The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

The moment Anastasia locked eyes with Julie, an odd feeling stirred inside her. Despite being a stranger's face, there was an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Julie, seizing the moment, approached with a nod and a friendly smile. "Hey there, do you live around here? I'm doing a little survey on relationships for my internship. Just graduated and trying to get some real-world experience. Could you help me out?" Anastasia, ever polite, shook her head. "Sorry, I don't live in this area."

"No worries," Julie replied with a grin. "We can still chat, right? What's your name, if you don't mind me asking?"noveldrama

Anastasia wasn't thrilled about being quizzed by a stranger, but courtesy won out. "You can call me Ms. Jewell."

"Ms. Jewell," Julie beamed. "Mind if we exchange numbers? Maybe on WhatsApp?"

"I'd rather not," Anastasia replied succinctly.

Unfazed by Anastasia's reserved manner, Julie introduced herself further. "I'm Leonora, but everyone calls me Julie. Are you here alone?"

Julie's inquiry was thinly veiled, trying to figure out if Anastasia was solo or with company.

Anastasia found the probing impolite and turned the tables. "Do you live nearby?"

"Yeah, just across the street in that condo complex," Julie shared, spotting an opportunity for camaraderie. "Ms. Jewell, are you married? I noticed the ring."

Anastasia confirmed with a brief, "Yes."

Julie persisted, "Could we still exchange contacts? Just for the survey?"

"And who exactly is conducting this survey?" Anastasia asked, her curiosity piqued despite herself.

"Oh, just a small gig with a content creation company, focusing on modern views on love and relationships," Julie improvised smoothly.

As they talked, Anastasia assessed Julie. She claimed to live in a high-end area, yet her appearance suggested otherwise. No jewelry, no perfume - hardly the signs of affluence.

"What do you want to know?" Anastasia relented, intrigued by the familiar vibe Julie radiated.

"Thank you," Julie began, diving into personal questions about Anastasia's love life, marriage, and values - increasingly invasive queries.

Anastasia deflected, "Sorry, some things are personal. In marriage, character is what matters most to me."

Julie pressed on, probing about financial stability and fidelity, but Anastasia redirected, "Have you ever been in a relationship?"

Julie admitted she hadn't, revealing her true motive: to determine if Anastasia's love for her husband was genuine or materialistic. Anastasia smiled knowingly, "Maybe you'll understand these things once you're in a relationship."

Suspicious of Julie's intentions - and noting a telltale hickey that contradicted Julie's single status - Anastasia remained guarded.

Julie, envious of the unborn twins Anastasia carried, was scheming anew when Jason appeared, adding a twist to the encounter. Recognizing him, Julie's confidence wavered, her mind racing with a new plan.