The Bound Between Us

Chapter 389

Tomorrow was moving day, and some things need to be packed up.

Anastasia said to Salma, “Mom, let’s pack some stuff now while we have time. We’re moving tomorrow.” The new house had everything, so they needed to pack only daily

essentials and important items..

Salma said, “Oh right, I almost forgot about that. You rest, I’ll pack. Pattie, pack the things you want to take with you.”

Pattie nodded, “Okay grandma.”

Anastasia didn’t rest either and began packing some important items. Pattie packed her favorite toys and clothes. Taking advantage of Salma and Anastasia being busy, Layna sneaked into the children’s room and tried to persuade Pattie.

“Pattie, do you want to go out and play? I’ll take you downstairs to play on the slide,” Layna said.

Children have a strong desire to play. Layna took the initiative to invite Pattie, who naively thought she really wanted to be friends with her. Pattie nodded and said, “Okay, I’ll go tell grandma and mom first.”

“They are both busy. We’ll go down and play for a while and come back up,” Layna said, pulling Pattie along.

Anastasia and Salma were both packing in their rooms. They thought the kids were playing in the children’s room, and didn’t pay attention. Layna, despite her young age, had many tricks up her sleeve. When they got to the playground downstairs, she tried to persuade Pattie to go outside.

Pattie remembered her mother’s warning not to run around, so she shook her head, “Layna, let’s just play here.”

Layna put her hands on her hips and threatened, “You scaredy-cat, what are you afraid of? I know a really fun place to go. If you don’t come with me, I won’t be your friend anymore.” Pattie agreed, “Okay, but let’s just play for a while and then go back.”

Layna often followed Duncan to drive taxis illegally outside. Duncan would scare her to be obedient, warning her about the many human traffickers at the station. If Pattie got lost and was caught, he wouldn’t be able to save her. Layna remembered this and, holding the bill she stole from a drawer at home, hailed a taxi. Just like that, she brought Pattie to the bustling station.

Darkness was gradually falling. Pattie had never been to such a crowded place before. With so many people around, she felt scared and clung to Layna’s clothes, “I’m scared. Let’s go back. I don’t want to play anymore.”

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Pattie had previously been abused by Penny and only became more cheerful with

Anastasia. She was naive and not as cunning as Layna, and had never seen such a scene before, causing fear to grow in her heart.

Layna felt satisfied. She stuck out her tongue, You wait here for me, I’m going to buy something.”

“I want to come too,” Pattie said, not letting go of Layna’s hand.

“You wait here,” Layna said harshly, threatening Pattie with a fist.

Back in the neighborhood, Layna was the child ruler and a big sister. She was really good at fighting, and even boys were afraid of her.

Pattie stood still, not daring to move. Layna walked a few steps, stopped, looked at Pattie’s beautiful dress, and thought of the compliments people had given Pattie. She walked back over to Pattie again, “I like your dress. Take it off and give it to me.”

“No, my dad bought it for me. I like it too,” Pattie said, unwilling to part with her beloved dress!

Layna threatened, “If you don’t give it to me, I’ll leave you here to be taken by a kidnapper, and I’ll go home and tell mom so you will be left here.”

Insecured, Pattie was most afraid of her mother abandoning her. She compromised again,

“Okay.”

Layna took Pattie to the restroom. They exchanged clothes there. Layna wore Pattie’s pretty dress and admired herself in the mirror in front of the restroom entrance. “I look so much better in this than you do.”

The dress was custom-made for Pattie by Herman. When Layna wore it, the size was smaller and tighter, but she didn’t care. She just wanted to wear the dress.

The pale blue dress on Layna instantly looked ordinary, dull, and lacking luster. Layna’s skin didn’t look good against the dress.

Pattie didn’t argue with Layna. After showing off, Layna told her to wait and then slipped

away on some excuse.

Layna left Pattie at the station and took a cab back to Harmony Meadows, excited that she was now the only child in the house, with no one else to share her mother’s attention. She got off the taxi and entered the neighborhood happily.

Meanwhile, Penny was hiding behind a tree next to Anastasia’s building. She saw Layna coming and clutched the burlap sack in her hand. Because of the darkness, she couldn’t see the girl’s face clearly, but she recognized the dress Layna was wearing as the one Pattie had been wearing during the day.

Penny mistakenly identified Layna as Pattie.