The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman) novel Chapter 723

Alisa was sharing her struggles, and Jason wasn’t one to leave her hanging. Out of respect for the late Will and his own sense of guilt, he sent her a grand. A thousand bucks wouldn’t even cover her credit card’s minimum payment, and Alisa was hoping for more, but she couldn't come up with any more excuses. She figured a thousand was better than nothing, so she took the money and left.

Right after Alisa was out the door, Ashley came back from grocery shopping. Jason had left his phone on the coffee table and headed to the bedroom to freshen up. Hearing the phone buzz, Ashley called from the kitchen, “Jason, your phone’s going off.” Jason, caught up in his routine, didn’t hear it. Ashley wiped her hands and picked up the phone, muttering, “He never hears a thing.” By the time she got to it, the call had ended. As she was about to put it back, a WhatsApp notification popped up.

It was a payment confirmation for Alisa. Seeing the transfer, Ashley felt a wave of irritation. She wasn’t upset with Jason but annoyed at Alisa for asking for money while she was out. “Does she think my son owes her family something?” Ashley grumbled to herself, deciding to keep it to herself as she placed the phone back down. She realized she needed to get Alisa out of her son’s life before she drained him dry. The Browns seemed like a bunch of leeches.

Remembering Monica from Jason's Facebook, Ashley started plotting. After finishing dinner, she headed to Jason’s workplace to chat with his colleagues and get some info on Monica.

Meanwhile, Monica was at Southridge Estates, helping Anastasia with the kids. The little ones were getting cuter by the day, all chubby cheeks and rosy smiles. Monica playfully coaxed Emmie, “Give your godmother a smile, you little beauty. You’re going to break hearts someday.” Emmie giggled, sticking out her tongue, and Monica exclaimed excitedly, “Ana, Ana, look! Emmie's smiling at me, dimples and all. She’s adorable!” Anastasia, busy feeding Nancy, chuckled, “Isn’t it heart-melting?”

Anastasia blushed, “You’ve got a way with words.” Monica chuckled, “By the way, where’s your mom been? Haven’t seen her around.” “My mom’s been out with friends a lot lately, says she’s bored at home,” Anastasia explained, bouncing Nancy gently. “But I know she’s taken on some work. She doesn’t like relying on us and feels more secure earning her own way.”

Anastasia understood Salma’s mindset. Since the work wasn’t too demanding, she didn’t object. Everyone needs their own social circle. Salma didn’t fit in with the Katelyn crowd, so she found her own path. Monica commented, “Your mom’s been working hard her whole life and still can’t sit still.” Monica stayed a bit longer at Southridge Estates before heading out. Once the kids were down for a nap, Anastasia dialed Herman’s number...