The Bound Between Us

Chapter 22

She’d been busting her chops over Herman’s marriage, practically hunting for a perfect spouse for him.

Herman went and tied the knot without telling the family. If it wasn’t for Flynn spilling the beans, Katelyn would still be in the dark

Katelyn craned her neck, itching to see what her daughter–in–law looked like Herman quickly grabbed Katelyn’s arm, stopping her from going in, and whispered, “Mom, why didn’t you give me a heads up?”

He now regretted involving Flynn in finding a house because the guy had a mouth like a sieve.

Katelyn shot Herman a look and said. “You got hitched without telling us. I’m here to see my daughter–in–law, not you”

Herman, Don’t frighten her…”

“I know, I’m not some sort of ogre. You look like a cat on a hot tin roof. It’s hilarious,” Katelyn chuckled, growing more excited to see why her usually cool–as–a–cucumber son was all rattled up.

Inside, Anastasia, who was having breakfast, could hear Herman gabbing away outside the door but couldn’t make out what he was saying or to whom.

Anastasia curiously walked over. “Herman”

The sight of Herman in conversation with a stylishly dressed matron puzzled her even more.

On seeing Anastasia, Katelyn’s eyes lit up. “She’s a locker, like a delicate young lady,” she gushed.

From the get–go, Katelyn was smitten with Anastasia. She was over the moon with her new daughter–in–law.

Anastasia looked at Herman in confusion.

Herman said, “Anastasia, this is my

should call me ‘aunt,” Katelyn chimed in, not letting her son be put on the spot. She found out from her younger son Flynn that her elder son had lied about his parents being dead to win his wife. If that cat got out of

and said, “Anastasia, you can call her ‘Aunt Aunt, this

mind she thought, “Another

was a distant relative, Anastasia warmly said, “Aunt, please come in and sit down.”

relatives of Herman’s. Last time, he mentioned

on her,

glass of juice. “Aunt, here’s some

washed some fruits for Katelyn. “Aunt, would you like some fruit? Let me

grinning from ear to ear. “Ana, don’t fuss, take a load off. Let Herman do the

didn’t bring anything else with me, so consider this your wedding gift,

afford expensive materials, she could tell at a glance that the bracelet was pricey.

gift is too extravagant, I can’t

insisted on slipping the

said, “Just

it were something ordinary, she could accept it, but this was too expensive. And the giver was a distant relative of hers; she

be this clueless.

took off the bracelet and returned it to Katelyn. “Aunt, I really can’t accept such

this bracelet back”

even more pleased with Anastasia’s refusal to accept the gift, which was worth hundreds

you for now, but I’ll still give it

an expensive bracelet to a distant relative instead of someone closer She didn’t know the ropes and was too shy to ask. Herman was also worried

told Herman not to mistreat her daughter–in–law and to bring her home

said,

can’t let past

his brow furrowed “Mom, you