The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Hank had already made up his mind and had a plan to clear Anastasia's name. Deep down, everyone knew that when Anastasia lashed out at Grandma Anita, she was of sound mind and in control of her actions. Dean looked at Hank and said, "Big bro, you planning to spring your lady out?"

Hank's brow furrowed as he replied, "I've been standing here, thinking things through. Anastasia lost her child, fell into a pit of grief, and acted out in her pain-it makes sense. But did she really kill Granny?" "Hank, what are you getting at?" Kyle interjected, "Anastasia confessed, didn't she?"

Dean pressed anxiously, "Big bro, are you saying Granny wasn't killed by your wife?"

Hank shook his head: "I don't know. I also don't know what's right or wrong anymore. Can you two teach me that?"

His question left them both speechless. Who could answer such complex questions about life?

Hank gave a self-deprecating smile and said, "There are no answers. I've been racking my brain here for a long time with no success. Granny raised me. When my child was hurt, I too felt the urge for revenge. As a father, as a grandson, as a husband, how do I balance these roles? I've failed. My son is gone, my grandmother was taken by my wife's hand. What can I do?"

After a few seconds of silence, Hank continued, "Monica Franco once said something that's very true: Anastasia is already in hell. The dead are gone, and my roles as a father and grandson are over. What's left for me is to be a husband. As the head of the Salstrom family, I also owe it to the Salstroms and to Granny's memory to make things right."

Hank's tone was so calm it was almost frightening. What kind of decision had he arrived at to be so composed?

Dean and Kyle had never seen Hank like this before. They were at a loss for words, unsure of how to comfort or help him. They couldn't understand the turmoil, pain, and despair raging in Hank's heart.

Dean, feeling uneasy, asked, "Big bro, what are you gonna do?"

Hank's gaze was distant as he said softly, "The winds are changing."

Dean and Kyle didn't understand what he meant.

...noveldrama

Anastasia's murder case had shocked many. When Gianna Edmunds saw the trending news, she was astounded. She knew Anastasia was extreme, but murder was beyond unexpected.

With Grandma Anita gone, Anastasia and Hank's marriage seemed to have reached a dead end.

"Gianna, Gianna, did you see the news? Anastasia's killed someone. Grandma Anita's dead. Anastasia is terrifying; she actually went through with it," Cynthia exclaimed, clutching her smartphone as she found Gianna. "Do you think the Salstrom family will still want her? A murderer, she'll have to go to jail, maybe even get the death sentence. Hank's gonna be single now, Gianna. Your chance has come."

People can be so self-centered; all Cynthia could think about was Hank being single again and her daughter's opportunity, not caring at all for Anastasia's fate.

After all, it wasn't her daughter at stake, so genuine concern was out of the question.

Gianna replied, "I saw the news too. I can't believe Anastasia could go that far. She's already turned herself in. If this goes to trial, she's done for."

"You know, she really brought it on herself. She had the chance for the good life in a wealthy family, but you gotta put up with some things. She lost her child, but if Anastasia was smart, she would've endured. Grandma Anita was in her eighties; how much longer could she have lived? Couldn't she outlast one old lady?" As Cynthia spoke, she flipped through her contacts. "I'll call your aunt, see what's up."

Gianna suggested, "Mom, you should head over to Southridge Estates. Talk to Auntie, get the full picture. I'll swing by the police station, check on Anastasia, find out what's going on there. This all depends on Hank's stance. His own grandmother's dead; he can't keep the killer in his life."

Understanding Gianna's point, Cynthia agreed, "Alright, I'm off to Southridge Estates to visit your aunt. After such a big incident, we have to show some concern."

Pretending to care was just a façade; what Cynthia really wanted was to gauge the Salstrom family's stance. No matter what, Cynthia and Salma Jewell were sisters-albeit more so in name-and she knew to keep up appearances.