The Bond Between Us novel Chapter 132

The reactions from Leo and his wife hinted to Anastasia that something was off about Pattie's injuries.

Penny stayed silent while Leo explained with a chuckle, "She's a clumsy one, always getting into scrapes with the other kids in the neighborhood. She's always covered in injuries."

Anastasia expressed her concern, "I think Pattie's a bit quiet, seems like she's not getting enough to eat..."

"She’s my own child, why would I neglect her?" Penny snapped back, "What business is it of yours, anyway?" With that, she slammed the door shut.

Anastasia stood outside, hearing Leo scolding Penny through the door, "Why are you so fired up? You're making a spectacle of yourself."

"I'm not mad. I'm the only one taking care of this house, and I'm worn out..." Penny retorted.

Anastasia lingered for a bit, but ultimately, it wasn't her place to intervene. As she took the elevator down, she noticed the mess in Leo's apartment, with baby stuff all over the place. But not a single pair of girl's shoes in sight.

Anastasia couldn't help but think about Pattie's ill-fitting shoes and her multiple injuries. She could only imagine the harsh life Pattie was living. Although she couldn't intervene, the community could help. So, Anastasia made a call to the community center, detailing the situation and hoping that they could mediate.

After Anastasia left, Pattie woke up to see Penny, her eyes filled with fear. Penny scolded, "Why are you still here, go do the laundry. And mop the floor, we don't tolerate slackers here. If you don't finish your chores, you can forget about lunch."

Pattie, frightened, headed for the laundry. While other kids her age were spoiled by their parents, Pattie didn't have that luxury. She was constantly busy with endless chores, hardly ever attended kindergarten, and her meals were irregular. All the injuries on her body were inflicted by Penny.

Penny was always aggressive, and Leo could only stand by and say, "You shouldn't be so harsh on her. She's just a kid."

Penny glared at Leo. "And you're only saying this now? I told you to get rid of her, why didn't you? We're not even her real parents. Why should we be responsible for her? Every time I see her, I get angry."

"Abandoning her is too cruel." Leo, being softer, said, "I'll try to earn more money. You just take care of the house. And don't be so hard on her; it's not good if the neighbors see. All those injuries break my heart."