my way of making things right with Anastasia. As her husband, I failed to protect and cherish her. And now, I'm about to settle the score with grandma. An eye for an eye, what say you?" With a chilling smile, before anyone could react, Herman took the knife and plunged it into his own chest. The room erupted in shock. Neither Flynn nor Collin had anticipated such a drastic move for closure; they were stunned into silence.

Blood burst forth, and Katelyn screamed, "My son!"

Feiman's face turned ashen, and the others were too shocked to respond.

Herman pulled the knife out, blood splattering on the floor. He sneered, "This is for my wife... a penance to grandma..."

Struggling to stand, he lifted the knife for another strike, but Feiman, quick as lightning, caught Herman's hand, wounding himself in the process. The gruesome scene nearly knocked the wind out of the older family members. Flynn shouted, "Big brother, Dad!"

Katelyn's legs went weak, but she still rushed to support Herman. "My son, son, Flynn, call an ambulance, now!"

"Don't anyone move." Herman pushed Katelyn away, enduring the searing pain in his chest as he surveyed the room, his gaze finally resting on Feiman. "Dad, if you want her life, you'll have to take mine first. It's what I owe her, and what the Salstrom family owes her." Herman didn't care about the opinions of the less influential family members; he needed to make things right with Feiman, the patriarch of the Salstrom family, who had to take a stand. Only if Feiman backed down would Anastasia be safe.

Feiman's hand, gripping the knife, bled profusely as he looked at the blood oozing from his son's chest. He understood Herman's resolve. Both father and son had lost someone irreplaceable-one a mother, the other a child... Feiman recalled Herman's agony in the morgue, holding the lifeless body of his child. How could he truly demand Herman's life in return?

Feiman tried to wrestle the knife away, but Herman stood firm, their silent struggle leaving onlookers with bated breath.

Finally, Feiman conceded. "I won't press charges against Anastasia, and I'll issue a letter of forgiveness. But you must divorce her and cut all ties, never to meet again in this lifetime. If you can agree to that, I'll spare her life." Katelyn, in tears, pleaded, "Herman, just agree, please."

Flynn too, was shaken. "Big brother..."

Herman's eyes were filled with torment, his lips twitching into a bitter smile as he forced out a single word through clenched teeth: "...Fine."