The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

In the quaint town of Willow Creek, Dr. James was determined to uncover the mystery behind Tavon's recent stroke. After two thorough examinations, James finally pinpointed the cause: poisoning. Herman glanced at the lab report, eyebrows knitted in concern. "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely," James confirmed. "It's a common toxin but one of the hardest to detect. It requires prolonged exposure in just the right dosage to cause a stroke."

"What kind of poison are we dealing with?" Herman asked.

"Cyanide."

"That's not something you just stumble upon. A little digging should lead us to the source."

James shook his head. "If you know even a little about it, you can extract it yourself. Apple seeds, for instance. Should I give Thomas a heads-up?"

Herman thought for a moment and then said, "You mentioned it requires long-term exposure. The dosage must be carefully controlled too, right? Too much and it would kill outright, not just cause a stroke." "Exactly, it's a delicate balance," James replied. "Someone without the know-how would likely mess it up."

"Tavon didn't suspect anything? Anyone in the family?" Herman speculated.

"We should probably discuss this with Thomas," James said, his expression serious. "We don't know the assailant's motive yet. It could be an attempted murder gone wrong, or maybe the stroke was the intended outcome." "Right," Herman acknowledged. "How long before he's back on his feet?"

"He'll be moving about in a month," James mentioned. "I've upped the medication to speed up the detox."

"Thanks, Doc."

"And it's not all for naught I've taken on an apprentice, which is a win in my book," James added with a chuckle. "By the way, I'll deduct the wedding gift from your consultation fee." Herman rolled his eyes. "When did you get so good at number-crunching? Even counting the wedding gift against me."

"Medicine's expensive, Herman. Every penny counts."

As they chatted, the sound of a car pulled Herman's attention. Anastasia was back, accompanied by Katelyn, both laughing and carrying shopping bags.noveldrama

"Anastasia, Mom," Herman greeted warmly. "What'd you guys pick up?"

Anastasia grinned, "This tie and cufflinks set is for you. Mom says you're picky about these things, so we stuck with your favorite brands. I picked them out, but Mom footed the bill."

Katelyn added, "Herman's always had a keen eye for quality. It's a relief to have Ana on board with the shopping. Where's Pattie?"

"Pattie's up in her room, memorizing the human body's pressure points," Herman replied. "She's got a passion for medicine. Let's not disturb her-better to let her soak up as much as she can while she's enthusiastic." Salma arrived, beaming. "Ah, my dear in-laws."

"Ana's Mom," Katelyn presented a delicate scarf. "I picked this out for you. Hope you like it."

Salma was pleasantly surprised. "You got something for me too?"

As Salma and Katelyn chatted, Herman caught Anastasia's eye and motioned towards the backyard. They needed to talk in private.

Once they were alone, Anastasia sensed the seriousness. "What's going on, Herman? Why the secrecy?"

Herman took a deep breath. "James has found the cause of your dad's stroke. He was poisoned with cyanide."

"What?" Anastasia's eyes widened in shock. "Who would do such a thing? What's their motive?"

Herman laid out the possibilities they had considered. "It could be Ashley. Maybe out of some twisted sense of love or revenge, she wanted your dad incapacitated-stuck at home, unable to go anywhere." They stood in the quiet garden, the weight of the revelation hanging heavy in the air, with the knowledge that someone close could be harboring deadly secrets.