The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Jack had always been the quiet type, but lan knew he'd protect Annie with his life.

As fall approached, trouble seemed to be brewing, and with their wedding just around the corner, anyone who tried to mess with his and Annie's big day was asking for a fight. lan offered a cigarette to Jack, who paused before taking it. "It's been ages since I've had one of your smokes," Jack said, a touch of nostalgia in his voice.

Leaning against Jack's car, lan lit his own cigarette and asked, "Still hung up on the past, huh?"

Jack's brow furrowed. "lan, aside from being a bit better looking and having more money, what else do you have over me? All the girls used to flock to you," he grumbled.

lan asked, "What was the name of that girl you liked back then? Do you remember?"

Truth be told, Jack had forgotten her name but not the incident.

A silence stretched between them, and lan pressed on, "How did you meet Annie?"

"Your wife didn't tell you?" Jack found some solace in his retort. "I had just started my job and bumped into Annie during a mission at Cloud Mountain. She was hiking. Later, at the police station, I sensed something off about your grandmother's case and got close to Annie to investigate. By the way, where did you get that video of Julie committing the murder?"

"There was someone else in the restroom at the time," Ian explained. "I watched the surveillance footage over and over until I found that person. Money talks, and it can buy anything."

Jack scoffed, "The Salstroms never were short on cash."

Their conversation meandered aimlessly for a while longer.

Back at home, Annie couldn't sleep, knowing lan was out. She speculated about who could have rescued Julie.

With Julie on the run and the police issuing a warrant, the internet was ablaze with her wanted posters the next day.

lan upped the ante, offering a hundred grand for information leading to Julie's capture and a cool million for her arrest.

With such a hefty bounty, brave souls came forward with all sorts of tips. The challenge was sifting through them to find the truth.

Upon learning of Julie's escape, Joseph was momentarily shocked but otherwise expressionless, his only concern being the safe return of his son.

Julie, heavily pregnant, couldn't consider abortion; the baby would have to be born.

She hadn't left Riverdale. Instead, she was hiding in a wine cellar in one of Riverdale's upscale villas.

For Julie, it was merely a swap from one cage to another.

Waking up in unfamiliar surroundings, Julie was instantly on guard.

As she contemplated her escape, footsteps neared, and the cellar door opened. A man carrying a tray of food stepped in. "Time to eat," the man said.

It was Rowan, the waiter from the wedding.

Julie eyed him suspiciously, recognition dawning. "You were the waiter at the wedding. Why did you save me? Who are you?"

Could he be a secret admirer?

Rowan set down the food. "You don't need to know too much. Eat. The cops are looking for you. If you don't want to end up behind bars, stay put until it's safe to move you."

"I won't know your true intentions if you don't tell me," Julie pressed. "Are you working for my father?"

Rowan ignored her, turned, and walked away.

Not wanting to be alone, Julie grabbed at him. "I need to get out of here. It's damp, the bed's too hard-I'm not used to this, and it's not good for my baby."

Rowan sneered. "Julie, get a grip on your situation. You're not some pampered princess."

"I was born into privilege," Julie declared haughtily. "Even as a captive, I demand the best. Find me a better place."

"Crazy," Rowan muttered, shaking her off and leaving her in the chill of the wine cellar.