"He agreed." Monica looked exhausted as she spoke to Anastasia. “He leftst night."


    Left. In Monica''s mind, that was as good as saying yes to breaking up.


    In a fit of anger, she''d blocked Jason everywhere.


    Anastasia stared at her, shocked. "Wait, what? How did it end up like this?"


    "Ana, seriously, don''t worry about me. I''m fine. It''s just a breakup. If it''s not right, you move on, right?" Monica tried to sound casual, forcing a lightness into her voice. "Honestly, I realized Jason isn''t even my type. We just don''t click. Rtionships need passion, and once that''s gone, I can''t do this wishy-washy, hot-and-cold thing. If we ever got married and something happened, he''d just be useless at home. What''s the difference between that and being alone? Passion doesn''tst forever, and it can''t just be one person doing all the work."


    She sounded a bit spiteful, but there was a clear logic to what she was saying. Anastasia couldn''t find anything to say back.


    Meanwhile, Jason hade to the hospital, but as he turned the corner, he overheard Monica''s words.


    What she said stopped him in his tracks. He didn''t have the nerve to go any further, so he quietly turned around and walked out of the hospital.


    Just then, a nurse came up to Monica. "Monica, your dad''s awake." Monica immediately perked up and rushed off to the ICU to see Chase. Anastasia pulled out her phone and called Jason.


    Jason was already in the elevator, hesitating as Anastasia''s name lit up his screen. He knew exactly why she was calling, but he picked up anyway.


    "Jason, did you really agree to break up with Monica? She was just upset, you know. She didn''t mean it. You should go talk to her, try to make up," Anastasia said.


    "I respect Monica''s choice," Jason lied smoothly. "I''m busy right now let''s talkter."


    Before she could respond, he hung up.


    The next few days, Monica was basically living at the hospital, taking care of her dad, Chase.


    Neither Jackson nor Abby saw Jason visit even once after the ident, and they both felt pretty annoyed about it.


    When Jacksonined, Monica finally exined, "We broke up."


    "What? For real? How did that happen?" Jackson was floored.


    "It just didn''t work out. That''s all. No big deal." Monica shrugged, acting like she didn''t care. "Now, go get a bowl of water so I can help Dad wash up."


    Jackson and Abby exchanged a look, but the Ledford family had enough going on already, so they didn''t press her for details.


    With Chase in the hospital, someone


    had to run the family''s scrapyard Abby knew the business best, so she was running back and forth between the hospital, home, and the O scrapyard every day.


    Monica had her beauty salon to manage, so she kept herself busy too-too busy


    to sit around thinking about Jason or the breakup.


    Jackson took time off from college and spent most of his days at the hospital caring for their dad.


    Meanwhile, Jason, after leaving the hospital, was sent out of town for work.


    Anastasia watched Monica and Jason''s rtionship quietly fall apart, feeling a pang of regret for both of them.


    Pattie, Monica''s mom, recovered quickly and was discharged after two weeks, heading home to finish her recovery.


    That night.


    Anastasia sat at her vanity, letting out a long sigh. "Babe, do you think Monica and Jason are really over?"


    Herman, for once, was in aid-back


    mood, propped up in bed with a


    book. "Eh, let them figure it out Couples break up and get back together all the time. You and I almost split once, remember?"


    Anastasia shot him a look.


    She finished her skincare routine and slipped under the covers. "What are you reading?"


    She leaned over and squinted at the cover. "The History of Civilization? Wasn''t that book supposed to be huge? Why does yours look so thin?"


    Curious, Anastasia peeked at the pages-and immediately blushed.


    This was definitely not The History of Civilization. It was a racy, illustrated


    romance.


    "Herman! Why are you reading that? Where did it evene from?"


    "I confiscated it from Nelson," Herman replied,pletely serious. "He was reading it during a meeting. Told me it was a history book. I took a look-full of pictures. And he didn''t even think to share the good stuff.”


    Anastasia burst outughing, cuddled up to his chest, and gave him a yful


    wink. “So, after all that reading, did you learn anything?"


    Herman got the hint right away. He set the book aside, pulled Anastasia into hisp, and grinned, "Why don''t you find out for yourself?"