The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Herman's gaze turned icy, his voice colder than a winter storm. "Devin, you should be grateful I'm still talking to you nicely. But trust me, I'm not above using other methods if you'd prefer."

Devin's heart skipped a beat. He shivered, remembering all too well what Herman's men had put him through before.

"I-I swear, I don't know any Ben. The guy just dropped dead-what's that got to do with me?" Devin's bravado faltered, and all he wanted was to get out of there.

He made a silent promise: wherever Herman showed up, he'd never go near again.

Herman took a slow drag from his cigarette, eyes narrowing. "Julie's body was picked up by Autumn. You mentioned there was history between you two. What kind of grudge makes Autumn show up to claim your daughter's body?"

There was something razor-sharp in Herman's stare, like he could see straight through Devin's soul.

Devin's eyes darted away. He tried to play it off. "Back then, I treated her badly. I was young, just fooling around. She's hated me ever since. Why'd she go for Julie? Maybe she wants to get back at me. She's always been the vengeful type -couldn't shake her off for anything."

"Devin." Herman's tone cut through the room. "You've got one minute. Tell me the truth. What's really going on between you and Autumn? And what's the connection between Julie and Autumn?"

Herman shifted in his seat. For a second, Devin thought he was about to get hit and threw his hands up, shaking. "I've told you everything! I wronged her when I was young, and she hates me now. That's it."

He was careful to dodge the real question, making sure not to mention anything between Autumn and Julie.

But what Herman said next made Devin freeze.

Herman's voice was cold as steel. "Julie is your daughter with Autumn, isn't she?"

It was just a hunch, but Herman had noticed the resemblance between Autumn and Julie—there was no denying the mother-daughter look.

It made sense: why else would Autumn care so much about Daria? All the pieces fit.

Devin's reaction was immediate, almost frantic. "No! Julie was my daughter with her mom, nothing to do with Autumn. How could Julie be Autumn's kid? I'd know who my own kid's mother is, wouldn't I?"

Julie was gone. No one could prove anything now.

Devin clung to that. He wasn't about to admit the truth, and he definitely didn't want to drag Autumn down with him. He'd already done enough to her when they were young. Now that he'd lost everything and Autumn was finally doing well, there was no reason to ruin her life, too.

Herman gave a cold smirk. "At least you've got the guts to own up to your mistakes."

With that, Herman let it drop and got up to leave.

Devin was left sitting there, completely confused, no idea what Herman was really getting at.

Dailey followed Herman out.

voice was low and sharp:

"Let him go. But keep someone on him af I'm right, Devin will reach out

umn."

Dailey nodded. "Understood, boss."

Devin sat in the living room, heart pounding. When Dailey came back a few

minutes later, Devin asked, "So... can I leave now?"

Dailey's face was unreadable. "Yeah, you're free to go."

Devin didn't need to be told twice. He managed a shaky smile and hurried out, feeling like he'd just dodged a bullet.

By the time he left the apartment, it was close to ten. No way he was making it back to the countryside, so he found a cheap motel for the night.

Gone were the days when he could afford fancy hotels. Since going broke, Devin had been scraping by He still owed a ton of people and spent most days dodging creditors, sometimes pretending to be sick just to keep them at bay.

The creditors weren't about to push too hard—no one gets paid if he drops dead.

Now, Devin was a deadbeat in every sense of the word.

Once he was holed up in his motel room, Devin pulled out his phone and called Autumn.

Just as Herman predicted, less than an hour later, Dailey was parked outside the motel, watching as Autumn walked in.

He picked up his phone and reported in. "Boss, Autumn just went into Devin's motel."noveldrama