The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Anastasia's story had everyone in stitches-not laughing at her, but genuinely tickled by how hilarious their first meeting was. You couldn't help but feel the spark between them.

She laughed along, her eyes shining as she remembered those days. Everything back then had just felt so right.

With a confident smile, Anastasia looked around and joked, "Listen, I'm a sucker for a handsome face. If any of you met a guy that good looking, you wouldn't have let him go either. So, of course, I didn't let him slip away! That very day, I dragged him to the courthouse and we got married. Honestly, when we walked out with our marriage certificate, I was so dazed. I mean, I'd just married a guy I'd only met once!"noveldrama

Someone from the crowd hollered, "Mrs. Salstrom, how did you get Mr. Salstrom to agree to marry you so fast?"

Anastasia grinned, half-joking, half-serious. "Maybe he's just as shallow as I am."

That cracked everyone up again. Tonight, Anastasia was showing the whole city a new side of herself a woman with a sharp sense of humor, tons of confidence, beauty, brains, and a fearless heart.

Every word she spoke was being broadcast live, not just to the thousands packed into the square, but also to people glued to their TVs or pausing in front of giant screens all over town.

Her easy grace was magnetic-even Sandy, hidden in the crowd, couldn't help but feel a little jealous.

Monica, Anastasia's best friend, was bursting with pride. Her girl was absolutely killing it.

Anastasia went on, "I know what everyone's thinking: Herman's rich and handsome, so I must've married him for his money, right? But let's be real-you fall for someone because they have something special. Herman has looks, brains, and a big heart. I love him, sure, but does that mean I'm only after his wallet? Come on. No one falls in love because the other person is broke, boring, or treats you badly. Ladies, we're looking for a husband, not doing charity, and we're definitely not saints here to save someone with 'pure love'..."

People nodded and chuckled-it was the kind of truth everyone knew but rarely said out loud.

She flashed a mischievous smile. "So here's the truth—I love his money and his looks. Sure, it started with his face, then his talent got me, and in the end, it's his character that made me stay. Honestly, you could offer me the whole world, and I'd still choose him."

While Anastasia reminisced, Herman finally arrived at the square. He jumped out of the taxi and stared at the massive crowd. There was no way he could squeeze through.

His heart was pounding. He could hear Anastasia's voice over the sea of people and pushed forward, calling out, "Excuse me, please, let me through—I'm Herman!"

But after everything that had happened, no one believed it.

Not everyone recognized Herman on sight. And today, he was in sweats and a

hoodie, nothing like the sharp-dressed man from the media.

He was thinner now, and didn't quite match his TV image.

Still, he kept trying-Anastasia's voice was pulling him in like a magnet. He circled around, trying to find a gap.

"Please, let me through, I'm Herman, thanks..."

"Yeah right," someone snorted. "And I'm the Queen of England."

Herman could only sigh. He had to be the

world's most unlucky I

man his wife was looking

and he couldn't even get for him,

Then he spotted a vendor across the street selling megaphones. He dashed over, bought one, and, moved by something deep inside, climbed up onto the base of the

giant robot statue in the square.

He barely paused for breath before raising the megaphone and shouting with

everything he had, "Anastasia! I'm back!"

It was a shout straight from the heart.

There he crowd, like

a king surveying his.

Sa high above the

kingdom-but the only t

Re

t the only Senter of

was the woman at

it all.

For a moment, the whole square fell silent. Thousands of heads turned.

Anastasia looked up, the wind tugging at her hair. There he was, almost unreal, and her heart skipped a beat.

Her eyes filled with tears. Her heart thudded in her chest. She jumped down from her chair and ran straight toward him.

He was back.

The crowd parted, clearing a path, and someone gasped, "Oh my god, it's really Herman! He's back!"