The decision was final-Pattie was going to have the surgery.


    She hadn''t been born mute; her brain''s speech center worked just fine. It was Gianna who had destroyed her voice, poisoning her vocal cords years ago. The damage was permanent. The only hope left was an experimental vocal cord transnt—a procedure nobody had ever tried before. Vocal cords just weren''t something doctors reced. James was taking a huge risk, and everyone knew it. After Anastasia gave the go-ahead, it felt like a boulder hadnded on her chest. She was suffocating with worry that something could go wrong.


    Herman and the rest of the Salstrom family epted Anastasia''s decision right away. Not even Pattie hesitated-she was actually excited, not understanding the danger. All she cared about was the chance to finally speak. She begged James to book her surgery as soon as possible, her eyes shining with hope for the first


    time in ages.


    Neither Herman nor Anastasia could bring themselves to take that hope from her. James scheduled the operation for the following Tuesday-just four days away. Those four days were all about Pattie. Herman and Anastasia dropped everything to spend time with her, determined to make her happy. They took her to the amusement park. Herman rode roller coasters with her,ughing and tossing his arms in the air, while Anastasia waited on a bench with a cold drink, feeling a little dizzy from the excitement.


    One afternoon, Monica called. "You''re really going through with Pattie''s surgery? My aunt said it''s pretty risky. Are you sure about this?"


    "We''re sure," Anastasia replied softly. "This is Pattie''s chance."


    Monica tried to be encouraging. "James is the best surgeon around, Ana. It''ll work out. Imagine the celebration when Pattie can talk—barbecue, cake, everyone together! It''ll be amazing."


    That kind of hope was the only thing keeping Anastasia going.


    "It''s going to work," she said, more to herself than Monica.


    With the surgery looming, Herman and Anastasia had no energy left to deal with Autumn. Asher had already been arrested, and Anastasia half-expected trouble toe for her next, but the days slipped by quietly. Apparently, Autumn wasn''t ready to act.


    What Anastasia didn''t know was that Autumn was busy enough, juggling both Devin and Mr. Walker and barely keeping it together.


    Dailey was following Herman''s orders, keeping tabs on Autumn from the shadows. But after that


    wild night with Devin at the hot


    Autumn got smarter-no more risky meetups. Dailey struggled to catch anything scandalous on camera, and without hard evidenée, there was no way to reveal Autumn''s secrets to Mr. Walker.


    Rumor had it Autumn and Mr. Walker were the perfect couple, and with Mr. Walker''s career on the rise any hint of drama could backfire. The real problem was, nobody knew how much Mr. Walker actually cared about Autumn-or how much he''d forgive. If he didn''t care, or decided to look the other way, Herman''s ns would fall apart.


    With Mr. Walker in the picture, Herman couldn''t make a move. Autumn, meanwhile, was just as wary. She couldn''t risk upsetting the Salstroms or making her husband suspicious, so she left Anastasia alone for the time being.


    Before anyone knew it, surgery day arrived.


    Anastasia was a nervous wreck, her eyelids twitching from stress.


    Herman was the one who walked Pattie into the operating room. Anastasia couldn''t bring herself to go-she hid around the corner, quietly crying. She was afraid she''d break down in front of Pattie.


    Everyone from the Salstrom family gathered at the hospital. Feiman and Katelyn came, along with Flynn, Salma, Tavon, and even Monica, who dropped everything to be there.


    Just before Pattie was wheeled in, Herman bent down and kissed her forehead. "You''re my brave girl," he said softly. "I''ll be waiting for you right here."


    Pattie smiled, eyes bright, not scared at all—just happy.


    Her optimism made the adults'' hearts ache.


    Pattie signed, "Where''s Mom?"


    Herman, knowing Anastasia was sobbing just out of sight, gave a gentle fib: "She''s just in the restroom. When you wake up, she''ll be here."


    Pattie nodded.


    Around the corner, Anastasia saw everything and burst into tears all over again.


    Once Pattie disappeared behind the OR doors, Monica found Anastasia and wrapped her in a hug. "Ana, don''t worry. She''s going to be fine. Everything''s going to work out."