The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Salma was a woman of action. By that afternoon, she'd already picked up some goodies and was on her way to Cynthia's place. Gianna had just gotten home and was holed up in her room.

Cynthia and Colton were in the middle of a heated argument about Gianna's dating life. Cynthia was dead set on finding the perfect match for Gianna, but Gianna wanted no part of it, and Colton felt stuck in the middle. Their bickering had escalated into a full-blown shouting match.

Gianna, hiding out in her room, stuffed cotton in her ears to block out the noise of her parents fighting, desperately seeking some peace.

Just then, the doorbell rang. Colton threw a quick "I'm done arguing" over his shoulder at Cynthia and went to answer the door.

Standing there was Salma, smiling and holding a surprise that left Colton genuinely taken aback. "Hey, bro-in-law," she said cheerfully. "I brought over some imported fruit and seafood for you guys to try."

"Come on in," Colton said, waving her inside. "We're all family here. No need to be so formal."

Cynthia, too, was surprised to see Salma but couldn't resist a snide remark as she eyed the fancy treats: "Look at you, all posh now. Gone are the days of bringing over those cheap dollar store snacks. Now it's all about seafood and exotic fruits." Colton shot Cynthia a warning look and scolded, "Why are you so harsh? Your sister came all this way to see you, and you can't even appreciate it?"

Salma laughed it off. "It's no big deal. Big sis is still mad at me from when I lost my temper after Pattie went missing. I said some things I shouldn't have. Don't take it to heart, Cynthia. Where's Gianna? She should come out and try these fruits-they're incredibly sweet." Salma was determined not to let Cynthia's jabs get to her. She had a mission, and no matter what Cynthia said, she wouldn't lose her cool.

Cynthia scoffed and crossed her legs, lounging on the couch. "As if I dare be mad at you. You're Geneva Stanton, the big shot at Elysian Technologies. Your son-in-law could snap his fingers, and folks like us wouldn't stand a chance."

Colton nudged Cynthia, signaling her to tone it down.

Cynthia rolled her eyes at Colton. "I'm just stating facts."

Tired of trying to moderate Cynthia, Colton turned to Salma. "Gianna's locked herself in her room. She's not much for going out these days." "Gianna's become a homebody?" Salma probed. "That's not good. People need to get out and about to stay healthy, to keep their spirits up."

"She's self-conscious about her scars," Colton sighed. "Sometimes she doesn't leave the house for weeks. We're at our wits' end."

Salma was disappointed to hear Gianna was so reclusive. How could she have taken Pattie if Gianna never left the house?

"Isn't there a way to heal her scars?" Salma asked.

"The damage is severe; it's not easy," replied Colton. "Gianna's always cared about her looks. This has hit her hard."

"Poor kids," Salma sighed. "Ever since Pattie went missing, Ana's been out of sorts, searching for the child every day. It's been three months, and the police finally have a lead." Salma had been coached by Anastasia to drop this tidbit of information, to test the waters. If Gianna was involved in Pattie's disappearance, this news might provoke a reaction. Gianna wasn't coming out, so Salma made sure Cynthia heard the update.

At the mention of a lead, Cynthia's ears perked up, though she dared not broach the subject. Only Cynthia knew that Gianna was behind Pattie's kidnapping.

As time had passed, Cynthia had thought they were in the clear, but Salma bringing it up made her uneasy.

"Did they find her?" Colton inquired.

"Not yet," Salma replied. "When I left, the police were at Ana's house. The kidnapper was dressed in a costume, a Peppa Pig mascot. Pattie loved that show..." Cynthia's heart skipped a beat at the mention of Peppa Pig. When she'd come home that day, she'd seen a Peppa Pig costume, which was still in Gianna's room. Salma deliberately paused, leaving the story hanging before switching gears. "I'm sure the police will find her. Any lead is a good sign."noveldrama

Now Cynthia was on tenterhooks, unable to hold back. "What else did the police find out?" she blurted.