Asher was trying to get the chip back, which meant it was important-and definitely had something to do with him.
If Rowan handed it over, he''d be in serious trouble. Those two brothers were already drifting apart.
Rowan''s knuckles went white as he stared Herman down. "I found a phone in that cave. If you think it''s useful, take it and see for yourself."
Reluctantly, Rowan dug into a drawer and tossed Herman an old, beat-up phone. The screen was shattered and it wouldn''t even turn on-he hadn''t had the time to get it fixed.
Herman turned the phone over, calm as ever. "The chip still isn''t decrypted," he said, almost casually.
Rowan wanted to re a hole right through him-he''d been yed.
"Herman," Rowan growled, jaw tight.
Herman tossed the chip back. "If I find out you drag her into danger again, I won''t be so nice."
Back when things got messy, Rowan had no choice but to trust Anastasia with the chip. He hadn''t thought it would put her at risk, just figured he''d take care of business and get it backter.
Herman hadn''t cracked the chip either-he didn''t want the headache.
He slipped the broken phone into his pocket. "Thanks," he said, then turned and walked out.
Herman always kept score. He knew if it weren''t for Rowan, Anastasia wouldn''t have made it through that night.
That simple "thanks" caught Rowan off guard-he never expected gratitude from Herman.
After Herman and Dailey left, Hanna came in. “Rowan, are you alright? Did he hurt you?"
"No," Rowan said, closing his eyes. "Just leave me alone. I need to rest."
He was always cold to Hanna. She''d gotten used to it, but it still hurt.
The next morning-
Monica showed up early at Southridge Estates, hoping to see Anastasia. But Anastasia stayed holed up in her room, refusing to see anyone.
Monica was beside herself. "Ana won''t even see me. How is she supposed to get through this?"
Salma hadn''t slept much. With Herman gone, it was up to her to watch Anastasia just in case she did something rash.
"She''ll get through it," Salma said, her eyes full of resolve.
A mother might seem delicate, but for her kids, she''s strong as steel.
Anastasia had three children. She had to pull through.
If anyone was pleased by Anastasia''s trouble, it was Sandy.
Sandy was living it up at the Grand za Hotel in Riverdale-no way she''d miss
a scandal like this. She was savoring every minute.
Sean, her brother, suspected her and called. "Sandy, was this your doing? Did you set Anastasia up?"
The old Sandy would never have done something like this-but now, Sean wouldn''t put anything past her.
"Come on, Sean," Sandy said, smug. "I told you, I''m not the only one who hates Anastasia. There are plenty of people who wouldn''t mind teaching her a lesson. I''d never get my hands dirty and risk the fallout."
Sean pressed, "So, do you know who did?"
"No idea," Sandy said, a wicked littleugh in her voice. "Does it even matter? Anastasia''s reputation is trashed. Sure, Herman''s backing her now, but let''s see how long thatsts. Four guys attacked her You think he can just forget that ever happened?"
Sandy really didn''t know who was behind it. She suspected Asher, since she''d looked into the bad blood between him and Herman.
Sean sighed. "No man could stand by his wife after something like that. Herman has to y the loyal husband now he can''t risk Elysian Technologies'' image."
Sandy was practically gloating. "Give it time. They''ll be strangers sharing a house soon enough."
The gossip about Anastasia was everywhere. Even if the posts disappeared online, people were still whispering. It wouldn''t blow over anytime soon.
At the Walker house-
Up in the attic, Autumn ran her fingers over Julie''s urn. "Sweetheart," she whispered, "I''ve already made Anastasia pay. This is just the beginning. Soon, I''ll send her tojoin you. She''ll pay for what she did." s?novel
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