The Bond Between Us (Anastasia and Herman)

Julie had just nestled into the cozy spa chair, the soothing aroma of lavender and chamomile filling the air, when the unexpected happened. Unbeknownst to her, the facial mask she was using had been laced with a small amount of ether. As she took a deep breath, trying

to relax, the ether seeped into her system, making her faint.

But the effects were brief.

Seeing Julie slump over, Anastasia jumped into action, turning to Monica urgently. "Hurry up, we don't have all day. Just clean two fingers; no need to do them all."

"Got it." Monica ensured the beautician left first, then mixed a special solution into a bowl of water and started cleaning Julie's fingertips. After several wipes, nothing seemed off.

Monica frowned, her voice tinged with confusion. "Ana, are you sure about this? There's nothing on her fingertips, no film or anything." "How can that be?"

Anastasia leaned in for a closer inspection. "It's spotless."

"Ana, maybe you're just on edge. This woman, Leonora, might have had some work done, but that doesn't mean she's Julie. Cosmetic surgery is common, and who says Julie even had any?" Monica had seen plenty of plastic surgery cases, so it wasn't unusual for her. Disappointment washed over Anastasia. Was she wrong again?

Was it all just her imagination?

Was she too anxious?

She decided to give it one more try, cleaning Julie's hands herself and soaking them in the solution, but still, nothing.

She recalled seeing peeling skin that morning at the hospital.

Was she imagining it?

"The effect won't last long, Ana. You better lie back down."

If they took too long, suspicions might arise, and they couldn't afford to be mistaken for having shady intentions.

Julie woke up about fifteen minutes later, as the beautician was massaging her scalp, with Anastasia lying nearby, still under her own facial mask.

Realizing she had dozed off, Julie sat up sharply, checking the time. Had she really just passed out for a few minutes?

Why was she so tired?

The beautician asked, "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"

"No, it's nothing. I'm just a bit tired. Did I fall asleep just now?"

"I wouldn't know, the massage was so relaxing I fell asleep too," Anastasia joked, trying to lighten the mood. "These treatments work wonders."

Julie relaxed, convincing herself she was just overthinking. Maybe she was just worn out.

After their session ended, Julie got a call and had to leave in a rush.

Anastasia let her go without further questions but remained puzzled over the earlier incident.

Even after Julie had passed out, Anastasia had taken the chance to peek inside her bag but found nothing unusual.

Rubbing her temple, Anastasia was brought back to reality as Monica entered with a plate of fruit. "Still thinking about Leonora? Maybe you're projecting, letting your emotions get the best of you, seeing Julie everywhere."

"Maybe." Anastasia offered a weak smile, recalling what Herman had mentioned the night before. "By the way, what was going on with you last night? Herman saw you and Jason's car following him."

"Damn, he noticed." Monica's eyes widened. "How did he even...?"

"What's the story?" Anastasia pressed. "You've both been so secretive."

Monica was speechless for a moment. "Ana, your husband's no joke. How does he catch these things? Here's what happened: Jason and I were grabbing dinner when we saw Herman at the restaurant with a gorgeous woman. We followed them all the way to Southridge Estates, only to realize it was a misunderstanding. The woman was Herman's cousin."noveldrama

"The key part here: you and Jason were out to dinner? Is there something going on?"

Monica nodded, excitement bubbling up. "Big news, actually. Jason confessed his feelings to me last night. I was so shocked I nearly died of embarrassment."

"Do tell! Did you say yes?"

"I didn't know what to do! Out of nowhere, he pulls out a ring and confesses." Monica leaned in, a dreamy look on her face. "I said yes. And believe it or not, your husband played a big role in this." "How so?" Anastasia was all ears, her curiosity piqued.