The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

At Julie's frantic cry, a crowd quickly gathered. She put on a convincing act of panic, dialing 911 and calling for an ambulance, really selling it.

When Granny Anita's chauffeur arrived, he found her lying on the ground, motionless.

Herman used Granny Anita's phone GPS to track her to the mall. But he was too late. Granny Anita had already drawn her last breath.

Julie was kneeling beside her, sobbing, "Granny, Granny."noveldrama

Herman seemed to have anticipated this tragic end. When he saw Granny Anita's lifeless body, he was only momentarily taken aback. He knew this had to be connected to Anastasia. The thing he feared most had happened.

Herman squatted down in anguish, wiping his face with his hand before clenching it into a fist and pounding the wall.

Feiman, upon seeing Granny Anita's body, rushed over to hold her, weeping uncontrollably, "Mom, Mom, who did this?"

Julie sobbed, "It seems like Anastasia. When I came to find Granny, I saw Anastasia running out of the restroom with a flustered expression. There was blood on her hands. When I entered, Granny was lying in a pool of blood, breathless." Feiman asked the chauffeur, "Did you also see Anastasia do it?"

The chauffeur replied, "I don't know. The old lady asked me to put something in the car. She had an appointment with Ms. Brown. When Ms. Brown arrived, I told her that the old lady had gone to the restroom. When she didn't come out for a long time, Ms. Brown went to check."

Julie continued, "Then I saw Anastasia running out of the restroom in a panic. Granny was in this state when I saw her."

Herman looked at Granny Anita's body without uttering a word from start to finish. His complex emotions were hidden beneath his cold demeanor, making him intimidating and unapproachable.

The police arrived quickly, canvassing the scene. They found images of Anastasia in the restroom doorway and various places around the mall through surveillance footage. It was enough to prove that Anastasia had been following Granny Anita, waiting for the right opportunity.

Because of the high-profile nature of the victim, the police worked swiftly. They examined the murder weapon and performed an autopsy, with results out in just two hours.

Before the police could arrest Anastasia, she had already turned herself in.

The murder weapon had only Anastasia's fingerprints. Granny Anita had died by that very fruit knife. Anastasia was the prime suspect.

Herman sat in the police station, listening to the police narrate the case details and autopsy results, "Mr. Salstrom, according to the autopsy report, Granny Anita died from a ruptured heart. The wound matches the murder weapon, this fruit knife, which carries your wife's fingerprints. The perpetrator, it seems, held a deep grudge against the victim. Granny Anita has two wounds, suggesting she was stabbed twice. The second stab was the fatal blow. Mr. Salstrom, could you please tell us about the relationship between Granny Anita and your wife?"

The police were also shocked. Anastasia, as the daughter-in-law of the Salstrom family, had murdered Granny Anita. They wondered what kind of provocation or deep hatred could drive her to commit such an act.

The police also discovered that Anastasia had recently miscarried. They tried to connect the two incidents, but the specifics were known only to the Salstroms.

A feud as deep as a child's death would naturally breed resentment. Herman believed that even if Anastasia had stabbed Granny Anita again, he wouldn't have doubted that there were other secrets.

After a few seconds of contemplation, Herman said, "I would like to see my wife."

Given Herman's social status, the police didn't make things difficult for him.

"Mrs. Salstrom is being interrogated in the next room. It should be over soon. Then, Mr. Salstrom, you can see her."

The interrogation of Anastasia went smoothly as she confessed as soon as she arrived at the police station, admitting to killing Granny Anita.

Throughout the interrogation, Anastasia was calm and numb, with traces of blood still on her hands.

After the interrogation, the police arranged for Herman to see Anastasia alone.

Just last night, they had lain in each other's arms. But now, after only a few hours, their next meeting was in a police station.

Seeing the blood stains on Anastasia, Herman remained expressionless. He asked the police to bring a basin of hot water and a warm towel and to turn up the heat in the interrogation room.

As he made the request, he said, "My wife recently miscarried. She can't catch a cold. Thank you."

His words moved even the hardened policemen present.

Anastasia sat on a cushioned stool, her eyes vacant as she looked at Herman. She gave a bitter smile and said, "I killed her. I avenged our child. I have nothing to say. I'm ready to face the consequences." Herman didn't say a word. He just walked over to the basin of hot water, wrung out the warm towel, and gently took Anastasia's hand, wiping the blood from it.