The Bound Between Us

Chapter 131
Pattie had a nightmare. In it, she was screaming bloody murder, writhing like a possessed being, kicking up a storm with her feet,
and flailing her arms to keep anyone from coming close.
Anastasia tried to soothe Pattie but ended up getting her face scratched up by Pattie’s frantic clawing. Despite the pain,
Anastasia held Pattie close, whispering gently. “Don’t be scared, I’m here, sweetie...
Hearing this gentle voice and smelling this comforting scent, Pattie gradually calmed down and drifted back to sleep. Anastasia
held Pattie tightly, saying. “This kid must have been scared witless to have such nightmares.”
Watching the situation unfold, Monica was also shocked. “Poor kid,” she murmured, her heart aching for Pattie.
Anastasia began to rock Pattie gently, humming a tune while her hand patted Pattie’s shoulder. Monica was taken aback by this
sight. She even mistook Anastasia for Patties mom. The resemblance between Anastasia and Pattie was uncanny.
“Ding-dong, ding-dong...”
The doorbell rang. Anastasia looked up at Monica. “Monica, could you get the door for me?”
“Sure,” Monica said, turning to open the door.
Standing at the door was a man with an honest face. He smiled and said, “Is my daughter here? I heard you guys found her”
Monica gave him a once-over and said. “Hold on. The kid is sleeping.”
After saying this, Monica went back inside to tell Anastasia. When Anastasia heard that the child’s father had come, she came
out with the sleeping Pattie in her arms. The man looked ordinary, dressed in work clothes, likely a construction worker.
Seeing Pattie, the man smiled and said. That’s my daughter, Pattie. We’ve been going out of our minds looking for her since she
went missing”
Anastasia asked, “Do you live in this neighborhood?”
“I live right here in this neighborhood, in building six. My name is Leo,” the man introduced himself sincerely. “She’s asleep, huh?
Let me hold her, thanks a million for finding her. We thought she’d run out of the neighborhood. There are so many cars outside,
it would be a disaster if anything happened.”

Anastasia didnt mention Pattie’s injuries or hand her over to Leo. Instead, she said, ‘Ill hold her. Pattie just had a nightmare and
is having a restless sleep. I’ll help you take her home.”
With that, she turned to Monica and said, “Monica, could you stay here and keep an eye on things? Someone’s coming to fix the
faucet.”
The faucet at home was broken, and there were things to take care of, including dealing with the neighbor’s leaky house.
Monica understood what Anastasia meant. Anastasia wanted to get a glimpse of Pattie’s living conditions while she was there
and figure out how she got those injuries. Leo wanted to object, but when he saw Anastasia walking towards the elevator with
Pattie, he couldn’t say a word.
Leo followed them into the elevator. On the way to Pattie’s home, Anastasia started to ask questions. After a round of
questioning, she learned that Leo worked on a construction site and was often out early and back late. He came back because
there was an issue at the site, had found out Pattie was missing, and came out to look for her.
Soon, they arrived at unit one of building six. Anastasia checked the room number, it was also on the eighth floor, room 802.
Leo opened the door, smiling, and said, “Ms. Jewell, can you hand the child over to me? I really appreciate it, sorry for the
trouble.”
Before he could finish, a shrill voice came from inside. “Who told you to go find that burden? She’s lost, so what. Bringing her
back is just a waste of resources. Raising her isn’t free...”
A woman holding a baby walked out. Seeing Anastasia at the door, she paused. She thought it was just her husband, but there
was a stranger.
Leo was a bit embarrassed, and gave a sheepish laugh, “Ms. Jewell, this is my wife, Penny, Honey, this is our neighbor,
Anastasia. She’s the one who found our Pattie.
Anastasia nodded and greeted, “Hello.”
Penny was an average-looking woman, a bit on the plump side. She had recently given birth, her physique was out of shape, her
face was freckled, her hair was unkempt, and her clothes were casual. She was the epitome of a housewife.
Penny’s expression was stern, her attitude towards Anastasia, who had brought the child back, was cold. “Hello.”

Anastasia said, “I noticed that Pattie has a lot of injuries. It doesn’t look like they’re new. I wanted to ask, how did she get these
injuries?”
Leo and his wife Penny became instantly tense at this question.