The Bound Between Us

Chapter 3

“Anastasia, did you cook up these fake documents to fool me?” Salma was still skeptical, repeatedly questioning the authenticity of the matter.

“Mom, these are all legally binding, they must be real. If you don’t believe me, you can check it yourself, Anastasia replied –

“And what about your husband? Why didn’t you bring him to meet me?” Salma glanced at the door and continued, “I just asked you to go on a blind date and get to know the guy first. Why did you rush into marriage? You didn’t even fully understand his background”

“You know everything already, don’t you? He works at Elysian Technologies, 30 years old, stable job, not bad looking…Anastasia mentioned her interactions with Herman, saying, “He seems gentle, and his parents are both deceased, no siblings, and a simple family background. He won’t give us much headache.”

The thought of not having to deal with future mother–in–law issues made Anastasia feel relieved.

It took quite some time for Salma to process this news Holding the marriage certificate, she was torn about whether she was right to push her daughter into marriage. She knew clearly that she had pressured Anastasia, only marrying in haste to keep her happy.

Salma had a sickness, cancer, and she hadn’t told Anastasia yet. Since her last failed romance, Anastasia had been hesitant to date again She worried that when she passed away Anastasia would be alone with no one to care for her, no one to help her out, no one to feel for her. So, she pressured Anastasia into blind dates, hoping she would find a reliable man and start a family.

Now that things were set in stone, there was no use in saying anything else.

me. Salma sat down and said, “Even though you’re legally married now, I still need to see what kind of man

have dinner together tomorrow, Anastasia said. “Mom, I have to go to work now. It’s too hot outside, and you’re not in good health.

Anastasia packed up and left for work. She ran a stall at

car. She set up shop

grand a month. It was more than enough

when no jewelry company would hire her because of an incident a few years back.

Market started getting busy. Anastasia took the opportunity to text Herman, “My mom wants to meet you. Are you free to have

receive a reply. A customer approached, and Anastasia got busy, not

dollars. She packed up at 11 on the dot. Sitting in the van counting her earnings, her phone

text from Herman. [Sorry, I’m on a business trip in Crescent Bay. I’ll arrange the dinner when I get back in a

away on business was a common occurrence for corporate employees. Anastasia understood and simply replied, [Okay]

now, her life was no different from before. In the following days, she was always out the door early and back late, she even forgot she

midnight. It started raining, and her car broke down right in

her trouble a few times before. While it never had any