The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Cynthia couldn't bear the thought of making Gianna turn herself in. People naturally cling to life, grabbing onto even the smallest glimmer of hope rather than walking into danger willingly. Colton, aware of the seriousness of the situation, grabbed Gianna's arm and pleaded, "Tell me, where's Pattie? What have you done with her?"

As long as the child was safe, there was a chance to reduce the sentence.

If Gianna confessed now, she might only face a few years in prison. With good behavior, she could be out even sooner.

Gianna shook her head, refusing to reveal Pattie's whereabouts. She simply said, "Mom, Dad, don't worry about me. Take this money. I've failed you as a daughter; I won't be there to care for you in your old age." She pulled her hand away, stood tall, and bowed deeply to her parents.

In her heart, she felt an overwhelming debt to them.

Colton was overwhelmed with helplessness, his mood darkening as he looked at his wife and daughter, tears shimmering in his eyes, "We had such a happy home, a wonderful daughter. How did it all come to this?" His aged face reflected confusion, incomprehension, and deep heartache.

Wiping away a tear, Cynthia held Gianna tightly, her eyes red with emotion, "I won't let anything happen to you. If someone has to go to jail, I'll turn myself in. Gianna, I'm so sorry. I should never have blamed you, especially when your marriage was struggling. Instead of supporting you, I compared you to others. This is my fault."

Meanwhile...

Herman returned to the apartment complex, sneaking through the window into Gianna and Joey's home.

After searching thoroughly, Herman found a hairpin under the bed in the basement where Pattie had been kept.

It was the same hairpin Pattie had worn on the day she disappeared.

Clutching the hairpin tightly, Herman's expression hardened, "Pattie was here."

Dailey surveyed the room, puzzled, "Boss, where could they be hiding? We didn't see Gianna take anyone out."

"Keep searching. Check behind the wardrobe," Herman instructed, his eyes focused on the piece of furniture.

They had searched everywhere else in the house, leaving only the wardrobe in this room.

Herman had looked inside the wardrobe before; it was empty.

But when Dailey moved the wardrobe, they found a small hole in the wall, just big enough for a person to slip through. Herman felt a surge of excitement.

Without hesitation, he crawled through the hole, finding himself in an empty neighboring house, specifically a pitch-black storage room.

Turning on his phone's flashlight, Herman's heart sank as the light revealed a small, dirty figure cowering in the corner.

"...Pattie..."

His voice cracked, barely believing the emaciated, filthy child before him was his Pattie.

Terrified, Pattie covered her eyes with her hands, trembling all over.

Hearing a familiar voice, she looked up in disbelief. The harsh light made her squint, and she thought she was hallucinating her father's presence, then lowered her head again, dejected. This wasn't the first time she had imagined her father coming to save her, but she always doubted he would come.

Lifting her head once more, Pattie saw that her father hadn't vanished.

Pattie tried to speak, to call out to him, but only rough, inarticulate sounds came out.

Tears streaming down his face, Herman held Pattie close, filled with self-reproach, "Daddy's late, I'm so sorry, Pattie. Daddy's late."

Pattie's cries, though wordless, were filled with months of pent-up fear and trauma. Her father's appearance was her lifeline.

At first, Herman didn't realize Pattie had lost her voice. When he saw her unable to form words, the heartbreaking truth hit him.

In a trembling voice, Herman pleaded, "Pattie, try to say 'Daddy'."

But Pattie could only make the same sound, unable to speak.

In that moment, Herman felt as if his heart had been pierced by a thousand arrows. He held Pattie even closer, his eyes bloodshot with grief. If Gianna had been there, he wasn't sure he could have stopped himself from seeking vengeance.