The Bond Between Us ( Anastasia and Herman) novel Chapter 823

Sandy always felt a knot in her stomach whenever she was alone with Herman. Now, with just the two of them left in the office, she had no idea what he might do.

Herman’s face was unreadable as he crossed the room and sat down on the sofa. He tapped his finger on the table, a signal more than an invitation. “Sit. We need to talk.”

“…Alright.” Sandy perched nervously on the edge of a chair, her posture stiff. “Did you remember everything?”

Herman didn’t bother answering. He went straight to the point. “I had someone look into things. George is dead. Nicholas was back in his hometown, scraping by as a sanitation worker. You were the one who called him here and gave him hope again. The two of you spun an enormous lie together. You used Nicholas’s longing for his son. And now, after all that, he’s lost a leg. His life is changed forever.”

Herman knew Nicholas had lied, too, but his reasons were different. At the end of the day, Nicholas was just a desperate father.

During those weeks Nicholas cared for him, he had shown nothing but kindness—treating Herman as if he really were his own child. That was the only reason Herman bothered to make sure Nicholas would be alright.

Sandy understood what Herman was getting at—it surprised her, honestly, that Herman could feel any sympathy for someone who’d deceived him.

Sensing her chance, Sandy softened immediately. “Don’t worry, I’ve already found Nicholas a place in a good nursing home. I paid for ten years up front. He’ll have professionals to take care of him and folks his own age to keep him company. He won’t be lonely.”

It was a lie, but saying it made her sound considerate.

Herman slid a document across the table. “Read this. If everything’s clear, sign it.”

Sandy glanced at it, confused. It was a settlement—she was to pay Nicholas three hundred thousand dollars, in one lump sum.