The Brown family had high hopes for Jason''s promising career. If Alisa could marry him, they''d all benefit from his sess, never worrying about retirement or financial problems again. They were set on sticking with Jason for the long haul. "Mom, we shouldn''t be too pushy," Alisa suggested. "Jason responds better to a softer approach."


    Malia, always the strategist, proposed, "How about we have your dad pretend to be sick? That trick never fails. Jason alwayses through for us, and with I''s tuition and dance ssesing up, we need to ask him for help. He owes us." To the Browns, Jason was a pushover, easily manipted.


    "Alright, I''ll bring it up with Jason next time. I''s tuition won''t be a problem," Alisa assured, though she was also reminded of her mounting credit card debt. Fifty grand in the hole with a minimum payment of five thousand due, it was a sum she couldn''t even begin to cover on her annual sry. Alisa felt the pressure mounting. Marrying Jason seemed like the only way to clear her debts and improve her life.


    She''d heard that with Jason''s career trajectory, he could easily be a top official, maybe even a director. Being the director''s wife would be a dreame true, offering prestige and security.


    Jason was Alisa and the Brown family''s ticket to prosperity, the fastest route to a better life, and they intended to hold onto him tightly.


    Back in her room, Alisa pondered her next move to win Jason over. She pulled out a medical report from a drawer. It was Will''s report from before he passed away, showing a terminal cancer diagnosis with only a few months to live.


    During that dark time, the Browns felt their world crashing down. I was still young, and the family''s financial burdens were heavy. With Will gone, what would be of them?


    Before hisst mission, Will had confided in Alisa about his n to save Jason, hoping to leverage the life-saving debt to ensure Jason would support the Brown family after his passing.


    When Will died, the Browns were heartbroken but not surprised-they had known this was inevitable. Over the years, they had livedfortably off thepensation and benefits as a martyr''s family, with Jason frequently stepping in to help. Alisa tore up the medical report, knowing it was time to let it go. With the Browns relying on Jason, he wouldn''t easily find peace. The next day, Alisa waited until Ashley left for groceries before knocking on Jason''s door. Her goal was clear: she needed money from Jason.


    As always, she yed the victim card. "Dad''s been unwelltely, his blood pressure''s acting up again. I was thinking of taking him to the hospital once I get paid. After all, I owe it to Will to take care of his family."


    Jason listened, recognizing the pattern. Alisa''s requests always came wrapped in stories of financial distress. In the past, he hadn''t minded, wanting to help her as much as he could. Will had entrusted him with the care of his family, after all. "Your dad''s health is important. Let''s not dy. I''ll send you a thousand dors to start," Jason offered.


    "Oh no, I can''t keep taking from you," Alisa protested, feigning reluctance. "Since we lost our pir, expenses have been nonstop. They say you should help people in emergencies, not poverty. What about I''s tuition? That''s a few thousand." Alisa''s voice wavered, tears threatening to spill. "I thought about pulling I from dance to save money. She loves dancing, though, and cried when I mentioned it. I feel so useless, unable to give her a better life." Dance sses in Riverdale cost a fortune, a financial sinkhole if there ever was one.


    In the past, Jason would have caved, but this time he replied, "Interests can change. I told me she doesn''t enjoy dance anymore. You should talk to her. If she really doesn''t like it, there''s no point in continuing." I truly didn''t enjoy dancing; it was Alisa''s pride pushing her to enroll her daughter. This time, Alisa''s attempt to squeeze money from Jason fell t.