The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Herman turned around, his gaze cool and detached as he looked at Gianna standing just outside his yard.

He was growing tired of Gianna's uninvited appearances. Over the past few months, this wasn't the first time she had shown up unannounced.

Now that he and Anastasia were divorced, Gianna's constant presence was a clear giveaway. Unless she was completely clueless, it was obvious what she wanted-the affections of a man.

Standing on his porch steps, Herman showed no intention of opening the gate.

Gianna forced a smile. "Mr. Salstrom, I was just visiting a friend nearby and saw you come home. Late shift today, huh?"

Herman couldn't care less about her excuses for hanging around. With a tone that was neither warm nor cold, he said, "Miss Yang, maybe you should save yourself the trouble. There's something to be said for knowing your limits." With that, he opened the door and stepped inside without another word, his demeanor towards Gianna icy as ever.

Gianna's face fell as she stood there, thankful no one else was around to see her humiliation.

She had tried countless times to orchestrate 'chance' encounters with Herman, hoping to get closer to him. But Herman had become elusive, and even when she managed to run into him, starting a conversation was impossible. This time, her desperation had driven her to wait at his doorstep.

Herman had spoken to her, but his brief words cut through her facade like a knife, leaving her exposed and embarrassed.

He had known her intentions all along.

Her admiration for him, it seemed, was over before it had even begun.noveldrama

Gianna was devastated. The blunt reminder of "knowing your limits" hurt more than a slap in the face.

Indeed, Herman's tenderness was reserved only for Anastasia. Post-divorce, he was like a knife in the cold night-approach him and you risk being cut. He was now an intimidating figure, a far cry from his once tender self. Returning home defeated, Gianna was greeted by Cynthia's relentless nagging, sharp as ever: "Did you see Herman? Can you even handle this? Months have gone by and you still haven't snagged him? How can you be so inept?"

Gianna wasn't in the mood to entertain Cynthia and headed straight to her room. Cynthia, following her to the threshold, ranted louder, "Hiding in your room again? Did you fail once more? It's pathetic. Anastasia could have him with a mere flick of her wrist. Why can't you?"

The sound of something smashing from within the room silenced Cynthia's tirade.

Colton approached, remarking, "Why don't you give it a rest? You're always so idle. What kind of mother urges her daughter to chase after her cousin's ex-husband? If the relatives heard about this, wouldn't they laugh at us?" Cynthia rolled her eyes. "Laugh at what? You know how many people would kill to get into the Salstrom family? They're just jealous. We've only got one daughter; don't you want the best for her?"

Colton, finding it impossible to communicate with Cynthia, said irritably, "Do whatever you want; I'm off to bed."

Ignoring Colton and rebuffed by Gianna, Cynthia was left in a foul mood.

Inside, Gianna was in tears, feeling the sting of rejection. She clutched a handkerchief Herman once gave her, a token that led her to believe he harbored some affection for her. The reality of his disdain was a bitter pill to swallow. With anger and heartache, she snipped the handkerchief with scissors, then immediately regretted it. Picking up the pieces, she painstakingly sewed them back together, caressing the embroidered 'H' and whispering Herman's name.

"Herman, why can't you love me? Why won't you even look at me?"

Love was not a solitary affair; it had to be shared between two hearts.

In this world, those who found mutual love and made a life together were few and far between.

The night deepened.

After a long day, Anastasia washed up and lay in bed, her daughter Pattie already sound asleep.

No matter how meager their life was, just seeing her daughter made it all worthwhile for Anastasia.

Restless, she took out her phone, scrolled through her WhatsApp contacts, and opened her chat with Herman. Hesitating for a long, long time, she finally typed a message and sent it: "I miss you. I long so much to embrace you, to lie in your arms, to breathe in your scent, and to tell you-I really, really miss you..."