The Bound Between Us

Chapter 985

As an outsider, Anastasia knew it wasn't really her place to give relationship advice. All she wanted was for Monica not to shortchange herself—she hoped Monica could just live a little and not let things get her down.

Monica nodded. "I'll talk to him when he gets back to me."

"And what about that resignation talk from before? Any news?" Anastasia asked.

"Mr. Taylor means the world to him, and his parents absolutely refuse to let him quit. If Jason left the force just because of Alisa, it'd be such a waste. Being a cop has always been his dream," Monica said. "I should support him in that. Besides, if he quit now, what would he even do?"

Monica didn't want Jason to feel pressured to make a huge sacrifice for their relationship. Being a police officer was his calling-a real act of selflessness. How could she let love get in the way of that? If she asked him to quit, she'd never forgive herself.

Anastasia got it. "Why not take a little trip? Or find something new to focus on? Don't let your whole world revolve around a guy. You'll drive yourself nuts."

Monica laughed. "Trust me, I'm not that obsessed."

But the moment she left the hospital, Monica couldn't stop herself from calling Jason.

He was out on a call, phone on silent, completely unaware. Monica tried a few times, but no answer. Frustrated, she went back to the salon, turned down Abby's dinner invite, and just lay around in her office, alone with her thoughts.

As evening settled in, Monica's mom called. She assumed it was about dinner. She picked up, half-distracted. "Mom, Jason's busy-guess we'll skip dinner tonight-"

you need to come to the hospital. Your dad's hurt. The doctor says... they might

in her chair. "Mom, don't cry! What happened? Which hospital?

grabbed her keys and

Abby managed to explain: her dad, Chase, had fallen into a recycling machine at work. If a coworker hadn't pulled him

morning, everything had been normal-they'd even planned to have dinner together. By

Monica hung up and instinctively tried to call Jason. She needed someone to lean on, even if he couldn't

up. Monica felt her

crying,

room, Abby sat

over. "Mom,

they can't save his leg," Abby

long after, Jackson

dragged on-amputation was no

no avoiding it; it was the only way to save

just sat silently on the waiting room

devastated everyonen

him to keep an eye on Pattie and let her know she'd be late coming back to

hospital.