That night was an endless tangle of longing, the air thick with unspoken desire.


    Her body was a temptation he could never resist.


    Southridge Estates glowed with warmth andughter, but at the Stranz house, the atmosphere was colder than Emmie''s frosty re.


    It was already eleven, and Scott still hadn''te home. Juliana sat by the window, eyes searching the night, loneliness gnawing at her. If it weren''t for the little one at her side, the silence would''ve swallowed her whole.


    "Aunt Juliana, can I sleep with you tonight?" Layna asked, her voice as sweet as honey, always so well-behaved with Juliana.


    "Of course," Juliana answered, more than happy for thepany. "Tonight, you''re with me."


    "Aunt Juliana, why isn''t Uncle Scott home yet?" Layna curled up in Juliana''s arms, her voice small and worried. "Is it because he doesn''t like me? Is that why he doesn''te home?"


    Juliana smoothed Layna''s hair, her tone gentle. "No, sweetheart, not at all. Your uncle''s just got a lot going on at work. When you''re older, you''ll understand. My Layna is the best girl ever."


    Scott was the oldest son, running the Goad Group, but Mr. Goad had more than one kid to keep track of.


    Juliana and Scott lived with Layna in their own cozy ce, not at Salstrom Manor. The kids were all grown now and liked having their own space.


    Juliana moved out after marrying Scott.


    She was twenty-eight, in her prime-gorgeous, with a killer figure, though she didn''t always have the sharpest mind. She doted on Layna, never saying no.


    With Scott always away on business or caught up in dinners, Juliana poured all her love into Layna. A woman without a man''s affection feels like a flower left to dry out.


    "Aunt Juliana, I didn''t get first ce today. Are you mad at me?" Layna''s voice wavered.


    "Of course not." Juliana pressed a kiss to Layna''s forehead. "You''re amazing. Everyone slips up sometimes. Next time, you''ll beat Paradise for sure. And remember what I told you-one day, you''ll marry into the Wisman family. Your job is to win Justin''s heart before that other girl does."


    Layna was only eight, but Juliana was already drilling these ideas into her. If Scott overheard, it would be another fight.


    Layna''s eyes shed with a stubborn spark. “Justin is mine."


    "When winter breakes, I''ll take you to the coast so you can spend time with the Wisman family," Juliana schemed,ying the foundation for Layna''s future. "And remember, when you''re with them, keep that little temper in check, okay?" Layna nodded. "Aunt Juliana, you''re the best. No one treats me like you do."


    The sting of losing to Pattie at the sports day still ate at Layna. She hateding in second.


    "Sleep now," Juliana said, her heart lighter for it.


    Tonight, some would sleep like babies, while others would toss and turn until sunrise.


    Meanwhile, at the Walker house-


    Autumn just couldn''t sleep. Her mind spun with ways to keep the truth from Devin.


    Devin already knew about the


    pregnancy. He''d called, but Autumn


    hadn''t dared to answer. If he


    showed up things would get ugly, and Mr. Walker would start asking questions.  s


    Mr. Walker was already passed out beside her, snoring softly.


    Unable to rest, Autumn slipped out of bed and curled up on the living room sofa. The house was silent until her phone rang-loud and sharp in the quiet Her heart leapt cold sweat prickling her skin.  s


    The caller ID showed an unknown number.


    But Autumn knew instantly: it was Devin.


    She hadn''t saved his number, just in case, but she''d memorized it anyway.


    Desperate not to wake Mr. Walker, Autumn answered in a whisper, "Why are you calling me thiste?"


    Her voice was tight, tinged with anger and anxiety, with a guilty edge she couldn''t hide.


    Devin didn''t waste time. "I heard you''re pregnant. Is it mine? You''ve been married to Mr. Walker for years without a kid, but one night with me and bam-you''re pregnant. That''s gotta be my kid, right?" "Content" belongs to s


    His bluntness made Autumn''s blood run cold.


    "Stop it. Don''t call me again. Are you trying to ruin me?" she hissed. "We''re done. Don''t contact me anymore."


    "It''s definitely mine," Devin said, almost giddy. "Autumn, I''m gonna be a dad again. Make sure you have my son, and we''re set for life."


    With Mr. Walker as the perfect cover, if Autumn had a boy, Devin could just sit back and reap the rewards.


    "Shut up—" Autumn started, but before she could finish, Mr. Walker''s voice came from behind her.


    "Autumn, who are you talking to?"<fnbf20> The source of th?s content is fι?dnοvel</fnbf20>