Anastasia tried to keep her emotions in check, not wanting to hold a grudge against Katelyn, who had tragically lost her son. Katelyn took little Nancy to the nursery, and Anastasia ran a tired hand through her hair, feeling frustrated and worn out, before heading back to her bedroom.


    In the hallway, she bumped into her father-inw, Feiman. Since the incident with Herman, Feiman seemed to have aged, with more gray hairs showing.


    "Hey, Dad," Anastasia greeted him with a small smile.


    "Ana, you''ve been through a lot," Feiman acknowledged, his eyes filled with understanding. "You''ve been amazing. Herman was truly lucky to have married you, and so is the Salstrom family."


    "Dad, we''re all family here. There''s no need to talk about who''s been through what. It''s what we do for each other," Anastasia said sincerely. "How are you feeling? Any better?"


    Herman''s situation had taken a toll on Feiman, and he''d been dealing with various minor health issuestely.


    Feiman shook his head slightly, brushing away her concern. "Nothing serious, just little things."


    He hesitated before adding, "Ana, please don''t me your mom. With Emmie and Nancy, they''re her lifeline now. That''s why she''s so possessive of the kids."


    "Dad, don''t worry. I''m not upset with Mom. I understand. I''m busy with work and can''t always be there for the kids. I''m grateful she''s there to help," Anastasia reassured him.


    Feiman nodded, visibly relieved. He knew Anastasia was putting on a brave face, sacrificing her own feelings to keep the family together. Her efforts with thepany had not gone unnoticed by him either.


    Anastasia had never managed a business before and had thrown herself into learning everything she could to avoid mistakes, with Nelson and Henry by her side to guide her.


    "Ana, get some rest. Don''t overwork yourself," Feiman advised gently.


    "I will, Dad," she replied.


    Back in her room, Anastasia filled the bathtub and sank into the warm water. She rested her head on the edge, closing her eyes to rx.


    But as soon as her eyes closed, images of Herman filled her mind, and tears began to fall silently. The thought of spending the rest of her life without him was unbearable.


    With tears streaming down her face, she let herself slide under the water for a moment, emerging with her face wet, indistinguishable from the bathwater.


    After wrapping herself in a towel, she noticed a framed photo of her and Herman on the dresser. It was taken during theirst ski trip with Pattie.


    She picked up the frame, remembering how Herman had promised they''d go back with Emmie and Nancy for another family photo.


    But he had broken that promise...


    Gently caressing the photo, she whispered, "Herman, if there''s


    another life, let me go first, okay? I


    can''thandle this pain an


    BUMS


    Living without him was more painful than any death.


    Clutching the photo, Anastasia fell asleep, her heart aching.


    Meanwhile, in Willowbrook...


    Herman was trapped in a recurring dream, waking with a start as a chill swept over him.


    It was raining, and the wind blew the rain into the house, chilling him to the bone.


    He sat on the bed, lost in thought, listening to the rain tapping against the window. An unexinable sadness weighed on him.


    He sensed that Sandy and Nichs


    were hiding something from him but he couldn''t pinpoint what i


    was.


    He had no old friends to turnto, no memories to reim.


    He had an intense feeling that someone important was waiting for him, but he couldn''t remember who.


    The next morning, when Sandy went to check on Herman, she found his room empty.


    Panic set in as she asked Nichs, "Where is he? Did you see him leave?"


    Nichs looked just as bewildered. "I didn''t see him. He wasn''t around this morning."


    "Check the security footage," Sandy instructed. She had installed


    cameras to keep an eye on Herman,


    so they should have caught


    leaving.


    t him


    But when they reviewed the footage, there was no sign of Herman exiting the house.


    What they didn''t realize was that Herman had cleverly avoided the cameras, climbing out of a window and scaling the backyard fence.


    By now, he had already made his way to the local police station.