Juliana''s scream rang through the sprawling house, bouncing off marble and ss, sharp and raw. She tumbled down the grand staircase, her head hitting the steps again and again, her belly mming hard every time shended.


    By the time she crashed onto the living room floor, she felt a rush of warmth spreading beneath her. Blood-bright and shocking-began to pool out from under


    her.


    Juliana''s hands shook as she reached down, her fingersing up slick and red. Fear twisted her face as she broke down, sobbing, "My baby! My baby! Somebody, please! Help me!"


    Pain shot through her, so fierce she couldn''t move. She stayed where she was, clutching her stomach, her mind spinning with terror, screaming for someone― anyone toe.


    Outside, Layna watched it all unfold from the garden.


    She didn''t move, didn''t even flinch. If anything, the sight of blood sttered on the white tile made her eyes light up with a twisted kind of thrill.


    If her aunt lost the baby, everything would go back to how it used to be. She''d be the Stranz family''s princess again—their one and only darling.


    Who could possiblypete with her then?


    Juliana''s cries went unanswered for what felt like ages, until finally, the staff came running, faces pale, voices panicked.


    They froze at the sight of Juliana sprawled in a pool of blood,pletely thrown.


    "Call an ambnce! Please, save my baby!" Juliana pleaded, her voice breaking with every word.


    Terror gripped her she couldn''t lose this child. Not this one. Not her precious baby.


    The house erupted into chaos as everyone scrambled for the phone.


    Layna waited until just the right moment. Then she dashed in, her little face the picture of worry. "Aunt Juliana? What happened? There''s so much blood! Auntie!" she wailed.


    Despite her age, Layna''s act was wless—her spite hidden deep, her panic perfectly performed.


    "Layna, call your uncle. Hurry!" Juliana grabbed her hand with a desperate strength. "Tell him toe home. Now!"


    "I will, Aunt Juliana, right away!" Layna hurried to thendline and dialed Scott''s number.


    But Scott''s phone was with his assistant, who was off chatting with Herman and Jonah at a hotel, the phone forgotten in their room.


    Back in Riverdale, the ambnce arrived in minutes. Juliana was rushed to the hospital.


    Word shot through the Stranz family like lightning. Mrs. Goad practically flew to the hospital, her heart hammering, terrified for her grandchild.


    Juliana was taken straight into surgery, leaving Layna and the nanny to wait in the hallway, nerves stretched thin.


    The moment Mrs. Goad arrived, she rounded on the nanny, voice sharp as a knife. “What happened? How did she end up in the hospital? Is my grandson alright


    The nanny pale and trembling, could barely get the words out. "Madam, Mrs Juliana lost a lot of blood. The doctors said the baby in danger, but they''re doing everything they can."


    Mrs. Goad went white as a sheet and nearly copsed. The nanny caught her just in time.


    "How could this happen?" Mrs. Goad pressed.


    The nanny''s voice shook. "She fell down the stairs, ma''am."


    “Useless! Can''t even stay safe with a baby!" Mrs. Goad''s re was icy. "If anything happens to my grandson, she''ll answer for it.”


    Layna stood off to the side, quiet as a mouse, her face unreadable.


    No one knew what was happening behind those closed doors.


    After what felt like forever, a doctor came hurrying out. Mrs. Goad rushed over,


    barely letting him speak. "Doctor, my grandson-is he okay?"


    "Are you family?" he asked.


    "I''m Juliana''s mother-inw," she replied, voice shaking. "Please, just tell me!"


    The doctor''s face was grim. “The mother''s uterine wall is too thin. We couldn''t save the baby. She''s still


    bleeding badly her uterus has ruptured. We''ll have to remove it to save her life..."


    Mrs. Goad only heard one thing: the baby was gone. The world swam, and she fainted where she stood.


    The doctor quickly revived her, and the nanny helped her into a chair.


    When Mrs. Goad came around, she clung to hope. "Doctor, is it true? Is my grandson really... gone?"


    He nodded, gentle but firm. “We did everything we could. Right now, we need your signature to continue the surgery."


    And just like that, thest bit of hope in Mrs. Goad''s eyes flickered out.


    Layna, quiet in the corner, couldn''t quite hide the spark of joy that danced in her eyes. Her lips curled up, just a little, as the news sank in.