Tavon's eyes fluttered like a pair of hummingbird wings at the thought of leaving with Anastasia. His rapid blinking was a silent plea; he was ready to follow her wherever she led.
Ashley, his wife, saw red. "Tavon, you ungrateful snake," she hissed. "After all the years I've spent tending to you, wiping your brow, and you dare to walk away with her? Has your conscience been eaten by wolves?"
Her anger erupted into a storm of slaps and punches, and Tavon, helpless and in pain, wept without the strength to fight back.
Salma intervened, pulling Ashley away. "Enough, Ashley! Have you ever stopped to think why Tavon would rather go with us than stay with you?"
Ashley's tears flowed freely. "He's heartless! His heart's been stolen by you and your daughter!"
Her words dripped with venom, a clear jab at Anastasia and her daughter.
Unruffled, Anastasia calmly stated, "It's clear what dad wants. He's made his choice."
Ashley turned her fury into an eviction. "I'm his wife, you have no right to take him! Get out, or I'll call the cops!"
Sandy, caught between her mother's wrath and her father's silent pleas, tried to mediate. "Auntie, Sis, Mom loves Dad deeply. How can you just take him away? It's not right. If you want to see Dad, you're always welcome. The company is his legacy, and that includes your share too."
Anastasia gestured to the lawyer she brought along, who handed her the share transfer documents.
"Here's my offer," she said, laying out her cards before Ashley and Sandy. "What's it going to be? Do you want to keep a man who's suffered a stroke, or do you want the Morton Group? You've got some thinking to do. This is Mr. Rowland, and he's confirmed that these agreements are legally binding."
Mr. Rowland stepped forward. "Ladies, my client, Ms. Jewell, is entitled to inherit the Morton Group as per the agreement. She will also gain a fifty-five percent share in Tavon's company, making her the majority shareholder."
Ashley's face twisted with envy and rage, and even Sandy's calm demeanor cracked.
"Tavon, how could you? Leaving everything to that... woman! What about Sandy and Sean? They're your children too!"
Tavon blinked desperately at Anastasia, silently begging for rescue from Ashley's escalating temper.
Sandy continued, "Dad, if you want to go with Sis, I won't stop you. This is the third time you've abandoned me."
Tavon didn't understand. When had he ever abandoned Sandy?
She stood up, her demeanor serene but her heart cold. She remembered the first abandonment well; her parents chose to save her brother over her. The second was during the divorce when neither parent wanted her, deeming her a burden.
And now, this was the third.
Each abandonment, etched clearly in her memory.
Returning to her room, Sandy pulled out a vial of medicine, her face shifting from kindness to malice.
She had achieved control over the Morton Group by deceit and manipulation, but it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough.
Comments
The readers' comments on the novel: The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)
Author pls Pls don't separate Ana and Herman once again because of Sandy. There must be an ending to Ana's sufferings!...
Yes yes yes!!! Thank you!!!...
How comes the twists are becoming uninteresting and unrealistic? Readers will prefer cleaner straight happy endings. Please don't go far beyond otherwise readers will lose interest. Time to end the story like we want it to be....
Please give us a happy ending for Anastasia and Herman with Pattie recognized as Herman's daughter, thank you!!!...
Pls update. This novel is really good....