The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Trent had a stroke at home, and the first person Anastasia thought of was Ashley.

Max shook his head, "Hard to say. You know how it is with your dad. Do we keep it under wraps, or...?"

"Let's keep it quiet for now, until he gets better," Anastasia suggested. "Can we look into the source of the poison? The person behind it doesn't know we're onto them; there might be more clues." "I'll have Dailey check out Willowbrook," Max said gently.

As the wedding got closer, Anastasia felt more and more uneasy, with troubles piling up.

She was particularly worried about Julie. Knowing Julie, she wouldn't just sit back and wait for her fate.

Julie had stabilized in the hospital after a close call with her pregnancy and was about to be brought back to the police station.

But as they prepared to transfer her, disaster struck.

That night....noveldrama

The ringing phone woke Max, and he answered the call from the undercover bodyguard watching over Julie. She had been abducted.

Someone had managed to rescue Julie and had even injured a cop in the process.

Max's eyebrows furrowed with concern. "Who took Julie?"

The Browns were out of the game, and Devin was too busy saving his own skin to risk a rescue.

Julie was a pawn with no moves left.

"We don't have a clear lead yet. They were prepared, managed to distract us. The police are already on high alert, sending out forces to recapture Julie." Half-asleep, Anastasia heard the phone conversation and opened her eyes to see Max looking worried. Sitting up, she asked, "What's wrong?"

Max hung up the phone, his expression grave. "Julie's gone."

"How is that possible?"

Anastasia was shocked. "Weren't the cops watching her round the clock? How could Julie have that much influence?"

"That's what I'm curious about. Go back to sleep, Anastasia. I need to step out," Max said as he got out of bed, grabbed his coat, and headed out.

...

Jason, the detective on Julie's case, was in for a sleepless night.

Upon hearing of Julie's escape, he rushed to the hospital. The officer on duty told him that the abductor had disguised themselves as a doctor, claiming to be taking Julie for an examination, which gave them the opportunity to get close.

While listening to his colleague, Jason surveyed the scene. "One person couldn't have taken Julie alone; they had an accomplice. Check all hospital surveillance for suspicious vehicles. Interrogate Devin, see if we can shake out a clue." "Jason, we've already got someone on Devin. It seems he's clueless."

"Check with Joseph too," Jason added. "The child is his, after all. He's not above suspicion."

"Got it," his colleague agreed. "Jason, where could Julie go, heavily pregnant like that? She can't get far from Riverdale."

Jason rolled his eyes. "What do you think, she's going to sit around waiting to get shot?"

His colleague fell silent, conceding the point.

Julie's hospitalization, the relaxed security-it was the perfect chance to run. Miss it, and it might never come again.

After finishing his investigation, Jason stepped out of the hospital just as Max arrived.

Jason sneered, "Quick on the scene."

"A bit later than you," Max replied tersely. "Find anything?"

Jason was all business. "Police work doesn't require your input."

Max's lips curled coldly. "Can't even keep a pregnant woman secure a major lapse. You're right; you've got no grounds to boast."

Jason shot back, "Oh, the charming Trents. As if you don't have debts of your own that led to this mess."

Max bristled, "Jason."

"Whoever helped Julie is street-smart. Think hard about who else you've crossed recently," Jason retorted. "And tell Anastasia to be careful. Julie holds a grudge against her and might well come after her."