The Bound Between Us

Chapter 23

Anastasia reminisced about her dream last night, saying. Im not exactly sure why just suddenly remembered some stuff from the past”

Salma looked at Anastasia, worry etched on her face. “Anastasia, have you been under a lot of stress lately? Is that why you’re randomly digging up the past? Don’t overthink it, it’s all water under the bridge How are things between you and my son–in–law?”

To distract Anastasia and avoid further questions, Salma deliberately threw in that last query

“We re doing alright. Anastasia sat down, saying, “He’s always swamped with work, up at the crack of dawn and home after dark. Oh, and a distant relative of his dropped by today, claimed to be his aunt. She was super rice and insisted on giving me a diamond bracelet I didn’t dare accept it, it was just too pricey

“Despite his parents passing away early, his relatives are quite decent,” Salma said. “Anastasia, I think he is a real catch Cherish this marriage. Love can

be cultivated with time”

“Mom, I understand Anastasia didn’t want Salma to worry, so she quickly changed the subject. “What are we having for lunch?”

Salma replied, “We’re going over to your aunt’s place for lunch I heard she sprained her ankle yesterday. We should pay her a visit.”

Anastasia frowned. “Mom, she always thinks she’s the bee’s knees. When you were sick and in the hospital, she didn’t even bother to visit. Why should we go see her?”

Salma had two older sisters and a younger brother at home. Being the youngest daughter in the family, Sahma was both pretty and studious. She was the apple of everyone’s eye, and they all hoped she would marry well and lead a successful life

when Salma unexpectedly fell pregnant, her family was mortified. Salma insisted on having the baby and eventually cut ties with her

and started reaching out to her siblings in an

Let’s not nitpick and be more forgiving. Since we’re family, we should stick together and tolerate each other’s mistakes. Come with me,”

to visit her aunt, Anastasia accompanied her mother out of

hour later, Anastasia drove Salma to a slightly upscale neighborhood in another

car in the parking lot, they bumped into a familiar

what brings you here?”

turned around to see Gianna, her cousin, standing

in her early thirties, married a doctor. Her husband was recently promoted to director. Although she’d been married for eight years, she still didn’t have children despite

the nines, holding a Louis Vuitton handbag that cost

indifferent

I heard your mom sprained her ankle, so we

didn’t invite Anastasia and Salma upstairs. Instead, she locked

but Salma didn’t seem to mind

marriage, Anastasia’s aunt Cynthia owned three houses, which greatly elevated her status in Riverdale. When she saw Anastasia and her mother,

she brought to Cynthia and asked with concern, “Cynthia, is your foot feeling better?”

gifts, she said. “You guys aren’t exactly rolling in dough. You shouldn’t