The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman) novel Chapter 529

Herman had truly indulged himself that evening, leaving both him and Anastasia in a state of blissful contentment. They lay sprawled on the couch, Anastasia nestled comfortably in his arms, their laughter mingling with the stillness of the room.

"Those old sayings really hit the nail on the head—nothing like a full belly to stir up desire," Anastasia teased, her voice playful as she traced lazy circles on his chest.

His breath was still heavy with their recent exertions, warming the nape of her neck. "Makes me want to shirk my duties forever. But I’ve got to start grooming my successor. Pattie's only six now; I figure by the time she's twenty, she can take over. Gives me fourteen years."

Hearing him talk so candidly about the future, Anastasia shifted in his embrace to look up at his chiseled features. "Pattie... she..."

He cut her off, his voice soft but firm, "She's a Fletcher, your daughter. If no one else will claim her, then she's mine."

Anastasia wanted to argue, to say more, but the words lodged in her throat. There was no telling what the next decade or more would bring. For all she knew, Herman might change his mind, and there was no point in disturbing the peace of the moment over what-ifs.

She turned away again, pressing her back against his warmth, and closed her eyes. "I'm off to sleep."

Post-exercise drowsiness came quickly to Anastasia, and she always slept deeply afterward.

"Alright," Herman whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her neck.

The next day dawned on the much-talked-about union between the Fletcher and Linwood families. Herman had left a wedding invitation for Anastasia before heading to the office.

After dropping Pattie at school, Anastasia, with invitation in hand, made her way to the wedding venue.

Herman had given her the invite to bear witness to Julie's downfall.

The ceremony was set for noon, and Anastasia arrived at half-past ten, her face half-hidden behind a mask. She found a quiet corner to sit in, patient, unflustered, waiting.

The wedding was a modest affair, just about fifteen tables, all filled with influential figures in the business world.

But their presence wasn't wholly for the sake of celebrating nuptials; many were there to see whether the Fletcher-Linwood alliance would actually come to pass.

The atmosphere was tense, the wedding décor the only thing marking the occasion as a celebration of love. Feiman and Devin, the Linwood patriarch, greeted guests. The absence of the Fletchers, except for Feiman and some distant relatives, was palpable. Katelyn and the Salstrom brothers were nowhere to be seen, and the groom himself was missing.

Herman was the true head of the Fletchers. His absence signaled that Joseph's status hadn't been acknowledged, and thus, neither was the marriage—it was merely a sham, a wedding arranged by Feiman for his illegitimate child.

Feiman, while entertaining guests, sent people to fetch Joseph, fuming that the groom had yet to appear as the ceremony loomed.

"Yes, Mr. Salstrom," the guard replied, hurrying off.

Meanwhile, Julie donned her wedding gown in a secluded dressing room, waiting for the auspicious hour. Though every woman dreams of her wedding dress, she was far from happy.

The puffy gown, chosen to hide her pregnancy, was far from what she had envisioned. Even in its voluminous folds, it barely concealed her growing belly. The thought of guests whispering about her condition as she walked down the aisle filled her with dread.

Catching the eye of her bridesmaid, who was clearly there to ensure she didn't bolt, Julie said, "I need some air. It's stuffy in here."

"I'll come with you, Ms. Brown," the bridesmaid offered, her presence a clear sign that she was there on Devin's orders.

"No need," Julie snapped, glaring. "The ceremony's about to start. I'm not going to back out. You don't need to follow me. Don't think I don't know my dad sent you to watch me."

The bridesmaid stood awkwardly in place while Julie, lifting her dress, strutted out with an air of defiance.

No sooner had she reached the hallway than a man disguised as a waiter approached, slipping her a note before disappearing. Julie opened the note, and her face turned ghostly pale. Her legs buckled under her as the words on the paper sank in...