Pattie had just been wheeled out of surgery and into her hospital room. Anastasia, Katelyn, and the rest of the family rushed in, all anxious to see her.


    Pattie was still out cold, but Anastasia couldn''t help herself-she gripped Pattie''s hand, her heart practically bursting with relief and joy.


    Katelyn beamed. "The surgery was a total sess! Once Pattie''s throat heals, she''ll finally be able to talk. This is huge for the Salstrom family. Honestly, it''s the best news we''ve had in years."


    Salma let out a long breath, a genuine smile spreading across her face. "Yeah, I can finally stop worrying. That poor girl''s been through enough."


    Out of all her grandchildren, Salma felt the most guilt over Pattie. She''d always loved her the most, too. The regret ran deep—if only she hadn''t lost Pattie all those years ago, maybe things would have turned out differently.


    Feiman watched over Pattie as she slept, his expression soft. "She''s paid her dues and then some. Now it''s time for smooth sailing-may she always be safe, happy, and healthy."


    Monica nudged Anastasia, grinning. "Ana, you can finally rx. The surgery was a homerun."


    Flynn chimed in, "Told you it''d be fine! Dr. James is the best there is. With him on the job, nothing could go wrong."


    Anastasia pressed Pattie''s hand to her own cheek, her heart so full it almost hurt.


    But Pattie needed rest, and a crowd of people hovering over her wasn''t going to help. After a little while, Herman signaled to Flynn and Monica to take the three grandparents home.


    It was only then that Anastasia realized someone was missing.


    She turned to Salma. "Mom, where''s Dad?"


    Salma huffed, clearly annoyed. "Don''t get me started. He picked today of all days to go out for coffee with his friends. That man just never has a sense of timing.”


    Seeing her mom''s frustration, Anastasia decided not to press for more details.


    After everyone left, Herman leaned in and spoke quietly to Anastasia. "Your dad went back to Willowbrook."


    Anastasia blinked in surprise. "Wait, what? That''s so sudden. Didn''t Mom just say he was out with friends?"


    Herman handed her his phone. "He texted me. Ashley jumped out of her apartment window. Your dad rushed back home. For now, let''s keep this from your mom. I''ve already asked Nelson to handle the press."


    Anastasia stared at him, stunned. "What? Ashley? I can''t believe she''d do something like that. She always seemed so tough."


    It takes guts to do something so final. Anastasia herself had been through rough times, and the thought had crossed her mind before-but actually going through with it? She could never bring herself to leave the people she loved or give up on life entirely.


    She shook her head. "I just don''t buy it. Honestly, Ashley always struck me as a fighter. No matter how hard things got, staying alive is always better. She only came to Riverdale once, for Dad''s birthday, and heard them arguing like crazy. But I never thought she''d hit that point."


    Herman frowned. "It''s all been pretty sudden. The Morton Group filed for bankruptcy yesterday."


    Anastasia''s eyes went wide. "Bankruptcy yesterday, and Ashley jumps today?"


    Ashley had left a note behind, and it was devastating for Salma. The


    letter even mentioned Anastasia.


    Now, to everyone on the outsid


    Anastasia was just the illegitimate daughter, and Salma was painted as the home-wrecker-the viin who destroyed the Mortons.


    Herman gently squeezed Anastasia''s shoulder. "Let your dad figure things out back home. They''re saying Ashley''s in aa now, but only she knows what really happened."


    Anastasia scrolled through her phone, checking thetest news. She''d been gossiped about before so she was almost numb to it.


    "People online love to y here). ne


    acting like they''re crusaders, but really, they''re just tearing others down from behind a keyboard."


    That''s the thing with inte trolls-they attack without ever having to answer for


    it, loving the feeling of being judge and jury.


    Herman sat down across from her, his voice calm and steady. "The truth is the truth. No matter what people say, right is right and wrong is wrong."


    Anastasia hesitated. She wanted to ask if Herman thought Sandy had anything to do with Ashley''s fall, but she swallowed the question. Without proof, she''d be no better than the keyboard warriors herself.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!