The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Upon hearing that Herman had been fighting for his life in the hospital all night, Anastasia's tears fell like rain, her chest seizing with sudden pain as if an invisible hand had mercilessly, brutally plucked her heart out. Clutching her chest, the pain was so intense she couldn't breathe.

"Why wouldn't he listen to me? I told him to stay out of it. Why is he so foolish?" Anastasia lamented, sinking onto the edge of the bed, her expression one of agonizing pain.

Flynn watched her, his own heart in turmoil. "Anastasia, my brother said it was a debt he owed you. Maybe, just maybe, you two were doomed from the start." Through tear-stained eyes, Anastasia gazed at Flynn and choked out, "How is he now?"

"He's still unconscious. The doctors can't say when he'll wake up. Don't worry, before he took matters into his own hands, he made sure everything was arranged for you." Flynn glanced at the divorce papers on the table. "Sign these, otherwise if my dad changes his mind, my brother's sacrifice will be for nothing." Anastasia, stunned, asked, "You're saying he did this to himself?"

"Yes." Flynn took a deep breath. "He used the same kind of kitchen knife you used on Grandma, and in front of the whole family, he stabbed himself. He said that stab was to atone for your sins against Grandma. If it weren't for my dad stopping the second blow, the Salstroms would be planning another funeral by now."

His voice carried a hint of bitter sarcasm towards the end.

Anastasia's eyes widened, tears falling in large drops as her face turned pale from the pain. It took a long while before the sharp ache in her heart eased just a fraction.

She closed her eyes, took several deep breaths, and managed to suppress the pain temporarily. "Flynn, please prepare another set of divorce papers. I don't want the money or the house. I came into this marriage with nothing, and I'll leave with nothing." "Anastasia," Flynn inadvertently used her first name; he couldn't fathom why she would forgo a house worth millions and a settlement of a billion and a half.

Anastasia, her gaze firm, insisted, "I want a new set of divorce papers."

Resigned, Flynn instructed the lawyer to draft another set.

As Anastasia held the pen, her hand was cold. She wrote her name with deliberate strokes, her mind flooded with memories of her life with Herman. Those moments played in her mind like a movie: the gifts he gave her, the fireworks they watched, commuting together, weekends spent binging shows, cooking meals together...

Those simple, happy memories were gone, never to return.

They had looked forward to their child's birth, dreamed of the future, discussed honeymoon destinations, and promised to grow old together.

But in just one year, their marriage was over.

As unexpected in its ending as it had been in its beginning.noveldrama

After signing, Anastasia felt all strength drain from her, her eyes lifeless.

With the Salstrom family's influence, getting a divorce was too easy. They didn't even need to appear in person. From signing the papers to holding the divorce decree took less than half an hour - faster than getting their marriage license. After sorting everything, Flynn stood up and said, "Anastasia, in three days, you can leave here."

Leaning against the cold wall, Anastasia stayed silent long after Flynn had gone.

Staring at the white ceiling, her life felt as blank and uncertain as the walls around her. Reflecting on the past, she couldn't fathom how it had come to this.

Once the divorce was settled, Flynn left to take care of the arrangements for Granny Anita's remains. The case had been closed, and the family could now take her home.

After Flynn left, a man in a dark coat with a buzz cut and stern features entered the precinct. A young officer, packing up Granny Anita's case files, stood up respectfully, "Jason, what brings you here? Weren't you chasing case 718 in the next town?"

The man was Jason, known for his detective prowess, from a family of cops three generations deep. Since joining the force, he'd cracked several major cases, earning him a solid reputation and the nickname "the Sleuth."

"Do I ever take long?" Jason glanced at the case files on the desk, picking one up, "Granny Anita of the Salstrom family is dead?"

The officer explained, "Jason, there's been a big development in Riverdale while you were away. Herman Salstrom's wife, Anastasia, stabbed Granny Anita in a shopping mall. The murderer confessed, and the case is closed. I was about to archive these files." Frowning, Jason scanned the file, "Anastasia, motive for murder: revenge for her son. Granny Anita poisoned and killed Anastasia's five-month-old fetus... What a bombshell. Nothing's too surprising in the world of the wealthy. The victim had two stab wounds, the fatal blow being the second. Why would someone stab twice?"

Due to his profession, Jason had a keen sense for such details.