The Browns were really giving Jason a hard time, and the dinner table felt like a pressure cooker ready to blow. I was too scared to speak, and Alisa gave her a knowing look to go upstairs and stay out of the adults'' business.


    Watching the Browns gang up on Jason, rissa wasn''t about to keep quiet. "Listen up, Daniel, Malia," she said, her tone unwavering. "You can''t force love. They''re young, and let''s be real, Alisa isn''t exactly pure as the driven snow. My son''s the one who''s been wronged here. Jason doesn''t even have a girlfriend, and from what I hear, it all happened when they were both drunk. You can''t just me him for everything. My son''s been there for you for years, and now you''re acting like he owes you something?"


    rissa was fierce, standing up for her son with everything she had. Alisa''s eyes filled with tears at the sharp truth in rissa''s words, which cut deep but were undeniable. Daniel mmed his hand on the table, his anger boiling over. "You think we''re leeching off Jason? Have a heart, rissa. Your son got involved with my daughter-inw, and my son gave his life to save yours. We buried our child, and now you''re saying it was a mistake? That we saved an ungrateful kid?"


    Jason frowned, the memory of Will''s death still a painful thorn in his side. rissa wasn''t backing down either. "Who asked your son to y the hero? Mine was wearing a bulletproof vest; he''d have been fine even if yours hadn''t jumped in. And I hear your son wasn''t even supposed to be on that mission. Why was he there? Seems to me he was just reckless, dragging my son into it. Your whole family is just trying to pull a fast one on him."


    With that, rissa inadvertently exposed the Browns'' true motives. The Browns were left speechless, their faces turning red with anger and embarrassment. Just as Jason was about to speak up, rissa suddenly felt dizzy, her vision blurring, and she copsed onto the floor. The medication had kicked in, and her heightened emotions only sped up its effect. "Mom!" Jason shouted, rushing to her side. He tried to revive her but got no response, so he quickly picked her up and headed for the hospital.


    The Browns were caught off guard, panic setting in. They''d only meant to drug her into a stupor, not ignite a full-blown argument. Now, with rissa unconscious, their secret was at risk of being exposed. Malia urged Alisa, "Go with him, make sure Jason doesn''t find out."


    ve?


    While the Browns scrambled in chaos, night had fallen. Anastasia, exhausted from a long day at work, returned to Salstrom Manor. Emmie was already asleep, so after checking on her, Anastasia headed to Katelyn''s room to see Nancy. Lately, Katelyn had been keeping Nancy in her room at night. The door was slightly open, and when Anastasia called out but got no reply, she walked in.


    Katelyn was holding Nancy in one arm and a photo of Herman as a child in the other, tears in her eyes as she spoke softly, "Nancy, this is your daddy when he was little. Look how cute he was. You look just like him..." Hearing this, Anastasia felt a pang in her heart too. Since


    Herman''s ident, Anastasia had thrown herself into work or drowned her sorrows in alcohol, trying to keep the grief at bay.


    "Mom,” Anastasia spoke gently as she approached. "You''re back," Katelyn said, quickly wiping her tears. She caught the scent of alcohol on Anastasia and gently scolded her, "You reek of booze again. Go shower before you hold the baby. Remember, don''t suffocate the child with that smell."


    Anastasia had indeed had a drink. She wanted to hold Nancy, but hearing Katelyn''s words, she held back. "Alright, I''ll clean up first," she said, yfully wiggling her fingers at Nancy. "Hey, sweetie, did you miss Mommy?" Despite her busy schedule, Anastasia managed to see her babies more often these days, and the bond was growing. Nancy reached out happily, wanting Anastasia to hold her, but Katelyn pulled Nancy back slightly. "Nancy, Mommy needs to freshen up first. Let''s go find your sister with Grandma."