The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Alisa's heart was suddenly filled with excitement. If Monica had found someone, she wouldn't be vying for Jason's attention anymore, and maybe Jason would finally move on. That explained why Jason looked so upset earlier. Feeling smug, Alisa thought Monica had finally realized the obvious: Jason was hers, and no one else could claim him.

"Mom, does Uncle Jason really like that woman?" Little Isla piped up, rather rudely referring to Monica. "I don't like her at all. She's too pretty; she might just snatch Uncle Jason away."

Parents are role models for their kids, and Alisa's behavior was sure to influence Isla.

In the world of women, beauty is a powerful weapon.

Alisa glanced at her reflection in the rearview mirror. Her skin looked dull, spotted, and she never bothered to dress up. Next to Monica, she felt plain and uninteresting. How could she possibly compete?

Alisa touched her face and looked at her outfit, then made up her mind. She turned to the cab driver and said, "Driver, take me to the Mall of America."

She decided it was time to buy herself some nice clothes and start taking care of her appearance.

With Isla in tow, Alisa headed to the Mall of America. It was filled with designer brands, each item stunning, and even the sales were expensive.

Alisa's initial excitement quickly faded after visiting a few stores. She felt out of place in these high-end shops, and the staff barely acknowledged her, their eyes filled with disdain.

She didn't have the money for these gorgeous clothes or expensive skincare products.

As if fate were mocking her, Alisa spotted Monica coming out of a luxury boutique nearby.

The shop assistants were all smiles as they saw Monica out the door, "Please visit us again soon. Have a great day!"

Monica was carrying several bags full of clothes and accessories. She'd had a rough day at the hospital and decided to indulge in some retail therapy, splurging over fifty thousand in one go. No wonder the staff was all smiles. Monica didn't notice Alisa. She was juggling her bags and her phone, chatting with her friend Anastasia.

"Hey Ana, is your mother-in-law out of town? Mind if I crash at yours for dinner? I miss Emmie and Nancy too..."

Monica tossed her shopping bags into her convertible and drove off, leaving Alisa simmering with jealousy.

Monica was tall, beautiful, and confident. Her six-figure sports car turned heads, and even women couldn't help but glance her way.

Monica was a savvy businesswoman, running a successful beauty salon. She treated herself well, pampered her parents, and supported her brother through college.

Driven by envy, Alisa approached the store Monica had just left and asked the clerk, "What did that woman buy? How much did she spend?"

The clerk looked Alisa up and down with a sneer, "She spent over fifty grand. Can you afford that? She's the real deal. You, on the other hand, look more like you belong at a flea market, old lady."

The clerk's words left Alisa fuming, her face flushed with indignation.

She was not even thirty yet, so why was she being called an old lady?

Humiliated and mocked, with laughter echoing from passersby, Alisa's heart burned with shame.

Pulling Isla along, she stormed off, only to run into someone pitching credit cards.

"Ma'am, interested in a credit card? We offer limits up to twenty grand..."

The mention of twenty grand made Alisa's eyes light up. She stopped and asked, "Can I get a higher limit? I need fifty grand."noveldrama

Blinded by anger, Alisa didn't think about whether she could handle a fifty grand debt. She just wanted to outdo Monica.

With a modest salary of four thousand a month, Alisa, driven by vanity, used the Brown family home as collateral to secure a fifty grand credit card. The house wasn't even hers-it was under Daniel's name but armed with the right information, the credit card company found a way to grant her the higher limit.

In less than a day, Alisa blew through the fifty grand, buying nothing but designer clothes, shoes, and bags, all to compete with Monica.

The thought of repayment didn't cross her mind.

Dressed in her new clothes, Alisa headed to the hospital to flaunt her new look in front of Jason.

But Jason didn't even spare her a glance. For him, it didn't matter what Alisa wore.