The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

In the Brown family's study, Devin paced back and forth, looking like a wreck as he kept dialing number after number, desperately trying to scrape together some funds.

It was unbelievable how his so-called friends vanished when he needed them most, a complete 180 from their eagerness when they heard about the Browns' potential marriage alliance with the high-society Salstroms. After yet another dead-end call, Devin slammed the phone down and muttered under his breath, "A bunch of fair-weather friends!"

"Dad, just call Uncle Furman and cancel the wedding," Julie said, nudging the door open as she waddled in, her pregnancy now in its fourth month. Riverdale was in full spring bloom, and her baby bump was becoming impossible to hide. Yet her wedding to Joseph Salstrom still hadn't happened.

When picking the date, Furman had suggested a few options. The nearest date was vetoed by Joseph, who insisted they needed to mourn his recently departed Granny Anita. They ended up settling on May 5th.

But now, it was only March, and Julie's pregnancy was already noticeable. In two more months, she'd be even bigger, and the idea of walking down the aisle with all eyes on her bump made her blood boil. She was starting to think she'd rather not have a wedding at all. Devin, already on edge, turned a deeper shade of red at his daughter's words: "What nonsense are you spouting? Your belly's showing, and you don't want to get married? You want me to be humiliated too?"

"It's more humiliating to have a wedding looking like this," Julie snapped back. "I think Joseph's doing this on purpose. He hasn't even bothered to check on me, and he's out every night living it up. I'm not even married to him yet, and I'm already a public joke." Rumors of Joseph's wild nights with models and starlets hadn't escaped Devin. The gossip was a slap in the face to the Browns, whose wedding announcement was already public.

Devin sank into the couch, lighting a cigar, his mind racing. "What's Joseph's game here? He's just a love child. Does he really not care about being acknowledged by his family? You're carrying his child, for crying out loud. It's clear he and Herman don't get along, but would they really team up against us the Browns?"

The combined pressures from Herman's business attacks and Joseph's blatant disrespect were squeezing Devin from both sides. The Salstroms had put the Browns in an impossible position, whether to proceed or to retreat.

Julie's gaze fell to her growing belly, her frustration boiling over: "Joseph, that bastard. He doesn't care about this baby. He even suggested I 'take care of it' myself."

Devin was horrified. "He said that? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"You never asked," Julie retorted.

Her response nearly sent Devin over the edge. "This is bad, really bad. I need to see Furman and get you and Joseph legally married immediately. If Joseph doesn't care about the baby, the Salstroms will, and that's what matters." "Dad, don't. I don't want to marry Joseph..."

"It's not your call anymore," Devin warned sternly. "Julie, you can't be capricious now. If you are, the Browns are finished. Herman has already made his move."

"Why would Herman target the Browns? Does he know something?" Julie's face went pale, her hand clutching Devin's arm. "Dad, what if Herman found out I had a hand in Granny Anita's death?"

Devin, completely unaware of this, nearly collapsed at her words.

"Repeat what you just said. Who was responsible for Granny Anita's death?" He stammered.

Ever since Granny Anita had passed away, Julie had been haunted by nightmares. Now, with her pregnancy hormones surging, her sleep was even more disrupted. She dreamt of Granny Anita seeking revenge. Trembling with fear, Julie confessed, "Dad, I saw her on the ground, dying but not dead... so I pushed her over the edge."

Devin was so shocked his eyes bulged. He gripped Julie's arm tightly. "Did you... Did you really kill Granny Anita?"

With a terrified nod, Julie affirmed, "Yes."

Unbeknownst to the troubled father and daughter, the nanny had passed by the study door just in time to overhear their conversation. Horrified by what she heard, she too was consumed with fear.